Children seem to develop an awareness of emotional expressions extremely young.
Other researchers argue that this recognition may develop even earlier but that our methods for detecting it are flawed. In the first months of life the infant is quite helpless. She relies on a care giver to intervene to relieve stress, distress, fear, frustration and other negative emotions. She becomes conditioned to the idea that the people around her will respond and behave in a particular manner. For the very young child success is extremely important.