6.1 Child Development

Question 1

What is attachment theory?

Answer 1

A theory developed to understand the relationship between an infant and their primary care giver.

Question 2

What behaviours are infants predisposed to show?

Answer 2

Proximity seeking behaviour

Contact maintaining behaviour

Question 3

Why is secure attachment important when growing up?

Answer 3

Ensure better social competence, peer relations, self reliance and mental health

Question 4

When is the critical period for developing attachments?

Answer 4

First year of life

Question 5

What were the results of the ‘strange situation’ test?

Answer 5

When mother leaves, the baby starts immediately crying. Baby only stops crying hen mother returns

Question 6

What is the level of social development at:

i. ) 6 weeks
ii. ) 3 months
iii. ) 7-8 months

Answer 6

i. ) Social smile
ii. ) Distinguish strangers and non-strangers
iii. ) Specific attachment forms

Question 7

What behaviour is noticed if a child has insecure attachments?

Answer 7

Avoidant, ambivalent (always upset), disorganised (difficulty coping with mother’s return)

Question 8

How does secure attachment affect the carer?

Answer 8

Sensitive to child’s signals
Carer has higher self esteem
Rapid response from carer

Question 9

What behaviour can be seen in children when there is absent attachment?

Answer 9

Bedwetting, clingy, anxiety, aggression

Question 10

Describe some effects of being separated from the primary care giver

Answer 10

Limited understanding of situation
Feel abandoned
Feel pain worse
Suffer from stress

Question 11

List some criticisms of the attachment theory

Answer 11

Too simplistic
Overly focussed on parents
Multiple attachments are possible

Question 12

What improvements have been made in care services based on the attachment theory?

Answer 12

Continuity of staff
Allowing carer access to the patient
Stimulating toys
Allow attachment objects

Question 13

What ages are in the sensorimotor phase?

Answer 13

0-2 years old

Question 14

What is meant by the sensorimotor phase?

Answer 14

Experience world through senses and develop motor co-ordination. Have no abstract concepts.
Understand where their body ends
Understand that objects are still present even when not in sight at 8 months

Question 15

What ages are in the pre-operational phase of development?

Answer 15

2-7 years

Question 16

What is meant by the pre-operational phase?

Answer 16

Language development
Symbolic thought
Imagination develops
Little empathy 
Lack conversation ability 
Classify objects by a single feature

Question 17

What ages are in the concrete operational stage of development?

Answer 17

7-12 years

Question 18

What is meant by the concrete operational stage of development?

Answer 18

Think logically
Can classify objects by many features
Have empathy

Question 19

What ages are in the formal operational stage of development?

Answer 19

12+ years

Question 20

What is meant by the formal operational stage of development?

Answer 20

Have abstract logic

Can work things out based on logic

Question 21

What is the cognitive childhood development theory?

Answer 21

A child develops through 4 stages

Question 22

What are some criticisms of the cognitive childhood theory?

Answer 22

Focusses on what a child cannot do rather than what they can do
Information may not be given to a child who can comprehend it as they are further than the model predicts

Question 23

What is Vygotsky’s theory of social development?

Answer 23

Theory that cognitive development requires social interaction. Children learn through shared problem solving