Human Development of Self: Part 1

Early Childhood

In _____________________, children's self-concept primarily revolves around physical attributes, possessions, and basic abilities. They often see themselves in concrete, observable terms like "I am tall" or "I am good at drawing." They tend to view themselves in terms of individual qualities, often through a positive lens.

Middle Childhood

In _____________________, children start to consider social comparisons, comparing themselves with peers to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Self-esteem develops, and children start integrating feedback from others into their self-assessment.

Adolescence

In _____________________, is when self-concept becomes more complex. Teenagers start questioning "Who am I?" and experimenting with different roles, forming a more coherent identity. This process often involves internal conflict as they explore and integrate their beliefs, values, and life goals.

Attachment

The development of a mutual and intense emotional relationship between an infant and its caregivers.

Cupboard Theory

Freud (1940) believed that the bond between a mother and child is formed because the baby needs nourishment, which it receives from the mother. Since the mother provides this, a bond is formed.

Classical Conditioning

Happens when a response produced naturally by a stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus not normally associated with that particular response.

Operant Conditioning

States that any action with a pleasurable outcome will be repeated.

Contact Comfort

Harlow challenged the cupboard theory and other behaviorist explanations of attachment with a set of rather controversial experiments - he found that monkeys were more attached to a cloth mother over a wire mother, regardless of which mother provided them with food.

Bowlby's (1973) Internal Working Model

A psychological framework that explains how early attachment experiences shape an individual's perception of themselves, others, and the world around them. According to Bowlby, the bond between an infant and their primary caregiver provides the child with a sense of security and a basis for exploring the world. When children experience consistent, responsive care, they begin to develop positive expectations about relationships, believing they are worthy of love and support, and that others are generally trustworthy.

Object Permanence

It is believed that at this age the child has developed a mental representation of the attachment figure, which is what Piaget termed...

Strange Situation Paradigm (Ainsworth 1970)

Resulted in a classification of attachment patterns. This test measures the child's attachment behavior based on how the child reacts when the mother leaves and subsequently returns.

Type A (Insecurely Attached, Avoidant) in children

The child shows apparent indifference when the mother leaves the room and avoids contact with her when she returns. The child is apparently not afraid of strangers. The mothers of these children tend to be insensitive and do not seem interested in their child's play.

Type B (Securely Attached) in children

The child is upset when the mother leaves and is happy to see her again. The mother easily comforts the child. The mothers of these children are very interested in their children's play and actively communicate with their children during play.

Type C (Insecurely Attached, Anxious or Ambivalent) in children

The child is very upset when the mother leaves the room and has difficulty soothing it when she returns. The child seeks comfort but rejects it at the same time. The mothers of these children tend to be inconsistent in their reactions to them.

Type D (Insecurely Attached, Disorganized) in children

A child with this attachment type shows no particular reaction when the mother leaves or comes back. This attachment type has been associated with childhood abuse and chronically depressed mothers.

Low Ecological Validity

The Strange Situation takes place in a controlled laboratory environment, which is very different from the child's natural home setting. The stressors introduced in the Strange Situation may lead to responses that would not occur in a child's natural routine. As a result, the test has....

Highly Standardized

The method in the Strange Situation Paradigm is a _____________________ procedure that allows for replications across time and culture. It is modeled on common, everyday experiences where mothers leave their children for brief periods in different settings.

Enculturation

The process by which individuals learn and internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of their culture, shaping their identities and social behaviors. It is considered your "first culture" or "heritage culture."

Acculturation

The process of cultural and psychological change that happens when people from different cultures interact, leading them to adopt or borrow traits, customs, and values from the other culture. This is considered your "second culture."

Cultural Norms

A shared expectation or rule for how an individual should behave to be accepted within a culture.

Social Norms

An unwritten rule or expectation about how people should behave in a particular group, society, or context.

Vertical Cultural Transmission

Developing an understanding from your parents

Oblique Cultural Transmission

Developing an understanding by interacting with gatekeepers: like teachers, influencers, or the media.

Horizontal Cultural Transmission

Developing an understanding from your peers.

Socializing Agents

Includes family, peers, media, etc - the people, groups, or institutions that shape an individual's beliefs, values, and behaviors throughout life.

Direct Tuition

Being told by someone what you are supposed to do

Social Learning Theory

People learn new behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions by observing and imitating others within a social context. It is argued to be the reason for enculturation.

Gender Roles

The expectations and behaviors culturally assigned to individuals based on their perceived gender identity.