Social and Personality Development in Children

self-awareness

realization that he or she is a distinct individual, whose body, mind, and actions are separate from those of other people

self-concept

knowledge representation or schema that contains knowledge about ourselves, including our beliefs about our personality traits, physical characteristics, abilities, values, goals, and roles, as well as the knowledge that we exist as individuals

social comparison

children begin to evaluate themselves against their observations of other children

attachment

emotional bonds we develop with those with whom we fell closest, and particularly the bonds an infant develops with the mother or primary caregiver

secure attachment style

child usually explores freely while the mother is present and engages with the stranger

ambivalent (insecure-resistant) attachment style

child is wary about the situation in general, particularly the stranger, and stays close or even clings to the mother rather than exploring

avoidant (insecure-avoidant) attachment style

child will avoid or ignore the mother, showing little emotion when the mother departs or returns

disorganized attachment style

child seems to have no consistent way of coping with the stress of the strange situation

temperament

innate personality characteristics of an infant, specifically the infant's distinctive pattern of attention, arousal, and reactivity to new or novel situations

parenting styles

parental behaviors that determine the nature of parent-child interactions and that guide their interaction with the child

authoritarian

demanding but not responsive

permissive

make few demands and give little punishment but are responsive in the sense that they generally allows their children to make their own rules

authoritative

demanding but responsive to the needs and opinions of the child

rejecting-neglecting

undemanding and unresponsive overall