Infancy and Childhood

Infancy and Childhood

Developmental stage from birth through early years,

Brain Development

Most brain cells are present at birth; neural networks multiply after birth, increasing abilities,

Genes (Nature)

Provide the brain’s blueprint,

Experience (Nurture)

Shapes development,

Critical Period

Early life stage when exposure to certain stimuli is essential for proper development (e.g., speech, vision),

Normal Home Activities

Talking, playing, reading—support healthy brain development; no special products needed,

Attachment

Emotional bond between child and caregiver; evident by 6 months,

Harry Harlow’s Research

Body contact is more crucial than nutrition for attachment; monkeys without responsive mothers showed abnormal social behavior,

Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1979)

Observed child-mother interactions to identify attachment styles; attachment influenced by parenting style and child temperament; sensitive, responsive parenting improves attachment—even for “difficult” children,

Attachment Styles

Secure

Healthy relationships, social competence,

Avoidant

Emotionally distant, highly independent,

Anxious

Fear of rejection, clingy, trust issues,

Childhood Attachment

Often predicts adult relationship patterns,

Parenting Styles

Parenting style and child behavior influence each other; outcomes are correlated but not perfectly; examples

Adolescent Egocentrism

Teens may be self-conscious, overconfident, illogical in thinking (not covered in textbook—refer to Unit 3 Materials in Canvas for full explanation).