Emotional development across the life stages

Question 1

What is Emotional Literacy?

Answer 1

The ability to understand and appropriately express emotions. Essential for forming social relationships.

Question 2

What is Empathy?

Answer 2

The ability to identify with or understand another’s situation or feelings

Question 3

What is Attachment?

Answer 3

A strong emotional between a child and caregiver

Question 4

What is Self-image?

Answer 4

The way the individual sees themselves, their own mental image of themselves

Question 5

What is Self-esteem?

Answer 5

How a person feels about themselves / pride

Question 6

What are the key features of emotional development in infancy?

Answer 6

Bowlby argues that infants have an inbuilt feature to form an attachment with a primary care giver. This quality of attachment can affect the child’s emotional development for the rest of their lives. Ainsworth argues that the quality of our early attachments influences our assumptions of others and ourselves. Infants who insecurely attached may have a reduced ability to cope with stress and major life events.

Question 7

What are the key features of emotional development in early childhood?

Answer 7

Children use their imagination to begin understanding social roles, idea of self or self concept. Relationships with other family members may have influence whether a child feels valued or has a sense of self-worth. A child may develop a permanent sense of confidence or a sense of failure and inferiority.

Question 8

What are the key features of emotional development in Adolescence?

Answer 8

An adolescence needs to develop a secure self concept. This may be a stressful time as self esteem depends on a person developing an identity.

Question 9

What are the key features of emotional development in early and middle adulthood ?

Answer 9

A person’s self esteem is influenced by lifestyle such as job and marital status. Self image is determined by appearance and how others see you. Individuals need to learn to cope with emotional attachment to a sexual partner.

Question 10

What are the key features of emotional development in Late Adulthood?

Answer 10

Older people need a secure sense of self to be able to cope with the physical changes associated with aging and death. Those that fail to make sense of their life might experience emotional dispair.

Question 11

What are the effects of a secure attachment?

Answer 11

The child will feel loved , secure , and have a sense of belonging. The child will also explore the world around them. This leads to happier and healthier attachments with others in the future .

Question 12

What are the effects of insecure attachments?

Answer 12

A mistrust of caregivers or adults in authority could develop. It can also lead to behavioural issues , a lack of ability to receive affection or manipulative behaviour. Children may not develop the secure base necessary to cope with life events.

Question 13

What is separation anxiety to a caregiver?

Answer 13

An intense distress when separated from their mothers. The child’s distress doesn’t disappear when fed by someone else.

Question 14

What was Rutter’s criticism of Bowlby?

Answer 14

That Bowlby oversimplified his theory. That maternal deprivation doesnt lead to long term problems. However, privation is much more damaging.

Question 15

What is Deprivation?

Answer 15

Being deprived of a caregiver to whom an attachment already exists.

Question 16

What is Privation

Answer 16

Being deprived of forming any attachment.

Question 17

What was Schaffer and Emerson theory on attachment?

Answer 17

Babies are more likely to form attachments to caregivers who respond effectively to their signals. Not the person they spend most their time with. This is called sensitive responsiveness.

Question 18

What are the 4 stages of Schaffer and Emerson’s sequence of attachment

Answer 18

Asocial /up to 3 months/: Most babies respond indiscriminately to any caregiver

Indiscriminate/ 3-7 months /: Infants can distinguish between their PCG and others. The infant will accept care from other people.

Specific/ 7-9 months /: This is when the infant looks for security form particular people for comfort and protection. The baby will show fear of strangers and unhappiness when separated from the PCG.

Multiple/ 9 months + /: The baby starts to become more independent and forms several relationships, referred to as multiple attachment.

Question 19

Why might attachments not go smoothly?

Answer 19

• Baby is born premature, cannot have close contact with mother.
• Post natal depression
• Separation from parents
• Fostercare/ adoption
• Emotional unavailability
• Disability

Question 20

Development of self-esteem in infancy:

Answer 20

0-18 months : Babies start to build self-esteem by having their basic needs met. Babies gradually become aware that they are loved as their primary care giver provide comfort love and attention.

18 months - 2 years old : Every time they learn a new skill they begin to realise what they can begin to achieve and begin to learn about themselves.

Question 21

How can positive self-esteem be enforced in early childhood?

Answer 21

Through what the child can do successfully and independently and also by the feedback they receive from carers and by teaching them problem solving skills.

Question 22

What are the effects of slow self-esteem in early childhood?

Answer 22

The child could become passive , withdrawn and depressed. These children have difficulties dealing with problems, are very self-critical and speak negatively about themselves.

Question 23

What factors can affect self-esteem in adulthood?

Answer 23

• Career development
• Personal achievement
• Stress
• Difficult life events

Question 24

What can a negative body image lead to?

Answer 24

Lead to psychological problems such as anxiety , eating disorders, depression, and negative feeling of self-worth.