A3 Emotional Development Flashcards
What is emotional literacy?
The ability to recognise, understand and appropriately express emotions
What is empathy?
The ability to understand and identify another persons situation or feelings
What is attachment
A strong emotional connection between a child and caregiver
What is self image?
The way an individual sees themselves and their mental image of themselves
What is self esteem?
How a person feels about themselves self worth or pride
What does Bowlby say about attachment during infancy?
- Infants have an inbuilt need to form an attachment
- The quality of this attachment may affect emotional development for the rest of the child’s life
Why is attachment important?
- Secure attachments lead to happier and healthier attachments later in life
What happens if an insecure attachment occurs?
- Behavioural issues
- Lack of ability to receive affection
- Manipulative behaviour
What did Bowlby believe about attachment?
- Early experiences influence development later in life
- It aids survival
- It was an innate need for a child to attach to at least one main attachment figure (monotropy) was usually the mother
What was Bowlby’s critical and sensitive periods for attachment?
- critical — 0 to 2.5
- sensitive — up to the age of 5
What did Bowlby believe about the disruption of attachment?
It would cause irreversible long term consequences
What is maternal deprivation?
- The separation or loss of the mother and the failure of an attachment developing
What could maternal deprivation cause?
- The continual disruption could cause long term cognitive, social and emotional difficulties for the infant
- delinquency
- reduced intelligence
- increased aggression
- depression
- affection less psychopathy
What is the internal working model?
-A schema about how future relationships should be
- If a child experiences poor early relationships they may think this is normal
(mother acts as a relationship prototype)
What are emotional impacts of disrupted attachment?
- struggle with self esteem and confidence
- need constant reassurance
- suppress their feelings
- more likely to struggle with depression/anxiety
What are the social impacts of disrupted attachment?
- less independent
- poor communication skills
- more likely to engage in criminal behaviour
- egocentric and more likely to be aggressive
What research supports Bowlby’s theory?
- 44 thieves study
- over 50% of them had experiences separation from their mother for 6 months+ during the critical period
What research disproves Bowlby’s theory?
-Czech Twins
- Mother died and they were neglected until 7 years old but have been able to form healthy attachments and fit into society
What are the strengths of Bowlby’s theory?
- Backed by evidence (44 thieves)
- Practical Applications (hospitalised children’s parents can stay/ maternity and paternity pay)
What are the criticisms of Bowlby’s theory?
- Ignores nature
- Outdated (1950s)
- Disproven (Czech twins)
- Lack of scientific evidence that attachment is innate
What did Mary Ainsworth believe?
Attachment could impact later kids and age categorised children on their attachment type
What behaviours are securely attached children likely to portray?
- Getting upset when they are left but can be soothed
- Happy when reunited
- Clear preference to primary care giver
What behaviours are insecurely attached (ambivalent) children likely to portray?
- extremely suspicious of strangers
- distress when separated from care giver but not comforted when they return
What behaviours are insecurely attached (avoidant) children likely to portray?
- avoid patents and care givers
- show no preference between parent and stranger
What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) believe?
- Babies form attachments to caregivers that respond effectively to their signals and doesn’t have to be who they spend a lot of time with (sensitive responsiveness)
- More important for adult to interact and play w them rather than just doing basic needs (feed)
