Emotional Development and Attachment

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts in emotional development, attachment, and morality for exam preparation.

What is the definition of emotion?

A feeling or affect occurring in a state or interaction significant to a person's well-being.

What are the two main types of emotions?

Positive emotions include enthusiasm, joy, and love; negative emotions include anxiety, anger, guilt, and sadness.

What biological factors influence emotions?

Genetic and physiological factors impacting emotions.

How do cognitive processes affect emotions?

Thoughts influence feelings.

What role do personal experiences play in emotional development?

Past interactions shape one's emotional responses.

How do social relationships influence emotional development?

They provide the environment for emotional development.

What are cultural variations in emotional expression?

Differences in emotional expression and understanding across cultures.

What is emotion regulation?

The ability to manage one's emotional responses to adapt and achieve goals.

What key dimension refers to alertness or activation levels in emotion regulation?

Arousal.

How does the development of emotional regulation progress in children?

Starts externally with caregivers; moves to self-initiated regulation with age.

What do emotion-coaching parents do?

Monitor children's emotions, view negative emotions as teaching moments, and help children label emotions.

What is the effect of emotion-coaching parenting on children?

Children self-soothe, better regulate negative feelings, and experience fewer behavioral issues.

What is characteristic of emotion-dismissing parents?

Deny or ignore negative emotions, linked to poor emotional regulation in children.

What does emotional competence involve?

Managing emotions, showing resilience, and developing positive relationships.

What are the components of emotional competence?

Awareness of one's emotional states, recognizing others' emotions, and effective coping strategies.

What is the definition of primary emotions?

Emotions present in humans and other animals, emerging within the first six months.

What are examples of primary emotions?

Surprise, interest, joy, anger, sadness, fear, disgust.

What are self-conscious emotions?

Emotions that require self-awareness and emerge after 18 months, such as jealousy and guilt.

What types of cries do infants use for communication?

Basic (hunger), anger, and pain.

What is a reflexive smile?

A smile not in response to external stimuli.

What defines a social smile?

A smile occurring in reaction to stimuli.

What does the behavioral theory suggest about infant crying?

Parental responses to crying lead to increased crying due to rewarding behavior.

What is the attachment theory's perspective on crying?

Responsiveness to infant crying builds trust and secure attachment.

At what age does fear typically emerge in infants?

Around six months.

What is stranger anxiety?

A fear response that begins around six months and peaks at nine months.

What is separation protest in infants?

Noted around 7-8 months and peaks between 13-15 months.

How do infants learn to regulate their emotional reactions?

They learn to reduce the intensity and duration of emotional reactions.

What are self-conscious emotions that develop in young children?

Emotions like pride, shame, embarrassment, and guilt.

When do children begin to expand their emotional vocabulary?

Ages 2-4.

How does emotional regulation link to social competence?

It is essential for the development of social competence.

What is an increased capacity that older children develop regarding emotions?

The ability to suppress negative reactions.

What coping strategies do older children apply to manage stress?

Cognitive strategies.

How does adolescence impact emotional intensity?

Early adolescence is characterized by increased emotional intensity, particularly depression.

What is the trend regarding emotional experiences in older adults?

They report experiencing more positive emotions and fewer negative ones.

What is the socioemotional selectivity theory?

Older individuals prioritize meaningful relationships and emotion-related goals over knowledge-related goals.

What does temperament refer to in emotional development?

Individual behavioral differences regarding emotional responses.

What are the three classifications of temperament by Chess and Thomas?

Easy child, difficult child, and slow-to-warm-up child.

What is reactivity in temperament?

Speed and intensity of emotional responses.

How does behavioral inhibition relate to temperament?

It leads to shyness, observed through behaviors like withdrawal or distress.

What is the role of cultural values in temperament?

Parenting responses based on cultural values affect temperament expression.

What is 'goodness of fit' in parenting?

The alignment between a child's temperament and their environment.

What does attachment refer to in emotional development?

An emotional bond between two individuals.

What is Freud’s perspective on attachment?

Infants attach to figures providing oral gratification.

What did Harlow’s theory emphasize about attachment?

Contact comfort is vital for developing attachment.

What are the phases of attachment according to Bowlby?

Phase 1: Attach to any human; Phase 2: Focus on primary caregiver; Phase 3: Specific bonds develop; Phase 4: Awareness of emotional states grows.

What are the types of attachment identified by Ainsworth?

Secure, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant, and insecure disorganized.

How does secure attachment affect a child's development?

Predicts better emotional regulation and lower anxiety.

What are critiques of attachment theory?

Challenges regarding applicability and diversity of caregiving styles.

What roles do hormones play in attachment behaviors?

Influenced by oxytocin and dopamine.

What trend is observed in father involvement in childcare?

Increasing number of fathers as primary caregivers.

What correlates with high-quality childcare?

Cognitive achievement and overall emotional development.

How does attachment evolve in middle and late childhood?

It becomes more complex and leads to better emotional regulation.

What does romantic attachment look like in adolescence?

Adolescents form significant relationships outside their family, commonly romantic partnerships.

What cultural values influence dating practices?

Cultural and ethnic group variations shape dating standards and expectations.

What are the three adult attachment styles?

Secure, avoidant, and anxious.

How do securely attached individuals cope with stress?

They show better emotional regulation in stressful situations.

What are the components of romantic love?

Passion and attraction.

What does Sternberg’s triangular theory of love involve?

Three dimensions: Passion, intimacy, and commitment.

What characterizes social relationships across cultures?

Significant cultural variation in romantic customs and relationships.

What does self-understanding entail?

The cognitive representation of the self, important for identity development.

How do infants exhibit self-recognition?

Through increased nose-touching after being marked in a mirror.

When do signs of self-recognition typically emerge in infants?

At 15-18 months.

What characterizes self-understanding in early childhood?

Confusion of self, mind, and body, and concrete descriptions of self.

What is perspective-taking in children?

The ability to assume another’s perspective and understand their thoughts and feelings.

What developmental changes occur in self-understanding during adolescence?

More abstract thinking and awareness of contradictions in self.

What is the concept of possible selves in adolescence?

Refers to what adolescents hope to become and what they fear becoming.

How does self-awareness develop in early adulthood?

Involves understanding one's psychological makeup including strengths and weaknesses.

What tends to happen to possible selves as individuals age?

Tend to describe fewer possible selves, framing them more realistically.

What impact does life review have on an individual?

Involves reflecting on life experiences and identifying positive aspects and regrets.

What defines self-esteem?

Global evaluations of oneself, often referred to as self-worth.

What are the consequences of low self-esteem?

Associates with anxiety, depression, and lower life satisfaction.

What is narcissism?

A self-centered demeanor characterized by a lack of self-awareness.

What types of narcissism are identified?

Vulnerable narcissism and grandiose narcissism.

What debate exists around generational changes in self-esteem?

Whether recent generations display higher self-esteem and increased narcissism.

What is the typical trend in self-esteem across the lifespan?

Declines during adolescence, increases in the 20s, stabilizes in the 30s, peaks in the 50s and 60s, then declines in the 70s and 80s.

How is self-esteem measured in studies?

Using a 5-point scale assessing agreement or disagreement.

What happens to self-evaluations during elementary school?

Increasing accuracy in self-evaluations is observed.

What is the stereotype regarding adolescents and self-esteem?

That they commonly have low self-esteem, though many maintain a positive self-image.

What issues arise from inflated praise in children?

Prevents them from learning from critical challenges.

What does moral development involve?

Changes in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors concerning standards of right and wrong.

What is the intrapersonal dimension of moral development?

Regulates activities when not engaged with others.

What are the five basic questions in moral development?

How individuals reason, behave, feel about moral decisions, moral personality, and the moral domain's differences.

What are the stages of moral development in Piaget’s theory?

Heteronomous morality, transition stage, and autonomous morality.

What does heteronomous morality view justice as?

Unchangeable and external, judging behaviors based on consequences.

What critique did Thompson make about Piaget's theory?

Children may not be as egocentric and can understand others' intentions.

What are the three levels of moral development in Kohlberg’s theory?

Preconventional, conventional, and postconventional reasoning.

What are the critiques of Kohlberg's theory?

Emphasis on moral thought over behavior, and lack of consideration for the role of emotions.

What perspective does Gilligan offer in contrast to Kohlberg?

Challenges male-centric view promoting a care perspective.

What factors influence moral behavior according to social cognitive theory?

Reinforcement, punishment, and imitation.

What distinguishes moral competence from moral performance?

Knowledge and skills versus actual behavior influenced by motivation.

What defines empathy in moral development?

Affective response to another’s emotional state coupled with perspective-taking ability.

What developmental stage is characterized by an increase in humanitarian concerns?

Ages 10-12.

What factors contribute to moral identity?

Characteristics of personality that feature moral notions central to one's life.

How is moral character defined?

Strength of personal convictions and perseverance.

What is the defining quality of moral exemplars?

Individuals embodying moral excellence and commitment through their lives.

What key concepts are central to social domain theory?

Distinctions among types of social knowledge: moral, social conventional, and personal domains.