What is a key emotion that infants begin to exhibit during the first year of life?

During the first year of life, infants begin to exhibit a range of emotions, and joy is one of the primary emotions that they express. This joy is often seen through smiles, cooing, and excitement in response to caregivers and positive stimuli. Joy serves as an important social bonding mechanism, encouraging interaction between infants and their caregivers, which is crucial for emotional development and forming secure attachments.

In the early stages, infants may show joy in response to being fed, played with, or comforted, indicating their responsiveness to the environment and the people around them. This joyful expression lays the foundation for future emotional development and helps infants learn about social interactions. The emergence of joy in the first year of life is also a sign that developmental milestones are being met, particularly regarding social engagement and sensory development.

While emotions like frustration, fear, and sadness do emerge later in infancy as a response to stress, discomfort, or changes in routine, the positive emotion of joy is typically the first to appear and is critical for healthy emotional growth and attachment.