3.6: Social-Emotional Development Across the Lifespan

Ecological Systems Theory

A model describing how different environmental systems influence human development.

Microsystem

The immediate environments an individual directly interacts with.

Mesosystem

The interactions between elements of the microsystem.

Exosystem

Settings that directly affect the individual.

Macrosystem

Broader cultural values, laws, and social norms that shape an indvidiual's development.

Chronosystem

The influence of time and life transitions on an individual's development.

Parenting Styles

The general strategies parents use in raising their children.

Authoritarian Parenting

A strict, controlling style with high expectations and low responsiveness.

Permissive Parenting

A lenient parenting style with few rules and high responsiveness.

Negligent Parenting

A disengaged style with low expectations and low responsiveness.

Authoritative Parenting

A balanced style with clear rules and high responsiveness—often associated with the best outcomes.

Individualistic Culture

A culture that emphasizes personal goals, independence, and self-expression.

Collectivist Culture

A culture that prioritizes group goals, community, and interdependence.

Temperament

Biologically-based emotional and behavioral tendencies seen in early life.

Easy Temperament

Regular routines, adaptable, and generally cheerful.

Difficult Temperament

Irregular routines, slow to adapt, and often irritable or intense.

Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

A theory outlining eight stages of development across the lifespan, each involving a psychosocial conflict.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Developing trust when caregiver's provide reliability and affection.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Developing personal control and independence.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Asserting control through planning and initiating activities.

Industry vs. Inferiority

Gaining competence in academic and social skills.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Exploring and forming a personal identity.

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Forming close, meaningful relationships.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Contributing to society and guiding the next generation.

Integrity vs. Despair

Reflecting on life with either satisfaction or regret.

Attachment Style

Patterns of emotional bonding and trust developed in early relationships.

Secure Attachment

Child feels safe and confident; caregiver is resposnive and reliable.

Insecure Attachment

Child is uncertain or anxious about the caregiver's availability or responsiveness.

Avoidant Attachment

Child avoids closeness and may not seek comfort from caregiver.

Anxious Attachment

Child is overly clingy and anxious about separation or abandonment.

Disorganized Attachment

Child shows inconsistent, confused behavior toward caregiver, often linked to trauma or neglect.

Fear of Abandonment

Emotional fear that close relationships may be lost or taken away.

Separation Anxiety

Distress shown by infants or young children when separated from primary caregivers.

Parallel Play

Children play near each other but do not directly interact—common in toddlers.

Imaginary Audience

Belief that others are constantly watching or judging them.

Personal Fable

A cognitive distortion experienced by adolescents, in which they believe they are so special and unique that other people cannot understand them and risky behaviors will not harm them.

Foreclosure Stage

A premature commitment to an identity with little exploration.

Diffusion Stage

No clear commitment to a particular identity.

Moratorium Stage

Active exploration of identity without commitment.

Achievement Stage

Commitment to an identity following exploration.

Social Clock

Cultural expectations for the timing of life events.

Emerging Adulthood

The transitional period between adolescence and full adulthood.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Potentially traumatic events in childhood that can have long-term developmental impacts.

Harlow's Monkey Study

Research showing that infant monkeys preferred comfort and emotional security over food when choosing between surrogate mothers.