3.6: Social-Emotional Development Across the Lifespan

These flashcards cover essential terms and concepts related to social-emotional development across the lifespan, highlighting key theories, attachment styles, parenting methods, and factors influencing identity.

Ecological Systems Theory

A framework by Urie Bronfenbrenner that describes how different social environments influence child development through five interrelated systems.

Microsystem

The innermost layer of the ecological systems theory, consisting of the immediate environments directly interacting with the individual, like family and school.

Mesosystem

The relationships between different microsystems in a child's life, such as the interaction between family and school.

Exosystem

Broader social systems that indirectly affect child development, such as parents' workplaces and community services.

Macrosystem

The outermost layer that includes cultural and societal values, laws, and customs impacting a child's environment.

Chronosystem

The dimension of time in the ecological systems theory that reflects environmental changes and life transitions affecting development.

Attachment Theory

Developed by John Bowlby, this theory explains the bond between a child and their caregiver as crucial for social-emotional development.

Secure Attachment

A type of attachment that develops when caregivers are consistently responsive, resulting in children feeling safe and confident.

Authoritative Parenting Style

A parenting style characterized by high demands and high responsiveness, balancing structure with nurturing.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Stressful or traumatic events experienced before age 18 that can lead to lasting negative effects on development and behavior.

Identity Development

The process by which adolescents form a sense of self through stages such as achievement, diffusion, foreclosure, and moratorium.

Separation Anxiety

The distress and fear children feel when separated from primary caregivers, often emerging around 6 to 8 months of age.

Social Clock

Culturally preferred timing of social events, including marriage and parenthood, influencing individual perceptions and experiences.