AP Psych Unit 3 | Social-Emotional Development

ecological systems theory

a child’s development is influenced by multiple layers of environmental systems

• microsystem - the child’s immediate surroundings, including family, friends, and school

• mesosystem - the relationships between microsystem elements

  • ex: parental involvement in school activities affects academic success

• exosystem - the broader community

  • parents’ workplace policies may affect family time

• macrosystem - cultural norms, economic conditions, and societal beliefs

• chronosystem - major life transitions or historical events

authoritarian parenting style

a strict parenting approach where parents enforce high expectations and rigid rules

• prioritize obedience and discipline

• often rely on punishment with limited warmth or responsiveness to child’s needs

permissive parenting style

a relaxed parenting style where parents show warmth and responsiveness but have few rules and low expectations

• avoid enforcing strict boundaries

• allow children significant freedom and indulge in their desires

authoritative parenting style

a balanced approach to parenting

• combines high expectations with warmth and support

• enforce clear rules and encourage independence while being responsive to children’s needs and opinions

temperament

the innate traits that influence how children respond to their environment

• include:

  • activity level

  • emotional reactivity

  • adaptability

• thought to form the basis for later personality development

imprinting

a rapid and instinctive form of early learning where certain animals, particularly birds, form strong attachments to the first moving object they see shortly after birth/hatching

contact comfort

the sense of security and emotional relief derived from physical touch, particularly between infants and caregivers

separation anxiety

a distress response experienced by infants or young children when separated from their primary caregiver

attachment styles

patterns of behavior that describe how children form emotional bonds with caregivers

• influence relationships later in life

secure attachment

a pattern where children feel confident and trust that their caregiver will meet their needs

• forms a foundation for healthy relationships later in life

avoidant attachment

a pattern where children exhibit independence and avoid seeking comfort from their caregiver, often resulting from caregivers who are emotionally unavailable or unresponsive

• appear indifferent to separation and avoid closeness in future relationships

anxious attachment

a pattern where children are overly clingy and anxious about separation from their caregiver, stemming from inconsistent caregiving

• show distress when the caregiver leaves but may resist comfort upon their return

• can lead to insecurity in future relationships

disorganized attachment

a pattern characterized by inconsistent or confused behaviors towards a caregiver, often resulting from trauma or abuse

• children display contradictory responses, such as seeking closeness yet showing fear

• may lead to challenges in forming stable relationships later in life

adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

potentially traumatic events or conditions, such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction, that occur before age 18 and can have long-term impacts on health and wellbeing