chapter 2

Question 1

Explain the meaning of psychosocial development.

Answer 1

The formation of social development over a period of time. Erikson’s theory follows an 8-stage sequence, each with a respective crisis to overcome.

Question 2

What is a psychosocial crisis and why do they occur? Provide an example.

Answer 2

It is a conflict between our internal (personal) needs and the external pressures / demands of society.

An example of this is identity and role confusion.

Question 3

Define secure and insecure attachment.

Answer 3

Secure attachment: A balance between dependence and independence; some distress when away from parent; results in good self-esteem and emotional regulation

Insecure attachment: A lack of trust and dependence on caregiver; avoids contact, no distress when away from parent; often caused by neglect or abuse

Question 4

Name the eight stages of development and their age ranges.

Answer 4

Infant: 0-1
Toddler: 1-3
Pre-school: 3-5
Primary school: 6-12
Adolescent: 13-18
Young adult: 18-25
Middle age: 25-65
Older adult: 65+

Question 5

Define the crisis of identity vs role confusion.

Answer 5

Where adolescents explore their sense of self by asking “who am i?”, trying to discover themselves through goals, values, interests and beliefs, and where they fit into society

Question 6

Explain Harry Harlow’s contact comfort theory.

Answer 6

Harry Harlow’s contact comfort theory aimed to find out whether food or comfort was more important for attachment in monkeys, which could then be translated to human attachment.

The study found that the monkeys would gravitate towards the cloth mother, even if she didn’t provide food. The study concluded that contact comfort is likely to be an important factor in human attachment.

Question 7

Define nature and nurture, provide examples.

Answer 7

Nature: Biological influences on our development (genes, etc)
Nurture: Environmental influences on our development (upbringing, education, etc)