A3: Emotional Development Across the Life Stages

Question 1

What does emotional development identify?

Answer 1

how a person begins to feel about themselves and other people - this becomes emotional literacy and empathy

Question 2

Emotional development begins with…

Answer 2

attachments which infants form to their main caregiver

Question 3

What will an infant have if they form attachments to their main caregiver?

Answer 3

• a positive self-image
• a good self-concept

Question 4

What is emotional literacy?

Answer 4

• the ability to recognise, understand and appropriately express emotions
• it is essential for forming positive social relationships

Question 5

Who may find emotional literacy hard to form?

Answer 5

• those with learning difficulties
• people with speech difficulties

Question 6

What is empathy?

Answer 6

the ability to identify with or understand another’s situation or feelings
- “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes”

Question 7

What is attachment?

Answer 7

strong emotional connection between a child and caregiver

Question 8

It is argued that attachments between child and caregiver form…

Answer 8

our first stages of emotional and social development

Question 9

What is self-image?

Answer 9

the way an individual sees themselves
- their mental image of themselves

Question 10

Why do we always compare the way we look to other people?

Answer 10

• insecurities
• poor self-image
• motivation to meet the ideal self

Question 11

What is self-esteem?

Answer 11

how a person feels about themselves, self-worth or pride

Question 12

What factors could impact a child’s self-esteem?

Answer 12

• bullying or neglect
• praise and encouragement
• others opinions and views

Question 13

What is self-concept?

Answer 13

how we see and feel about ourselves, seeing ourselves as a unique individual
- combination of self-image and self-esteem

Question 14

Emotional development in:
infancy (0-2 years)

Answer 14

ATTACHMENT
- quality of child/caregiver attachment may impact emotional development in rest of life
- securely attached = will grow up with emotional resources needed to cope with life’s uncertainties
- insecurely attached = may have a reduced ability to cope with stress and major life events

Question 15

Emotional development in:
early childhood (3-8 years)

Answer 15

UNDERSTANDING SELF AND OTHERS
- children use imagination to understand the social roles of others
- begin to imagine a “me”, idea of self-concept
- relationships with family members may influence whether child feels valued or has a sense of self-worth
- relationship with teachers and friends may influence self-confidence
- child may develop permanent sense of confidence or failure and inferiority

Question 16

Emotional development in:
adolescence (9-18 years)

Answer 16

IDENTITY
- sense of self continues to develop
- needs to develop a secure self-concept
- needs a clear understanding of identity to feel secure when working with others or to make a loving sexual attachment
- may be a stressful time as self-esteem may depend on developing identity

Question 17

Emotional development in:
early and middle adulthood (19-65 years)

Answer 17

INTIMACY
- self-esteem is influenced by lifestyle such as their job or marital status
- self-image is affected by personal appearance and how others see you
- need to learn how to cope with emotional attachment to a sexual partner (may involve not being too self-centred/defensive and not becoming emotionally isolated)

Question 18

Emotional development in:
later adulthood (65+ years)

Answer 18

MAKING SENSE OF YOUR LIFE
- ned a secure sense of self to cope with the physical changes associated with ageing and death
- if fail to make sense of their lives, they might experience emotional despair