Emotions are complex psychological states stemming from a person's experiences. They affect our minds and bodies and therefore can support or hinder learning. Cultural and family differences can impact how emotions are expressed and recognized in others.

Several aspects of Emotion can drive mathematical development:

Emotion knowledge, understanding what the emotion is, begins to develop in early childhood and contributes to academic success.

Emotion regulation is the ability to control emotional arousal in order to learn adaptive functioning (the ability to complete daily tasks, cope with changes in the environment, and function successfully in a classroom) and is an important aspect of social competence.

Mental health is the combination of our emotional and psychological well-being and adjustment. Emotions are dynamic and will always fluctuate over time, so it is normal to experience both positive (e.g., excitement, joy) and negative (e.g., anxiety, depression) emotions. However, students who tend to experience more positive than negative emotions overall, and who are able to successfully manage and minimize stress, will have better overall psychological well-being.

Evidence suggests that Emotion knowledge is vital for Emotion regulation, and Emotion regulation impacts many academic skills, including the development of early math skills. Educators may also misinterpret students' emotional states due to biases such as being more likely to perceive Black students as angry or hostile. As a result of different social norms and experiences around Emotion, students may benefit from linguistically and culturally-responsive approaches to addressing emotions.

Math anxiety is a specific Emotion associated with discomfort around doing math and can negatively impact math performance and self-confidence. Providing extra support for students to feel more positively about math can help shift their mindsets and boost their self-confidence. See Stereotype Threat for more discussion of this impact.

Academic Emotions: Subtopic that includes research on students' emotions related to learning on Digital Promise's Research Map

Emotion & Cognition: Subtopic that includes information about how the brain recognizes, processes, and regulates emotions on Digital Promise's Research Map

Building Social Emotional Awareness: Video discussing the research-based RULER approach to social-emotional learning

Emotional Regulation: A free microcredential to support students' emotional regulation

Responsible Decision-Making: A free microcredential to support students' decision making skills

Self-Awareness: A free microcredential to support students' self-awareness