Socialization Within Developmental Context

Unit 1 - Microsystem Influences and Mechanisms

Defining Family

Family as Context - primary context for early development, where research has focused, and what forms of development are impacted

No one model for family: structural differences, Cultural differences, and changes with time

Socialization Mechanisms

Social learning - individuals learn behaviors, values, and norms by observing and interacting with others, especially within their family and community

Observational learning - the process of learning through watching others and imitating their actions

Vicarious learning - learning that occurs by observing the consequences of others' actions, rather than direct experience

Things we model for our kids, whether we realize it or not

relationships with technology, how we deal with frustration, how we solve problems, how we take care of ourselves, how we ask for help, how we listen, and the list goes on

Discipline

Corporal punishment - to spank or not to spank?

-cultural influences and more cons than pros

Can punishment be effective?

if acted on as: immediacy, consistency, calm, and explained

What works best for discipline?

timeout, removal of privileges, inductive methods, and reinforce good behavior

Singlehood

tends to differ for male and female

positive, if by choice - self-supporting, sense of control, high life satisfaction, freedom, and invest more in friendships

Society is increasingly supportive

Cohabitation

changes across time - more common now than past generations, less likely to result in marriage than the past, reasoning (trial period and practical)

Marriage

normative…

marriage = economic and health benefits

happy vs unhappy marriages - age, similarity, equity or poor communication, lack of resources, and children

Same-sex marriage - benefits of having access to legal recognition of partnership and most research suggest equivalent to heterosexual marriage

Divorce

more common than before but also decline

Predictors - low education, poor communication, stress and role overload, lacking resources (financial and personal), and children of divorce (often lacking social skills)

Pros/ Cons - most show resiliency following initial period / mental, behavioral, and physical

Widowhood

“widowhood effect” - 40-50% higher risk of mortality and immune response with poor health behaviors

impaired emotional and cognitive well-being, loneliness, men are at greater disadvantage, adjustment depends (circumstances of death, age, ability to pivot roles, and personal resources), and many are resilient but not unaffected

Children

normative…

older parents fair better on some aspects of parenting, but not all

same-sex parents - similar development contexts and outcomes and subject to prejudice and discrimination

Childlessness - involuntarily: more consequences (miscarriage or infertility) or by choice (don’t want kids)

Takeaway

Family structure alone is a poor predictor of outcomes - warm, low conflict atmosphere, transition/instability, and SES (less responsive to needs and less support)