Studied by 6 people
Infancy (0-1 yr)
Stage #1
trust vs mistrust
learn who to trust to fulfill needs when stressed
those who don’t develop trust in the world (due to neglect/abuse) have trust issues later
Toddlerhood (1-3 yrs)
Stage #2
autonomy vs shame and doubt
try to use their new physical and cognitive skills
seek control/independence
ex. feeding and dressing by themselves
BUT if failure, regret/shame/doubt
and if parents intervene, impedes child’s confidence development
Preschool
Stage #3
Initiative vs. Guilt
self-esteem emerges from setting and achieving goals
Elementary School (6 yrs - puberty)
industry (Competence) vs inferiority
seek to master skills for integration in society
competence in an area (baseball, or music, or math) makes them feel industrious
if fail = feel inferior
Adolescence (teens - 20 yrs)
identity vs role confusion
when teens reexamine their identities/goals
and experiment
Young Adulthood (20s - 40s)
intimacy vs isolation
success = establish strong, committed relationships (marriage, strong social network)
failure = isolation (can’t share thoughts and feelings with someone else) :((((
Middle Adulthood (40s - 60s)
generativity vs stagnation
adults strive to be productive in a meaningful way
work, volunteering, parenthood, hobbies
without meaning => “midlife crisis” (stagnation)
Late Adulthood (60s+)
integrity vs despair
integrity = sense of fulfillment/satisfaction with life
despair = regret (missed opportunities) depression
Criticisms of Erikson’s Theory of social development
too much overlap in stage 2, 3, 4
identity crisis that erikson said was only for teens actually happens throughout life
too vague to be tested scientifically
social development through the stages is different in different cultures
theory of mind
AKA cognitive empathy
= understanding that others have different perspectives/beliefs
helps to predict how others will react
helpful in nurturing relationships
attachment
= deep, emotional tie with a loved one
according to Bowlby, this helps to keep infant close to mother, increasing infant survival
for infants, built through touching, talking, and caring
stimulates OXYTOCIN
affects physical and emotional development
imprinting (Lorenz)
= hatchlings follow the first creature they see
Harlow’s monkeys
= experiment where baby monkeys isolated from mother
ones isolated the longest had severest problems
couldn’t reintegrate into monkey society
chewed off own fingers and toes
contact comfort
= physical emotional comfort an infant receives from being in physical contact with mother
oxytocin
= a hormone released during contact between baby and parents
helps attachment bond form
Nuance in Erikson’s stages of social development
stage 5 (identity vs. role confusion)
+
stage 6 (intimacy and isolation)
combined for girls
distinct for boys
strange situation (Ainsworth)
experiment that observed 3 points:
how infant responds to when mom leaves
how well infant plays with stranger
how infant responds to mom’s return
results:
four different attachment styles
secure attachment
a type of attachment style
distress when mother leaves
avoidant of stranger
happy to see mother when return
anxious-ambivalent attachment
a type of attachment style
intense distress when mother leaves
very fearful of stranger
approach mother upon return, but __rejects contact (__cold shoulder lol?)
avoidant attachment
a type of attachment style
unbothered when mother leaves
plays with stranger
doesn’t notice mom returning
disorganized attachment
a type of attachment style
inconsistent behavior
transitional object
= an intermediate way to give contact comfort when caregiver is away
ex. teddy bear, blanket
separation anxiety
= babies get upset when caregiver leaves
(6-9 months old)
stranger anxiety
= anxiety when unfamiliar people appear
(1-2 yrs)
depends on their interactions with others
if easy to parent:
positive reinforcement
→ good-natured
→ emotional regulation skills
if difficult to parent:
negative reactions (parent’s patience worn out more, ex. scoldings/unhappy faces)
→ behavioral problems
→ emotional regulation problems
what’s the role of a child in their own development?
temperament
= a child’s consistent combination of mood, activity level, and intensity of emotions
Authoritarian
a type of parenting style
strict rules (w/o explanation)
severe punishments for breaking rules
Effect on children:
→ kids only follow rules to avoid punishment
→ struggle to be initiative/be independent as young adults (scared to break rules)
permissive
a type of parenting style
too much freedom (no rules)
opposite of authoritarian
Effect:
→ trouble following rules and social norms at school and work
→ low self-esteem (because think parents don’t care enough to check in on them and set rules)
Authoritative
a type of parenting style
balance of rules w/flexibility (in between authoritarian and permissive)
explains why rule exists
rules = kids responsibilities to others
rules relax as kids get older (negotiation)
Neglectful
a type of parenting style
uninvolved/cold
unresponsive to child’s needs
parallel play
= children play side-by-side, paying attention to each other, but no interaction
conformity
= change beliefs/actions to more closely match those held by groups to which they belong
very important to young teens
not as much as older teens
gender differences in kids play
girls:
cooperatively in 2-3
lots of talk
boys:
competitively in large groups
talk is restricted to context (the game directions)
also, male friendships last longer
fights restored quickly (less grudges)
identity development
teenagers trying to develop an identity
causes conflict with family and friends
identity crisis
= like a rite of passage for teens
erikson thought it necessary/natural to next stage
rites of passage
ex. getting license
ex. quinceñera
social competence
= ability to adapt behavior to the situation
= ability to respond appropriately to others’ reactions
“sturm und drang”
= “storm and stress”
= teen angst
= pressure to meet societal/familial expectations
personal fable
a type of teen egocentrism
= “I am unique and will be great”
= Main character of own story
Helpful → gives motivation for interests
Detrimental → fixation on unlikely belief of importance
neglect other responsibilities
imaginary audience
a type of teen egocentrism
= belief that others are always watching/judging
explains the importance of conformity in teens and why they’re so embarrassed by small mistakes
looking-glass self
teens’ self-image is dependent on how others think of them
invincibility fallacy
= a false belief for teens
“I can’t be hurt” “it won’t happen to me”
due to still-developing prefrontal cortex
lasts until young adult
teen relationship with parents
teens given more responsibility/autonomy
despite teen not always making the best choices
even the most rocky relationships usually stabilize as child reaches 20-30s
self-disclosure
= supporting each other and sharing private thoughts
in teen friendships, crucial to self-esteem
social clock
= pressure from family/friends/society to reach certain milestones
ex. get a job, get married, have children
empty nest
= when kids leave home and parents feel bad
BUT parents usually realize they’re more satisfied with life and marriage
midlife crisis
= crisis in middle adulthood where you question your job, values, relationships
Denial
Stage #1 of grief
= pretending it didn’t happen
Anger
Stage #2 of grief
= emotions rise up
Bargaining
Stage #3 of grief
= “if only ___, then it wouldn’t have happened:
for religious people, make deals with god
Depression
Stage #4 of grief
= isolation, coping, foggy/confused
Acceptance
Stage #5 of grief
= understanding the incident (not necessarily moving on)
Meaning
Stage #6 of grief
= doing something positive to reduce loss
ex. donating to related charity, honor the deceased with a scholarship, creating a program
