Self-conscious emotions are necessary to optimally adapt in the social environment. Embarrassment is a self-conscious emotion and little is known about how this emotion is experienced across ages....Show moreSelf-conscious emotions are necessary to optimally adapt in the social environment. Embarrassment is a self-conscious emotion and little is known about how this emotion is experienced across ages. This study investigated any differences in the cheek temperature of young children (3.5-5-yo), older children (8-10-yo) and adults (18-40-yo), during an embarrassment-inducing task. Additionally, it was studied whether the response was influenced by the presence of an audience. To induce embarrassment, the participants were asked to sing a song while being recorded. Afterwards, the participants watched this recording while cheek temperature was measured. Participants were divided in two audience conditions. In the alone condition, participants watched the video on their own. In the audience condition, participants watched the video, while two researchers sat next to them in the same room. To examine whether there were differences in skin temperature between the age categories and audience conditions, a Two-way ANOVA was performed. It was expected that the 8 to 10-year-olds would have the greatest increase in cheek temperature, and the youngest children would have the lowest increase in skin temperature. Furthermore, it was expected that the presence of an audience would increase cheek temperature. The results of this study suggest that there are no differences in the extent to which embarrassment is experienced between the three age categories. Furthermore, audience condition did not influence the cheek temperature of the participants. Finally, age category and audience condition did not influence each other in this sample.Show less
