Human Development - Social Development

Question 1

Parent-Offspring Attachment

Answer 1

Different infants form different types of attachments with their parents

Question 2

The Strange Situation

Answer 2

Infants have 4 dominant types of responses to the STRANGE SITUATION

1) SECURE ATTACHMENT
- Cries when mother leaves; becomes happy when she returns
2) INSECURE-AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT
- Infant is indifferent to mothers departure and return
3) INSECURE-ANXIOUS ATTACHMENT
- When mother leaves, reacts with crying/panic; when mother returns, child is conflicted and does not respond with overt happiness
4) DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENT
- Inconsistent set of responses, or apparent confusion to mothers departure and return

Importantly, infants behaviour in the Strange Situation is indicative of their behaviour later in life with social/intimate relationships

Question 3

Imprinting

Answer 3

some animals (particularly birds) form strong attachment bonds with the first large physical object that they encounter after birth.

There is a critical period which this has to develop.

Question 4

Theories of Attachment

Answer 4

Harlow’s famous rhesus monkey experiment on attachment suggests comfort and security create stronger parental bonds than nourishment.

Question 5

Critical Periods for Language

Answer 5

Language is a good example of a cognitive ability with a developmental critical period. If children do not acquire language before the age of 7, they tend not to be able to develop language at all. Genie (above) is an interesting case study on this topic.