What\'s Behind A Temper Tantrum? Scientists Deconstruct The Screams : NPR - 1 views
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Ryan Catalani on 05 Dec 11"...scientists found that different toddler sounds - or "vocalizations" - emerge and fade in a definite rhythm in the course of a tantrum. "We have the most quantitative theory of tantrums that has ever been developed in the history of humankind" ... where one age-old theory of tantrums might suggest that meltdowns begin in anger (yells and screams) and end in sadness (cries and whimpers), Potegal found that the two emotions were more deeply intertwined. ... The trick in getting a tantrum to end as soon as possible, Potegal said, was to get the child past the peaks of anger. Once the child was past being angry, what was left was sadness, and sad children reach out for comfort. The quickest way past the anger, the scientists said, was to do nothing."