9: Developmental Psychology Flashcards
What is the hereditary influence in human development?
It has some genetic influence (genetic blueprint with inate abilities) that then can be fed with environmental influences
gender,genetics, temperament and maturational stages
What is the influence of the environmet on the development of children?
Nurture shapes this predetermined genetic course via the environment;
- parenting,
- stimulation and
- nutrition
–> for development: influence of changing environment and organism
What is the sensual developmental state of a child at birth?
Explain its role in the concept of reciprocal socialization
- Hearing - hear mothers vioce
- Smell - recognise smell of mother (ambiotic fluid, breast milk)
- Taste - can’t taste salt until 4 month old but otherwise can taste (like sugar + glutamate (present in breast milk)
- Seight: Blurred vision but does reconise faces
–> At birth: babies are able to recognise mothers! (important for reciprocal socialization)
Why do babies look cute?
They are social creatures and
utterly dependent upon their caregivers
• So it is a matter of survival that they get noticed
Explain the process of reciprocal socialisation
Reciprocal socialisation is bidirectional; children socialise parents just as parents socialise children
What is the internal working model?
“internal working model” Bowlby (1969)
–> (Very similar to reciprocal socialisation) is established through this social process; The baby coordinates his systems with those of the people around him
What is the role of the parents in the development of their babies?
Parents give babies the resources to develop through
- scaffolding = assisting a child to accomplish task
- reciprocal socialisation,
- provision of a stimulating and enriching environment (both physiologically and psychologically)
What is Attachment?
It is the instict that seeks proximity to a carer when threat or discomfort is experienced/ percieved
- carer gives sense of savety from secure base
- allows child to expolre world wihle being protected
Mediated by Mind-mindedness
- carer percieve child as individual with own meaningful thoughts and ideas
Explain the stages of developing attachment
It is a stage model and babies goes through phases of attachment (develops expecially in first year)
- Birth to 3M; baby prefers people to inanimate objects, indiscriminate proximity seeking eg clinging to carer
- 3-8M; smiles discriminately to main caregivers
- 8 – 12M; selectively approaches main caregivers, uses socialreferencing / familiar adults as “secure base” to explore new situations; shows fear of strangers and separation anxiety
- From 12M; the attachment behaviour can be measured reliably.
Explain the strange situation test
See how babies respond to (slightly stressful) temporary absence of their mother
Researchers are interested in two things:
- How much the child explores the room on his own, and
- How the child responds to the return of his mother
What are the characteristics of a securely attached child in the strange situation test?
When secure base
- allows development and exploitation –> security and comfort
- preference for a mother
- explores the room freely when Mum is presen
- He may be distressed when his mother leaves, and he explores less when she is absent.
- is happy when she returns
- If he cries, he approaches his mother and holds her tightly. He is comforted by being held, and,
- once comforted, he is soon ready to resume his independent exploration of the world.
- His mother is responsive to his needs. As a result, he knows he can depend on her when he is under stress (Ainsworth et al 1978).
What does a secure attachment in childhood lead to?
Promotes: resilience and social skills
Promotes
- Independence
- Emotional availability
- Better moods
- Better emotional coping
Associated with
- fewer behavioural problems
- higher IQ and academic performance
- Contributes to a child’s moral development
- Reduces child distress
In adolescence and adulthood associated with
- Social competence
- Loyal friendships
- More secure parenting of offspring
- Greater leadership qualities
- Greater resistance to stress
- Less mental health problems such as anxiety and depression
- Less psychopathology e.g schizophrenia
What are the characteristics of an insecure attachment
Different types of insecure attachments
- Avoidant insecure
- limited exploration with mother present
- no response when mother leaves
- no preference for mother over other people
- Resistant insecure
- not much exploration
- preferes mother over others
- distressed when mother leaves
- when mother returns is not just happy and wants to bind but also angry that mother has left
- Disorganized-insecure
- mix of avoidance and reisistant insecure
- incrreased risk of behavioural and developmental problems
What does the an insecure attachment style lead to?
Insecure attachments place the individual at risk but are not causative for later problems.
–> risk factor for non-social, more problematic behaviour
Explain the role and benefits of play
Overall: beneficial, important and promotes development and cognitive development
- Practice decision-making,
- Overcome fears
- Develop new competencies Learn how to work in group Develop own interests
- planning
- Practice adult roles
- Promotes language development
- Promotes creative problem solving
- Extend positive emotions
- Maintain healthy activity level
