Textbook - Social Development in Infancy and Childhood

Social Development: Attachment

The emotional bond between a child and a primary caregiver

Social Development: Internal Working Model

A set of beliefs about the way relationships work

Internal Working Model and Secure Attachment

Infants are confident their primary caregivers will respond when they feel insecure

Internal Working Model and Avoidant Attachment

Infants are confident that their caregiver will not respond when they feel insecure

Internal Working Model and Anxious Attachment

Infants seem uncertain that their caregiver will respond in any given circumstance

Internal Working Model and Disorganized Attachment

Infants seem confused or apprehensive toward their caregiver

Moral Development

Childrens perception of morals tends to shift from:

• Realism to relativism (moral rules can be abstract constructs)

• Prescriptions to principles (moral rules are expressions of general rules like equity)

• Outcomes to intentions (morality is heavily dependent on state of mind)

Moral Development: Kohlberg Pre-Conventional Stage

A stage of moral development in which the morality of an actions is primarily determined by its consequences for the actor

Moral Development: Kohlberg Conventional Stage

A stage of moral development in which the morality of an action is primarily determined by the extent to which it conforms to social rules

Moral Development: Kohlberg Post-Conventional Stage

A stage of moral development in which the morality of an action is determined by a set of general principles that reflect core values

Flaws in Kohlberg’s Approach

Moral development is not as linear or universal as he proposed as moral skills can occur at different times based on third variables like culture

Morals are also influenced by biases and the innate tendency for children to prefer helping rather than hindering