Potent Disengagement Cues: Boy Scared to Touch Worm

This first video shows potent disengagement cues which signal that the interaction is getting to be too much. These cues signal that the child needs the parent to slow down, stop or change what is happening in the interaction.

In this video, the child is frightened by seeing a worm that has been set down in a bowl in front of him. This video shows his potent disengagement cues of crying and turning his head fully away. His mother steps in to alleviate his distress and is able to help him regulate his emotions. He is then able to look at and touch the worm.

Teaching Points

• Cues are regulatory (in this case, the yucky worm was too much initially) and give important information about the child’s inner state. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT SPOILING to respond to potent disengagement cues such as crying.
• The mother’s response to her child’s distress was very quick which increased her child’s sense of safety and enabled him to quickly calm down.
• When parents are able to alleviate their child’s distress by seeing and responding sensitively to potent disengagement cues, they feel more capable and competent as caregivers and report a higher level of parenting satisfaction.