Quiz Study Guide on Parenting and Child Development

What are the different levels of caregiving in the animal world as one moves up the evolutionary ladder?

1. No care after offspring emerge (common in egg-laying animals). 2. Some care after emerging (less offspring, more emphasis on quality, common in mammals). 3. Extensive parental care (seen in primates and humans, requiring a long period of nurturance).

What is a common factor among most mammals regarding offspring care?

Lactation is a common factor regardless of how developed offspring are when they emerge.

What expectations did Calvin and 19th-century leaders have for adult behavior?

Adults were expected to have low warmth, strong self-control, and a strong sense of duty, encouraging autocratic parenting.

How did Freud's theories change thinking about parenting?

Freud emphasized the development of the super-ego based on parental actions and early experiences, highlighting the need for balance in responses during psychosexual stages.

What are the consequences of excessively harsh or lenient parenting during Freud's psychosexual stages?

1. Oral Stage: Excessive breastfeeding leads to dependency; harsh breastfeeding leads to aggression. 2. Anal Stage: Lenient training leads to messiness; harsh training leads to aggression. 3. Phallic Stage: Lenient expression leads to undisciplined behavior; harsh discouragement leads to rigidity.

What impact did Piaget's work have on our understanding of children?

Piaget proposed that children actively construct their own understanding through stages: sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, and formal operations.

What are the two outcomes Erikson identified during the first two stages of psychological development?

1. Trust vs. Mistrust: Warm care generates trust; harsh care generates mistrust. 2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt: Gentle guidance breeds autonomy; harsh scolding breeds shame.

What do the terms 'marasmus' and 'anaclitic depression' mean in the context of Renee Spitz's work?

Marasmus refers to severe malnutrition characterized by energy deficiency; anaclitic depression is the transient depressed state of infants after separation from a mothering figure.

How can Jeffrey Dahmer's unusual behavior be explained using Freud's theory?

Dahmer's lack of attention and affection during infancy led to severe personality disorders and poor superego development, impacting his ability to form healthy attachments.

What forms of action can parents use to increase desired child behaviors according to B.F. Skinner's learning theory?

Parents can use positive reinforcement (affection, praise, rewards) and negative reinforcement (removing unpleasant conditions) to encourage desired behaviors.

What form of punishment was historically suggested by authors?

Corporal punishment.

What is 'comfort contact' and its significance in Harlow's research?

Comfort contact refers to the physical and emotional comfort infants receive from close contact with caregivers, which is crucial for development.

What is the main difference between a true experiment and a natural experiment?

In a true experiment, the researcher manipulates the independent variable directly, allowing for greater control and causal relationships; in a natural experiment, the researcher observes existing conditions without manipulation.

What is the trend in caregiving as one moves up the evolutionary ladder?

The trend is from no care to extensive care, with increasing emphasis on the quality of care as offspring development becomes more complex.

How does the concept of 'action=knowledge' relate to Piaget's theory?

Piaget believed that children learn through their actions and experiences, constructing knowledge actively rather than passively receiving it.

What are the implications of Erikson's 'trust vs. mistrust' stage for parenting?

Warm, responsive care fosters trust, while harsh or inconsistent care fosters mistrust, impacting the child's sense of security.

What role does the super-ego play in Freud's theory of child development?

The super-ego develops based on parental actions and early experiences, influencing moral behavior and personality.

How does the emotional availability of parents affect child development according to Freud?

Lack of emotional availability can lead to difficulties in forming attachments and developing a healthy conscience.

What are the characteristics of the sensorimotor stage in Piaget's theory?

In the sensorimotor stage (birth-2 years), infants develop object permanence and sensory/motor skills, recognizing items by their utility.

What is the significance of the pre-operational stage in Piaget's theory?

In the pre-operational stage (2-6 years), children develop symbolic thinking, egocentrism, and their imagination and experiences grow.

What are the consequences of harsh toilet training according to Freud?

Harsh toilet training can lead to a constrictive or aggressive personality, as children may internalize shame and punishment.

What did Harlow's studies with monkeys reveal about the importance of comfort contact?

Monkeys preferred 'cloth mothers' for comfort over wire mothers, demonstrating the critical role of emotional touch in development.