Child Development Exam 3

What is biological sex?

Physical traits like chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy

What is gender?

Sociocultural roles, norms, expectations

Gender identity

One’s internal sense of being male, female, or other

Gender constancy

Understanding gender stays stable over time

Gender roles

Expected behaviors based on gender

Stereotypes

Generalized beliefs about genders

Androgyny

Having both masculine and feminine traits

Biological influences

Hormones, chromosomes

Evolutionary influences

Survival-based role differences

Socialization agents

Parents, teachers, peers, media

Attachment

Emotional bond between infant and caregiver

Bowlby’s theory

Attachment is biologically programmed

Secure base

Caregiver provides safety for exploration

Separation anxiety

Distress when caregiver leaves

Stranger anxiety

Fear of unfamiliar people

Key finding

Contact comfort > food

Birth–6 weeks

Pre-attachment

6 weeks–6 months

Attachment in the making

6–18 months

Clear-cut attachment

18+ months

Reciprocal relationships

Trust vs mistrust

Infants learn if caregivers are reliable

Authoritative

warm + firm → best outcomes

Authoritarian

strict + cold → anxious kids

Permissive

warm + no rules → poor self-control

Disengaged

uninvolved → worst outcomes

Why does attachment differ across cultures?

Different parenting practices and values

Solitary

caregiver is nearby but child is alone

Onlooker

child watches other kids play

Parallel

side-by-side, no interaction

Simple social

interaction without structure

Cooperative pretend

organized group play