Ch 6 - Social and Personality Development Infancy

These flashcards cover key concepts, theories, and developmental stages related to social and personality development in infants, as discussed in the lecture.

What are the two main perspectives on infant social and personality development?

Psychoanalytic (Freud) and ethological (Bowlby, Ainsworth).

What is Freud's oral stage and its timeframe?

A psychosexual stage (birth-2 years) where infants focus on oral satisfaction (sucking, eating).

What is emphasized in Erikson's trust vs. mistrust stage, and its outcomes?

Consistent, responsive caregiving builds trust; inconsistent care leads to mistrust (infancy).

From an ethological view, what is attachment and its main purpose?

An infant's strong emotional tie to a caregiver, providing a secure base for exploration and a safe haven.

What are Bowlby's three main parts of internal working models for attachment?

Confidence in caregiver availability, expectations of affection/rebuff, and assurance of a safe base. These models guide future interactions.

List Bowlby's four phases of attachment.

1) Nonfocused orienting/signaling (0-3 mos): Attracts any caregiver.
2) Focus on 1+ figures (3-6 mos): Prefers familiar caregivers.
3) Secure base behavior (6-24 mos): Uses caregiver as secure base, shows separation anxiety.
4) Internal model (24 mos+): Develops mental model of relationship, guides future interactions.

What factors influence a caregiver's secure attachment with an infant?

Emotional, contingent, and tactile responsiveness, caregiver relationship factors, and mental health.

What are the long-term benefits of secure infant attachment?

More sociable, empathetic, mature, higher self-esteem, better social skills, stronger relationships, and greater emotional resilience into adulthood.

What is the difference between personality and temperament?

Personality is learned traits and behaviors; temperament is innate emotional reactivity and self-regulation.

What are some key dimensions used to measure temperament?

Activity Level, Approach/Withdrawal, Adaptability, Mood, Intensity of Reaction, Persistence, Rhythmicity.

What are Thomas and Chess's three temperament types and their percentages?

1) Easy child (40%): Happy, adaptable, regular. 2) Difficult child (10%): Irritable, irregular, negative reactions. 3) Slow-to-warm-up child (15%): Low activity, moody, slow adaptation.

How do genetics and environment affect temperament?

Genetics predispose temperament, but environment (parenting, culture, experiences) shapes and modifies it.

What is epigenetics?

How environmental factors can alter gene expression (turning genes on/off) without changing the underlying DNA sequence. This affects how genes are used.

What is the Emotional Self milestone for infants, and when does it appear?

Infant's ability to identify and respond to others' emotions (2-3 months old).

What concept describes an infant's awareness of being a separate person who can act?

The Subjective (Existential) Self: realizing they are distinct and can cause effects in their environment.

What is the Objective (categorical) self?

The stage in development where infants begin to recognize their own traits and characteristics, differentiating themselves from others.

How do infants with secure attachment behave in the Strange Situation?

They use the caregiver as a secure base, are distressed when they leave, and easily comforted upon return, preferring the caregiver.

How do infants with insecure-avoidant attachment (Type A) behave in the Strange Situation?

They are indifferent to the caregiver's presence/absence, explore freely, avoid contact upon reunion, and show minimal distress when alone, often interacting equally with strangers.

How do infants with insecure-ambivalent/resistant attachment (Type C) behave in the Strange Situation?

They show extreme distress when the caregiver leaves, are hard to soothe upon reunion, seek closeness but resist contact, and often act angry or clingy.

How is disorganized-disoriented attachment (Type D) shown in the Strange Situation?

Infants show contradictory and confused behaviors upon caregiver return (e.g., dazed, freezing, approaching while looking away, fear), often linked to inconsistent or abusive care.

What is goodness-of-fit?

Goodness-of-fit refers to the compatibility between a child's temperament and the demands or expectations of their environment, including parenting style. A good fit promotes healthy development, while a poor fit can lead to behavioral and emotional difficulties.

What is niche-picking?

The process through which individuals actively select environments and experiences that align with their temperament