Entering the Social World: Socioemotional Development in Infancy and Early Childhood

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to socioemotional development in infancy and early childhood, including attachment, emotions, play, altruism, and gender roles.

Erikson’s Stages of Early Psychosocial Development

Erikson proposed that each of 8 stages involves a unique challenge; successful resolution results in a particular strength of psychosocial development, while failure may stunt development and impede resolution of future challenges.

Erikson’s Stages: Basic trust vs. mistrust

In infancy this stage deals with basic trust vs. mistrust with the strength of hope.

Erikson’s Stages: Autonomy vs. Doubt

Between 1-3 years this stage deals with autonomy vs. doubt with the strength of will.

Erikson’s Stages: Initiative vs. guilt

Between 3-5 years this stage deals with initiative vs. guilt with the strength of purpose.

Attachment

An enduring socioemotional relationship with an adult.

Preattachment stage

Infants rapidly learn to recognize their mothers and display behaviors that elicit adult caregiving.

Attachment in the making

Infants behave differently toward familiar versus unfamiliar adults, and are more easily consoled by familiar adults.

True attachment

Infants have singled out a 'special' adult as their secure and stable socioemotional base.

Reciprocal relationships

Toddlers act as true partners, can anticipate parents will return, and understand parents’ feelings and goals.

Secure attachment

Children may or may not cry upon separation; wants to be with mom upon her return and stops crying (60-65%).

Avoidant attachment

Baby is not upset by separation; ignores or looks away when mom returns (20%).

Resistant attachment

Separation upsets baby; remains upset after mom’s return and is difficult to console (10-15%).

Disorganized attachment

Separation and return confuse the baby; reacts in contradictory ways (e.g., seeking proximity to the returned mom, but not looking at her) (5-10%).

Internal working model

A set of expectations about parents’ availability and responsiveness.

Basic emotions

Consist of a subjective feeling, a physiological change, and an overt behavior and include joy, sadness, anger, fear, distress, disgust, interest, and surprise.

Complex emotions

Include guilt, embarrassment, and pride; require understanding of self and behavior in relation to standards.

Social referencing

Infants use adults’ facial and vocal emotion displays to direct their own behavior.

Emotion regulation

Controlling what one feels and how to communicate the feeling.

Parallel play

Children play alone but are keenly interested in what others are doing.

Simple social play

Children do similar activities and talk or smile at each other.

Cooperative play

Theme-based play where children take special roles.

Prosocial behavior

One that benefits another (e.g., cooperating, being polite).

Altruism

Prosocial behaviors not directly benefiting the self, but driven by feelings of responsibility toward others.

Social role

Cultural guidelines as to how we should behave, especially with others.

Gender roles

Cultural guidelines as to how we should behave based on our gender.

Relational aggression

Hurt others by damaging their peer relationships (e.g., gossip, ignore, spread rumors).