Development of Social Relationships Flashcards
What is the belongingness hypothesis?
Humans don’t just have a desire to belong, but rather that the search for acceptance by others is a basic human need that is wired into our being
How is the need to belong an evolutionary development? (3)
The desire to form and maintain social bonds can be seen as having both survival and reproductive benefits
Group cooperation can ensure a supply of food, success in hunting larger animals, or in protection from predators
It is easier to find mates and to protect and care for the young in groups
What is the sociometer? (2)
the sociometer measures how accepted or rejected we feel in social situations
it responds to situations that confirm one’s acceptance, through a raising of the feeling of self esteem - any indication of being ignored or rejected will be felt as a lowering of the feeling of self esteem
What are Adler’s views on social feeling? (3)
a child is a social being, so his strongest motivation is his desire to belong
a child’s security or lack of it depends upon his feeling of belonging within a group as it is his basic requirement
everything a child does is aimed at finding his place
Why is belongingness important? (2)
People do things to be recognized, so if a person is recognized for something, regardless if it morally good or bad, they will keep doing it
Humans do not survive without belonging, the same way they do not survive without food and water
Describe the Harlow Monkey experiment (4)
8 new-born monkeys were placed in individual cages, where each had access to 2 surrogate mother monkeys
1 mother was made of bare wire mesh while the other has terry cloth covering the mesh
4 monkeys could get their milk from a bottle mounted on the wire mother while 4 others could get it from the terry cloth mother
all of the monkeys spent more time clinging to the terry cloth mother, even though their physical nourishment came from bottles mounted on the wire mothers
What is attachment?
A type of affectional bond in which a person’s sense of security is bound up in the relationship
Why is the first attachment important?
First attachments lead the child to construct an internal working model of the relationships that would be activated in each of its new future relationships
What is an affectional bond?
A bond wherein one (the parent) doesn’t use the other (child) as a safe base
What is the internal working model?
a cognitive construction of the workings of relationships, such as expectations of support or affection, trustworthiness etc.
What are the 2 types of attachment according to Ainsworth?
Secure attachment and insecure attachment
Describe secure attachment in Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (5)
Child readily separates from mother and easily becomes absorbed in exploration
When frightened, child actively seeks contact and is readily consoled by stranger
Child doesn’t resist contact if mother initiates it
When reunited with mother, child greets her positively
Child clearly prefers mother over stranger
Describe avoidant attachment in Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (3)
Child avoids contact with mother, especially at reunion
Child doesn’t resist mother’s efforts to make contact, but doesn’t seek it
Child shows no preference for mother over stranger
Describe ambivalent attachment in Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (5)
Child is greatly upset when separated from mother
Child shows little exploration and is wary of the stranger
Child is not soothed by mother’s return or attempts at comforting
Child both seeks and avoids contact at different times and avoids contact completely from stranger
Child may show anger towards mother at reunion
Describe disorganized attachment in Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (2)
Dazed behavior, confusion, or apprehension
Child shows contradictory behavior patterns simultaneously, such as moving towards mother while keeping gaze averted
What are the subtypes of insecure attachment? (Ainsworth) (3)
Avoidant (detached)
Ambivalent (resistant)
Disorganized (disoriented)
Describe the difference between self awareness and social awareness
Self awareness - a person is aware of their traits, hence knowledgeable - results in self confidence
Social awareness - a person is caring - results in empathy
Describe the difference between self management and social management
Self management - a person knows their capabilities - results in self control and self motivation
Social management - a person has will over their actions, hence they are responsible - results in influence over others
What is affective empathy?
the sensations and feelings we get in response to others’ emotions (emotional contagion)
What is cognitive empathy?
understanding another person’s internal state, including thoughts and feelings (perspective taking)
What is empathic concern?
an emotional response of compassion and concern caused by witnessing someone else in need (compassion)
What are the 4 stages of empathy according to Hoffman?
- Global empathy (0-1 year)
- Egocentric empathy (1-3 years)
- Empathy for another’s feelings (3-11 years)
- Empathy for another’s life condition (12+ years)
What is global empathy?
An infant reflecting emotions they witness e.g., crying when another infant is crying
What is egocentric empathy?
An infant reacts by offering the same kind of help they themselves find comforting in such situations
Describe empathy for another’s feelings?
Becoming aware that other people’s feelings can differ from their own, hence the response to others’ distress may become more appropriate to others’ needs
Describe empathy for another’s life condition?
Becoming aware that others’ feelings may not just be due to the immediate situation, but arise from a general life condition
What is the theory of mind?
a set of ideas that explain and predict other people’s ideas, beliefs, desires, and behavior
How does theory of mind develop in growing children (4)
4-5 years - aspect of theory of mind emerges
6 years - children realize that knowledge can be derived through inference
7 years - understanding of the reciprocal nature of thought develops
Adolescence - ability to step out of a 2-person dyad and view interaction from a 3rd person perspective develops
What are some socio-emotional skills? (4)
recognition and management of one’s own emotions and behaviors
appreciation of others’ perspective
responsible decision making
effective negotiation of relationships
