Personal & social development // Self-Awareness

Feelings Versus Actions

Understand that feelings and actions are separate — you can feel something strongly without having to act on it straight away

Ages
6 to 8
Type
Thinking skill
Builds on
2 topics
Leads to
2 topics

Quick check

Does the learner understand that feeling angry, scared, or jealous doesn't mean they have to act on it immediately — that there's a gap between the feeling and what they choose to do next?

Ask this to see whether the topic is secure.

Topic // Mastery

What mastery looks like

What a learner can do once this topic is secure.
  • emotion regulation development research
  • Effects of Age and Gender in Emotion Regulation (PMC 2020)
  • expressive control to emotion regulation (PMC)

Topic // Map

Where this fits

What to learn first and what this topic opens up, with the reason for each link. Required links come first.
  • RequiredMust come first
  • HelpfulHelps, but not essential

Before this

2 topics
  • Naming Your FeelingsRequired

    Self-Awareness // Ages 5 to 6

    Understanding that feelings and actions are separate requires first being able to name and identify what you are feeling

  • Vocabulary: selfRequired

    Self-Awareness // Ages 5 to 10

    Understanding the feelings-actions separation requires vocabulary to distinguish and name each component

You are here

Feelings Versus Actions

Ages 6 to 8 // Thinking skill

Leads to

2 topics
  • Patterns in Your Own ReactionsRequired

    Self-Awareness // Ages 7 to 9

    Noticing patterns in your reactions requires first understanding that feelings and responses are separable — you can only track a pattern once you're aware of the gap between feeling and action

  • Your Impact on OthersHelpful

    Self-Awareness // Ages 8 to 9

    Reflecting on impact requires understanding that your actions were choices, not automatic responses to feelings — the feelings/actions distinction underpins social accountability

Personal & social development // Self-Awareness

More in Self-Awareness

All 7 topics