2012-4 Socioemotional Development in Infancy

Emotion

A feeling or affect that arises in interactions important to well-being.

Functions of Emotion

Communication (e.g., joy, fear, sadness) and behavioral organization (e.g., adaptive responses to social interactions).

Classification of Emotions

Positive (happiness, joy) vs. negative (anger, sadness).

Biological Influences on Emotion

Brain regions (amygdala, hippocampus) influence early emotions.

Cognitive Processes in Emotion

Attention and self-regulation shape emotional responses.

Cultural Differences in Emotion

East Asian infants display less intense emotions.

Early Emotions

First 6 months: Surprise, interest, joy, anger, fear, sadness, disgust; Later (second half of first year): Jealousy, empathy, pride, guilt.

Emotional Expressions

Crying (basic, anger, pain cries) and smiling (reflexive vs. social).

Fear in Infants

Stranger anxiety peaks at ~18 months.

Social Referencing

Infants read others' emotional cues.

Emotion Regulation

Infants develop self-soothing (thumb-sucking, distraction) and parental sensitivity helps infants regulate emotions.

Temperament

Individual differences in behavioral styles, emotions, and responses.

Temperament Classifications

Chess & Thomas: Easy, difficult, slow-to-warm-up; Kagan: Behavioral inhibition (shyness with strangers); Rothbart & Bates: Effortful control (self-regulation).

Goodness of Fit

Match between child's temperament and environmental demands.

Trust (Erikson)

Infants develop trust through consistent, nurturing care.

Self-Recognition

Emerges around 18 months (mirror test); By age 2, toddlers recognize themselves and express ownership ('mine').

Independence

Toddlers seek autonomy (e.g., feeding themselves); Overprotective parenting may lead to self-doubt.

Social Orientation

Infants are naturally drawn to social stimuli (faces, voices).

Joint Attention

Gaze-following helps understand others' intentions.

Attachment Theories

Freud: Attachment linked to feeding (disproven by Harlow's monkey study); Erikson: Trust from sensitive caregiving; Bowlby: Attachment is biologically driven (internal working model).

Phases of Attachment (Bowlby)

1. Birth-2 months: Attachment to any human; 2. 2-7 months: Focus on primary caregiver; 3. 7-24 months: Active seeking of caregiver; 4. 24+ months: Awareness of others' feelings.

Strange Situation (Ainsworth)

Secure (uses caregiver as safe base), Insecure (avoidant, resistant, disorganized).

Long-Term Effects of Attachment

Secure attachment predicts better social competence; Insecure attachment linked to anxiety and behavioral issues.

Caregiving Styles

Secure: Sensitive, responsive caregiving; Insecure: Neglectful, inconsistent, or harsh parenting.

Transition to Parenthood

Marital satisfaction may decline post-birth; Parental leave policies vary (e.g., Sweden offers 18 months).

Reciprocal Socialization

Bidirectional influence (parents and children shape each other).

Parenting Styles

Proactive strategies (childproofing, redirection); Discipline (varies by age; yelling/spanking increases by age 2).

Fathers' Role

More play-oriented (rough-and-tumble); Positive involvement improves cognitive and emotional outcomes.

Child Care Variations

Center-based vs. home-based care; Quality matters (low ratios, trained caregivers, stimulating environment).

NICHD Study Findings

High-quality care → better cognitive and social skills; Excessive hours (>30/week) → more behavioral issues; Family factors outweigh child-care effects.

Recommendations for Child Care

Choose high-quality care (responsive, safe, stimulating); Monitor child's adjustment.