Around what age do toddlers typically begin to display secondary emotions such as shame?

• A. 3 months
• B. 5 months
• C. 2 years
• D. 12 years

Answer: (C)

Self-conscious emotions like shame require a developing sense of self and the ability to be evaluated by others. That social self-awareness starts to appear in toddlers, with clear displays around the second year of life (roughly 18–24 months). By about two years, children are more likely to show embarrassment or shame in response to social rules or mistakes, reflecting their growing awareness of others’ opinions. Very young infants (a few months old) mainly show basic emotions, not self-conscious ones, while waiting until adolescence would miss the typical onset window. So, the best answer is around two years.