🧠 Chapter 10.2 — Motor, Social & Language Development in Childhood

What is motor development?

The progression of muscular coordination required for physical activities.

What is maturation?

Development that reflects the gradual unfolding of one’s genetic blueprint — genetically programmed physical changes that occur with age.

How do modern researchers view infants in motor development?

Infants are active agents who explore their world and learn motor skills through practice, not just maturation.

What are developmental norms?

Median ages at which individuals display certain behaviors or abilities; they are useful benchmarks but allow for normal variation.

What do cultural differences show about motor development?

Environmental factors can accelerate or slow it — e.g., Kipsigis infants in Kenya walk earlier due to active practice.

What is attachment?

The close emotional bond that forms between infants and caregivers.

At what age does separation anxiety typically appear and peak?

Appears at 6–8 months, peaks around 14–18 months, then declines.

According to behaviorists, why do infants form attachments?

Because mothers become associated with the reinforcing act of feeding.

What did Harlow’s monkey studies demonstrate?

Attachment forms because of contact comfort — infants prefer soft, comforting “mothers” even when food is provided elsewhere.

What was Bowlby’s view of attachment?

It has biological roots; infants are programmed to emit signals that trigger affectionate, protective responses from caregivers.

What is Ainsworth’s Strange Situation, and what does it assess?

A lab procedure observing how infants respond to separation and reunion with caregivers; assesses attachment styles.

What are the major attachment styles identified by Ainsworth?

Secure (\approx 65 \%), anxious/ambivalent (\approx 15 \%), avoidant (\approx 20 \%); later research adds disorganized/disoriented.

How does parenting style relate to attachment?

Sensitive, responsive care \rightarrow secure; inconsistent \rightarrow anxious; rejecting \rightarrow avoidant; neglect \rightarrow disorganized.

What other factors influence attachment besides caregiving?

Infant temperament and family context (parental mental health, marital quality).

How stable are early attachment patterns over time?

Moderately stable (r \approx .39); secure infants often develop satisfying relationships later, though change is possible.

When do infants usually smile and laugh?

Around 4–6 weeks of age; faces are the strongest triggers for smiling.

When does fear of strangers and separation anxiety develop?

Between 6–8 months, intensifying until 14–18 months.

What cultural factors influence attachment and separation anxiety?

Rates of each style vary by society; economic conditions and child-rearing practices affect patterns.

What is language development?

The process by which children acquire the capacity to understand and communicate through language.

What is the difference between receptive and productive vocabulary?

Receptive = words understood; productive = words spoken.

What is overextension?

Using a word too broadly (e.g., calling all four-legged animals “doggy”).

What is underextension?

Using a word too narrowly (e.g., “doll” only for one specific toy).

When does the vocabulary spurt occur, and what is fast-mapping?

Around 18–24 months; children rapidly link a word to a concept after only a few exposures.

What is telegraphic speech?

Short two-word sentences like “Want cookie”; appears near age 2 and contains content words but omits smaller ones.

What is overregularization?

Applying grammar rules incorrectly (e.g., “goed,” “mouses”).

What is the critical period in language development?

The time during which language must be acquired for normal fluency; extends through childhood into adolescence.

What are the major theories of language acquisition?

Behaviorist (Skinner): learning through reinforcement; Nativist (Chomsky): innate language acquisition device; Interactionist: biological predispositions + social experience.

What effect does bilingual exposure have on development?

Slightly slower early vocabulary growth but better metalinguistic awareness and cognitive flexibility later.