Emotional development & attachment relationships Flashcards
Define emotion
state or feeling that has physiological, situational, subjective, and cognitive components and desire to take action
what are the components of emotions
Neural responses
Physiological factors (heart/ breathing rate and hormone levels)
Emotional expressions
Subjective feelings
Desire to take action, desire to escape/approach/change people or things in environment
Cognitive component: evaluation
explain the emergence of basic positive emotions in children
0-3 months: reflexive, not directed
3 months: social smiling , directed
3-4 months: laughter emerges
7 months: smiling more at familiar people
Second year: more intensive, varied positive emotions in more contexts
Explain the emergence of basic negative emotions in Children
New born: general distress (hunger, pain)
Fear: 6-7 months - fear of strangers, novel objects, loud noises. Adaptive
8 months: separation anxiety
Anger 4-8 months - due to needs not being met and frustration at not being able to control environment
What do self conscious emotions require
Basic sense of self
Awareness of others reaction to us
Awareness of standards and norms
When do self conscious emotions emerge
18-24 months
What are the self-conscious emotions
Pride
Shame
Guilt
Embarrassment
at what age can children distinguish between photos of people smiling and frowning
3 months old
what age do children distinguish between happiness and surprise
4-7 months
what age to children begin social referencing - looking to an adult for cues to help interpret novel or ambiguous situations
10-12 months
what age to children have a more solid understanding of others desires/likes
18 months
what age do children gain the ability to label and understand emotions
Toddlers and preschool years
what age is the understanding of the public aspect of emotion gained; how situations trigger emotions and how they are outwardly expressed
up to age 5
what age is understanding of mentalistic nature of emotions gained; emotions are related to other mental states
by age 7
When is the understanding that one even can elicit several emotions gained; cognitive strategies can be used to regulate emotions
age 9-11
describe the process of learning to regulate emotions
early on: reliance on caregivers to regulate externally
1-2 years: some self-regulation (behavioural strategies: self-distraction)
By preschool and school years: more self-regulation, rely less on others, more cognitive strategies
What did the marshmallow test show
That not all children regulate emotions equally well; those who don’t have trouble with social interactions and demands
Define attachment theory
An enduring affective bond with a specific person, often between a child and their primary caregiver. Universal, long-lasting, not dependency or sociability
Describe the developmental course of attachment theory
preattachment
Attachment-in-the-making
Clear-cut (true) attachment
Reciprocal relationships
Describe pre attachment in regards of attachment theory
Indiscriminate social responsiviness (birth to 2 months)
infants produce innate signals - summon and elicit responses from caregiver
Learn to recognise caregivers by smell and sound
Interactive system, first step to forming attachment
Describe attachment-in-the-making in regards to attachment theory
discriminate social responsiveness (2-7 months)
Respond preferentially to primary caregiver
More easily soothed by primary caregiver
Beginning to identify caregiver as person they can depend on
Describe Clear-cut (true) attachment in regards to attachment theory
Focused attachment to regular caregiver (7 months to 1.5)
Infants have singled out attachment figure (often mom)
Trust this person, who provides socioemotional base
Separational anxiety
Describe reciprocal relationships in regards to attachment theory
Goal-corrected partnerships (from 2 years on)
Gradually less separation anxiety
Can negotiate with caregiver
Become true partners in attachment relationships
Define secure attachment
use caregiver as secure base during exploration
May be distressed when caregiver leaves
Reunion: happy to see caregiver, actively seeks contact if distressed, comforted by caregivers presence or contact, recovers quickly from any distress.
Define insecure attachment
Less positive attachment then secure children
Three types of insecure attachment styles:
Insecure-avoidant
Insecure-resistant (ambivalent)
Disorganized/disoriented
Parenting style: consistent, sensitive, warm, responds appropriately to child’s needs.
define insecure-avoidant attachment
Marked by indifference towards caregiver
If distressed during separation, comforted as easily by stranger as by caregiver
Reunion: indifferent or avoidant when caregiver returns
Parenting style: unresponsive, rejecting, colder
Define insecure-resistant (ambivalent) attachment
Clingy, stays close to caregiver rather than exploring
Very upset during separation
Reunion: Both seeks and resists caregiver’s comfort, not easily comforted
Parenting style: inconsistently available, inconsistent discipline, permissive
Define disorganized/disoriented attachment
small percentage of children don’t fit other categories
No consistent way of coping with stress
Behaviour is confused or contradictory
High percentages among maltreated children, maternal drug abuse or children of depressed caregivers
what does secure attachment lead to in the future
Closer, more harmonious relationships with peers later in childhood.
Higher self-regulation, social competence with peers
Less anxious, depressed or socially withdrawn
Display more helping, sharing and concern for peers
