infancy socioemotional development

harry harlow and his monkeys findings

monkeys preferred cloth mother

love > food

Behaviorists believed the wire mother would be liked more

Primary attachment figure

closest person in a child’s or adult’s life

john bowlby

attachment theory

infants have an innate, biologically driven need to form a close emotional bond with at least one primary caregiver to ensure survival and healthy development

when confronted with a threat we engage in

• proximity-seeking behavior: approaching, following

• contact-maintaining behavior: touching, holding, snuggling

Social-referencing

During exploration, the baby’s tendency to check-in with their caregiver and to monitor their caregiver’s cues.

• I.e., is this okay?  Am I safe to explore here/this?

social referencing is a working model for the infant in their

future relationships, and worthiness of self

mary ainsworth was known for her

strange situation experiment

strange situation

Series of separations and reunions between mom & baby

• Securely attached child

• Happy that caregiver has returned, easily soothed, returns to play

types of insecure attachments

avoidant, anxious-ambivalent, disorganized

Avoidant attachment

indifference to caregiver upon reunion; detached; little emotion upon separation

anxious-ambivalent attachment

intense distress at separation, hard to soothe upon reunion; contradictory emotions

disorganized attachment

bizarre behavior; freeze, run around, or look frightened

temperment

characteristic, inborn behavioral styles of approaching the world

types of temperments

• effortful control, negative mood, exuberant

Effortful control

  able to regulate attention and emotion, to self-soothe (40%)

Negative mood

fearful, angry, unhappy (15%)

Exuberant

active, social, not shy (35%)

what babies experienced the most change in temperament in response to frightening stimulus at a 4 year follow up

inhibited (fearful) babies became more brave

what can happen to an angry babys temperament when they have a hostile mother

antisocial child

what can happen to an angry babys temperament when they have a loving mother

typical adjustment

how many moms will return to work in babys 1st year of life

half

options for childcare

nanny, family day care, day-care center

does childcare impact the attachment bond

NO

if child care is attended throughout the first 5 years of life in a day-care center the child will likely have more

externalizing behavior (acting out, impulsivity, aggression)

for infants up to 3 which care was the most positive

informal care by relatives

did preschoolers have a positive outcomes from both child care centers and informal arrangements

yes

5 qualities that are key if infant does attend childcare

• Personalized attention and continuous caregiver

• Activities centered on language and sensorimotor development 

• Safe and clean

• Professional staff (degreed, low turn-over)

• Warm & responsive staff

eriksons psychosocial stages

8 stages each with a developmental crisis 

• Motivated by developing independent self & relating to others

stage 1

Trust vs mistrust

brith to one year

needs satisfied or cant count on others

stage 2

Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt

• 1-2 years

• Self-sufficiency or doubt ability to complete tasks