Socio-emotional DevelopmentHuman Development

Understanding Human Development

Development – Continuity and change in human capabilities over a lifespan.◦Physical◦Cognitive◦Social◦Emotional

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Issues in Developmental Psychology

Issue Details

Nature/NurtureHow do genetic inheritance (our nature) and experience

(the nurture we receive) influence our behavior?

Continuity/StagesIs developmental a gradual,

continuous process or a sequence of separate stages?

Stability/ChangeDo our early personality traits persist through life, or do we become different persons as

we age.

TemperamentTemperament refers to characteristic patterns of

emotional reactions and emotional self-regulationThomas and Chess identified three basic types of

babies◦ Easy

Good-natured, easy to care for, adaptable, regular behavior◦ Difficult

Moody and intense, react to new situations and people negatively and strongly, cries a lot, irregular behavior

◦ Slow-to-warm-up Inactive and slow to respond to new things, and when they do

react, it is mild, inflexible behaviorKagan has added a fourth type

◦Shy child Timid and inhibited, fearful of anything new or strange

Temperament may predict later disposition

TemperamentNew research suggests we should look out children's

abilities in terms of ◦ Effortful control (self-regulation)◦ Inhibition (Shyness in social situations)◦ Negative Affectivity (how easily frustrated)

Cultural differences◦ 4-day-old with cloth over face◦ European American: struggled◦ Chinese American: calmer

Genetic and environmental influences◦ Womb◦ Day care

Attachment

The most important social construct an infant must develop is attachment (a bond with a caregiver).

Lorenz discovered that some animals form attachment through imprinting.

AttachmentEmotional connection we share with

those we feel closest to◦Imprinting◦Critical periods◦Contact Comfort

Harry Harlow’s Study

Harry Harlow – Displayed our need for social attachment with the use of Rhesus Monkeys

Relates to human issues in:WithdrawalNo sexual relationsIgnored & abused infants

Forming AttachmentsMary Ainsworth StudiesSecure Attachment – infants use

mother as a base from which to explore

Usually attach to mother first◦Caregiver◦Calming force

Attach to father later◦Playmate

Attachment• Critical Periods: the

optimal period shortly after birth when an organism’s exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produce proper development.

• Those who are deprived of touch have trouble forming attachment when they are older.

Click on the monkey to see what a baby monkey does when he HAS attachment and imagine what it is like when he does not (like above).

Strange Situation Study

Studies infants response to separation from their mother

Stranger anxiety – develops at 8-9 months, peaks at 1 year

Strange Situation Results

• Three types of attachment:Securely attached babies

◦distressed when separated from mother, but easily soothed

Insecure-avoidant◦Indifferent when mother leaves◦Doesn’t react upon return

Insecure-anxious◦Panic when mother leaves◦Ambivalent upon return

Disorganized◦Inconsistent, dazed, confused

Criticisms of Strange Situation

Mono-operation bias: drawing conclusions on the basis of only a single measure

Not very reliableDifferent attachment with mother

than fatherChildren might elicit parental

attachment behaviors

CLICK

THE ROLE OF PARENTING

Social Development

Parenting

Permissive◦ Lenient, lots of freedom not a lot of discipline. Children have

poor social competence and are disrespectful, impulsiveAuthoritarian

◦ Very strict, lots of punishment, little affection. Sometimes lack social skills, poor initiative, and compare themselves with others.

Authoritative◦ Happy medium – supportive but set limits. Children are self-

reliant, socially competent, responsibleUninvolved

◦ Neglectful, children feel less important, lose social competence

ParentingCultural differences

◦ Individualistic: better with authoritative ◦ Collectivist: better with authoritarian

Average expectable environment ◦ Provide basic needs for affection and discipline

What about …..◦ Peers?

Group socialization theory◦ Dad?◦ Single parent homes?◦ Homosexual parents?◦ Divorce?

Self-ControlAbility to inhibit an impulse to actDelaying gratification at young

age predictive of future coping abilities

ERIK ERIKSON’S THEORY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Social Development

Erik EriksonA neo-FreudianWorked with Anna FreudThought our personality

was influenced by our experiences with others.

Stages of Psychosocial Development.

Each stage centers on a social conflict.

EriksonFour stages in childhood, four after

puberty.Shows that socio-emotional

development occurs throughout a lifespan

Focus on gaining competence and maturity

At each stage the person must master a developmental task.◦If not met can carry these concerns

throughout life

Erikson EvaluationA giant in the field of

developmentOnly used case study

research and evidence, so lacks foundation.

Leaves out some developmental tasks◦Work and career during young

adulthood

LAWRENCE KOHLBERG VS. CAROL GILLIGAN: HOW DO WE DEVELOP MORALS?

Socioemotional Development

Moral DevelopmentKohlberg (1958) – asked a series

of questions about moral scenarios.

Answers to moral dilemma from participants were used to display moral development.

The Famous Heinz Scenario

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

Studied the development of children’s moral thinking Follows a sequence and do not skip stages or go backwards Advance at different rates

◦ PRECONVENTIONAL- Base decisions on the consequences of behavior Stage One- What is good helps you avoid punishment Stage Two- What is good satisfies a person’s needs

◦ CONVENTIONAL- Decisions conform to society Stage Three- Do things to win approval (13 yrs) Stage Four- Don’t do anything that’s against law and order (16yrs)

◦ POSTCONVENTIONAL- Decisions based on your values (adults) Stage Five- Obedience to accepted laws based on personal values Stage Six- Decisions based on moral beliefs without concern for

laws

Carol GilliganArgued that Kohlberg did not give

adequate attention to relationships◦Gender bias involved

Showed Kohlberg came from a justice perspective, not a care perspective (her approach)

Gilligan puts more emphasis on interpersonal communication, relationships, and concern.

Human Moral DevelopmentSupportive parenting and

parental monitoring connected to pro-social behavior in children

Ability to engage in self-control also shown to connect to willingness to empathize (Eisenberg, 2010)

When do children develop a conscious?

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENCE AND ADULTHOOD

Socioemotional Development

AdolescenceThe key lies in the search for identity as

the brain fully develops.Biological-Socioemotional crossover

periodIdentity Status is formed through

exploration, experimentation and commitment◦ Identity Achievement◦ Identity Moratorium◦Identity Foreclosure◦ Identity Diffusion

Emerging AdulthoodEmerging transitional period

◦18-25 years patterned by a focus on the self, being “in-between”, and instability in various aspect of life.

Early Adulthood = Point of Marriage◦Nurture fondness and admiration◦Turning toward each other as friends◦Giving up some power◦Solving conflicts together

AdulthoodMiddle Adulthood

◦Preventing the midlife crisis through Generativity

◦Engaged parenting is one way to due this

Late Adulthood◦Need to look back and evaluate life’s

meaning◦Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Erikson)◦Meaning is a central focus of the

elderly Maximize life’s experiences