Lifespan and Flashcards
Domains of Development:
Physical Cognitive Social/Relational Language/Communication Emotion/Affect (Regulation of Behavior and Coping) Expressive (Play and Fantasy) Moral Sense of Self/Relation to Reality
Stages theories (step change)
Qualitative change
• Emphasized discontinuity
• Period of time with distinct characteristics
• Stability during stage, transition between stages
• Ex: Freud, Erikson, Piaget
Continuous theories (incremental change)
Learning theories
• Ex: Bandura
Contemporary Developmental Theories
- Include both stage and continuous aspects of development
- Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory
- Lifespan Developmental Theory
Areas of Divergence Amongst Theories
- Active vs. passive person
- Continuous vs. discontinuous development
- Nature vs. nurture
Psychoanalytic viewpoint
• Freud & Erickson
Learning viewpoint
• Watson, Skinner, & Bandura
Cognitive-Developmental Viewpoint
• Piaget
Ethological (or Evolutionary) Viewpoint
• Gesell, Bowlby & Ainsworth
Ecological Systems Viewpoint
• Bronfenbrenner
John Locke
- Tabula rasa
- “Blank slate”
- Born with no inborn tendencies or ideas
- Neither inherently good or bad (how they develop depends on experiences)
- Children passive role in development
John Locke Learning
- Learn through encounters with others and environment
- Learn through modeling (not discipline)
- Embrace individual differences—used to guide learning
Jean Jacques Rousseau
- Innate purity
- Born with intuitive sense of right and wrong
- Children active role in development
- “busy, testing, motivated explore”
- Children be children first
Jean Jacques Rousseau
- Least restrictive environment
* Natural learning opportunities
Influence of Early Philosophers/Theorists
- Childhood is distinct and important
- Play is a critical aspect of development
- Natural learning opportunities and self-exploration key to learning
• Early childhood developmental theorists believed that:
• Significance of proper care for the unborn child (Comenius)
• Exploration and play are essential methods by which young children learn (Comenius,
Locke, Rousseau, Pestalozzi, and Froebel)
• The needs of the child should determine the child’s curriculum (Locke)
• The wisdom in paying attention to the development of the child (Locke)
• Mental development is related to the physical condition of the child, hence the need for
physical activity (Locke. Pestalozzi, Dewey)
• Allow children to be children (Rousseau)
• Direct instruction should come second to real experiences (Rousseau)
• Children should be involved in self-directed activities (Pestalozzi, Froebel, Montessori)
• Children should learn to develop their senses to understand their world (Comenius, Locke,
Rousseau, Froebel,Montessori)
• Education of the child should include the family (Pestalozzi)
• Love, affection and concern for the child is sound educational doctrine (Pestalozzi)
• Instructional materials should be designed with purposes in mind to help children learn.
(Froebel, Montessori)
• Free time and circle time activities should be part of the curriculum for young children
(Locke, Rousseau, Froebel)
• Experiences beyond the classroom are essential (Dewey)
• Time for social interaction is an essential part of the curriculum (Rousseau, Dewey)
Attachment
- A secure base from which to explore (Ainsworth , 1963)
- A unique relationship between an infant and caregiver—the foundation of future healthy development (Bowlby, 1969, 1982)
Bowlby
• Observed children
Ainsworth
- Uganda Project
- Baltimore Project
- Strange Situation
• Main
• Adult Attachment
• Schaffer and Emerson
• Stages of attachment
Attachment Theory
• An inherent biological response and behavioral system in place to provide satisfaction of
basic human needs
• In adults construct of how adults remember their own childhood experiences, which can
influence attachment with own children (Mary Main et al., 1985)
Stages of Attachment (Schaffer and Emerson)
Asocial
Indiscriminate
Discriminate
Multiple
Asocial
(Birth to 6 weeks): Infant prefer humans but no one specific
Indiscriminate
(6 weeks to 6 months): Infant begin to show preference for primary and other caregivers
Discriminate
(~7 months): Infant shows strong attachment to one specific caregiver (separation anxiety and fear of strangers)
Multiple
(~10 months): Infant expands attachment to other caregivers **Individual differences
Attachment Types
- Secure
- Avoidant/Dismissive
- Ambivalent/Resistant/Anxious
- Disorganized
Secure
(most infants): caregiver safe base to explore environment; easily soothed; caregiver sensitive to infant/child’s needs
Avoidant/ Dismissive
independent, avoids contact with attachment figure when distress; insensitive caregiver or unavailable
Ambivalent/ Resistant/ Anxious
anxious during separation but upon reunification rejects
and seeks caregiver; caregiver inconsistent with interactions
Disorganized
child responds to caregiver’s return with odd behaviors; associated with early abuse and highly correlated with mental health
Internal Working Model
- Through 4 phases of attachment develop IWM of expectations of attachment figures
- Availability
- Likelihood to provide support during stress
- Guides future close relationships
Attachment Theory—Understanding the Essential Bond
• In 1958, psychologist John Bowlby pioneered “attachment theory,” the idea that the early bond between parent and child is critical to a child’s emotional development. Since then, scientists have discovered that insecure attachment during formative years can significantly stress both the developing brain and body, resulting in long-term psychological and physical ailments. For example, low levels of attachment security have been linked to diminished levels of cortisol, a steroidal hormone released in response to stress that is critical in reducing inflammation in the body. Higher levels of attachment security correlate with more normal cortisol responses. When their caregiver leaves the room, insecurely attached children may not cry out but still experience physiological distress that may not be alleviated when the parent returns. Securely attached children may cry when their caregiver leaves the room but will be soothed by their caregiver’s return and then move forward with playing/exploring. The depicted intervention is measuring success by child behavior and cortisol levels.
John Bowlby: Attachment Theory Across Generations
• Bowlby was influenced by Piaget (cognitive psychology), Lorenz (ethology), and Erikson (psychoanalysis). Early attachment styles produce an immense influence on relationships throughout the lifespan. “A society that values its children should value its parents.”
Attachment Theory: Progress and Further Directions (Week 2 Article)
- Attachment theory makes the bold claim that the causes of variation in attachment security are largely if not entirely environmental, and that caregivers’ sensitivity to infants’ attachment cues and communications is the primary environmental determinant (this is supported by research but with caveats).
- Attachment might be transmitted, by what are assumed to be environmental mechanisms, from one generation to the next (this is poorly understood but may be a result of parental sensitivity to child’s needs.
- Security in adulthood is associated with childhood experiences with caregivers (maybe)
- The evidence broadly supports the idea that secure attachment is associated with better socioemotional outcomes, at least in childhood, but also points to the role of measurement issues, the lack of large main effects, and of some specificity in the insecure subtypes associated with different outcomes.
Who is Piaget?
- Cognitive Development Theory
- Constructivist theory
- Stage theory
- Schemas
- Assimilation and accommodation
- Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operations
- Object permanence
Assimilation
Integrating reality on to ones own views.