Social Development

Temperament (definition)

Biologically based levels of emotional and behavioural response to the environment that differ in reactivity and self-regulation

Temperament research (Thomas & Chess findings)

• 40% easy child;

• 10% difficult child;

• 15% slow-to-warm-up child;

• 35% unique blends

Temperament research (Kagan findings)

Temperaments can be detected in the womb;

infants may be

• born shy

• born bold

Temperament longitudinal findings

• Some stability across early childhood;

• develops and changes with age;

• extreme children may become less extreme but rarely switch sides;

• after age 3 more predictive of later personality

Attachment (definition)

An emotional bond that leads a person to want to be with someone else and miss them when separated

Bowlby’s theory (general)

Infants and adults are biologically predisposed to form attachments

Bowlby stage: Preattachment (0–6 weeks)

• Recognise mother’s voice and features;

• do not mind being left

Bowlby stage: Attachment in the making (6 weeks–8 months)

• Differentiate parent and stranger;

• learns that actions produce responses;

• do not mind being left

Bowlby stage: Clear-cut attachment (8 months–2 years)

• Attachment evident;

• separation anxiety occurs

Bowlby stage: Reciprocal relationship (2+ years)

• Understands parents leave and return;

• separation anxiety decreases

Ainsworth Strange Situation (method)

1–2 year old in play area with parent; stranger enters; parent leaves; child’s behaviour is observed

Secure attachment (features)

• 60–70%;

• distressed when parent leaves;

• prefers parent over stranger;

• seeks parent upon return

Avoidant attachment (features)

• 15–20%;

• unresponsive to parent;

• no distress when parent leaves;

• reacts similarly to stranger and parent;

• slow to seek parent upon return

Ambivalent attachment (features)

• 10–15%; seeks closeness;

• distressed when parent leaves;

• mixed reaction when parent returns (wants to be held but resists)

Disorganised attachment (features)

• 5–10%;

• insecure;

• confused, contradictory behaviour when parent returns

Attachment predictive validity

• Controversial stability;

• secure infants often remain secure;

• stronger predictive validity in early childhood than adulthood

Socialisation (definition)

The process by which individuals learn the rules, conventions, and accepted norms of society

Socialisation: Reinforcement & punishment

Behaviours that lead to success are more likely to be repeated

Socialisation: Observation & modelling

Learning through imitation and observing others being rewarded or punished

Socialisation: Cognitive development

• Understanding thoughts and actions; l

• earning what is good/bad;

• social development depends on cognitive development

Parenting style: Authoritative

• Responsive and accepting;

• reasonable demands and consistent discipline;

• encourages autonomy and open communication

Parenting style: Authoritarian

• Rejecting or degrading;

• \strict, power-assertive control;

• little autonomy or discussion

Parenting style: Permissive

• Warm and overindulgent;

• few demands;

• child makes many decisions and learns from failure

Parenting style: Uninvolved

• Emotionally detached;

• neglectful with few demands;

• indifferent to child’s decisions and views

Parenting table

What are Bowlby’s theory of attachment

• Pre-attachment (birth-6 weeks)

• Attachment in the making (6 weeks-8 months)

• Clear-cut (8 months-2 years)

• Reciprocal relationship (2 years onward)

What are the Different types of attachment styles

• Secure 60-70%

• Avoidant 15-20%

• Ambivalent 10-15%

• Disorganised 5-10%

What are the processes involved in socialisation

• Reinforcement and punishment

• Observation and modelling

• Cognitive development

What are the different parenting styles

• Authoritative

• Authoritarian

• Permissive

• Uninvolved