Developmental Psychology Midterm Study Guide

Erik and Joan Erikson Psychosocial Model of Development

Stage 1: Basic Trust Vs. Basic Mistrust (Birth-2 years)

• Strength: Hope

• Maladjustment: Withdrawal

• Example: A baby is consistently fed and comforted by their caregiver, leading to a sense of trust in their environment. Conversely, if the baby's needs are neglected, they may develop mistrust.

Stage 2: Autonomy Vs. Shame and Doubt (2-3 years)

• Strength: Control/Will

• Maladjustment: Compulsion

• Example: A toddler is encouraged to dress themselves and praised for their efforts, fostering a sense of autonomy. If they're overly criticized or not given the chance, they might feel shame and doubt in their abilities.

Stage 3: Initiative Vs. Guilt (3-5 years)

• Strength: Purpose

• Maladjustment: Inhibition

• Example: A child wants to play "doctor" and creates a mini clinic at home. If their initiative is supported, they'll develop confidence. If they're reprimanded or discouraged, they might feel guilt for trying new things.

Stage 4: Industry Vs. Inferiority (6-12 years)

• Strength: Competence/Confidence

• Maladjustment: Inertia

• Example: A child who excels in school projects and receives praise from teachers and parents will feel industrious. Conversely, if their efforts are ignored or they face constant failure, they may feel inferior.

Stage 5: Identity Vs. Identity Confusion (12-18 years)

• Strength: Fidelity (set of beliefs and values)

• Maladjustment: Repudiation

• Example: A teenager experiments with different roles, hobbies, and peer groups, ultimately forming a clear sense of identity. If they struggle to find where they fit in, they might experience role confusion.

Stage 6: Intimacy Vs. Isolation (18-45 years)

• Strength: Love

• Maladjustment: Exclusivity

• Example: A young adult who forms a deep, committed relationship experiences intimacy. If they fear commitment or are unable to form close connections, they may face isolation.

Stage 7: Generativity Vs. Stagnation (45-70 years)

• Strength: Care

• Maladjustment: Receptivity

• Example: An adult volunteers in their community and mentors younger colleagues, feeling a sense of generativity. If they focus only on personal achievements and lack involvement in nurturing others, they might feel stagnant.

Stage 8: Integrity Vs. Despair (70-85 years)

• Strength: Wisdom

• Maladjustment: Disdain

• Example: An elderly person looks back on life with a sense of fulfillment and integrity if they believe they lived well. If they have regrets or feel they missed opportunities, they might experience despair.

Stage 9: Transformation (85+ years)

• Strength: Wisdom

• Maladjustment: Despair

• Example: An elderly person who faces significant physical decline and loss may initially experience despair. However, with support and a positive outlook, they can find hope and faith, reflecting on their life with a sense of peace despite the hardships.

Conception, Prenatal Development and Birth

Sensitive Periods:

Period during which structure highly “plastic” or subject to change

• Structure is developing FAST

• Environmental influences affect development (depends)

• Once a time period has passed, there is no going back

Teratogens:

Any disease, drug, or other environmental agent that can harm a developing embryo or fetus

• Impact depends on genotype/constitution of organism

• Not universally harmful (different outcomes)

• Species Specific (Some affect humans but not animals)

• Harm particular structures at particular points in development

• Typically, most effects occur during periods of rapid change

• Can be ANY drugs, maternal disease, or environmental pollutant

Use of OTC and Prescribed Drugs:

The usage of ANY type of drug could have a potential negative affect on mother or baby. Most commonly, physical or mental disabilities. Can also cause low birthweight, prematurity, or infant death.

A drug could help the mother but have an internal affect that can affect a daughter’s body, fertility, or health

4% of pregnant women take legal drugs

In cases of mood disorders or HIV, it is typically allowed for mothers to take legal drugs for their wellbeing.

Use of Alcohol (FAS) and Other Substances

Features of FAS

• Facial malformations

• Congenital Heart Disease

• Failure to thrive

• Behavioral problems

• Learning disabilities

• Can be 100% preventable

Prenatal Environmental Influences

Maternal Characteristics & Age, Nutrition and Stress

• Women can be too young or too old for pregnancy

• Mothers under 18 have significant premature births and low birth rates

• It is best is pregnant women maintain their stress levels to a minimum

• Nutrition is important during pregnancy. This is to help baby get the necessary strengths to grow.

Parenting Styles

Authoritarian Style: High in control, Low in Warmth

• focuses on strict rules, obedience, and discipline. These parents have high expectations, and they don't hesitate to punish when children don't follow their guidelines.

• take over the decision-making power, rarely giving children any input in the matter. Similar to an army drill sergeant, authoritarian parents are not nurturing, lenient, or communicable.

• They make the rules and enforce the consequences with little regard for a child's opinion.

• Child could struggle with: Social skills, Indecisiveness and trouble thinking on their own, Low self-esteem, Poor judge of character, Anger management and resentfulness, Hostility and aggression

• “My way or the highway”

Authoritative Style: High in control, High in Warmth *

• Considered the best parenting style

• Authoritative parents provide their children with rules and boundaries, but they also give them the freedom to make decisions.

• With an authoritative parenting style, parents validate their children's feelings while also making it clear that the adults are ultimately in charge. They invest time and energy into preventing behavior problems before they start.

• Children raised with authoritative parenting tend to be happy, confident, and successful. They're also more likely to make sound decisions and evaluate safety risks on their own. Authoritative parenting is linked to academic achievement, heightened self-esteem, and resiliency

• “Mistakes are a learning opportunity”

Permissive Style: Low in control, High in warmth

• Permissive parents are lenient, only stepping in when there's a serious problem. They're quite forgiving. Oftentimes they act more like friends than authoritative figures

• Permissive parents cater to their children's needs without giving out much discipline. When they do use consequences, they may not stick. For example, they'll give privileges back if a child begs

• Kids who are parented permissively often act entitled, egocentric, and selfish. These children might also fail to put effort into school, work, or social endeavors since they don't have to put in any effort at home.

• “Kids will be Kids”

Disengage Style (Neglectful): Low in control, Low in Warmth

• neglectful parents ignore their children, who receive little guidance, nurturing, and parental attention. They don't set rules or expectations, and they tend to have minimal knowledge about what their children are doing

• Uninvolved parents expect children to raise themselves. They don't devote much time or energy to meeting children's basic needs. At times, uninvolved parents lack knowledge about child development

• Child could experience: Substance use, Rebelliousness, Delinquency, Lower cognitive and emotional empathy, Diminished self-esteem

SIDE NOTE:

Parenting style have an effect in development, they’re not inherit in our nature. Someone who grew up in an authoritarian household does not necessarily inherit that parenting style as well. Children of each parenting style could also grow up to be different from the norm.

Physical Development in Infancy 👇

Temperament & Temperament Styles (Chess & Thomas)

Difficult Temperament (1/10) 10%

• Irregular

• difficult to approach

• Slow to adapt

• Intense

• Withdrawals from novelty

• Display negative mood

Easy Temperament (4/10) 40%

• Communication

• Easy to predict

• Easy to adapt

• Approachable

• Mild mood

Slow to Warm Up (5/10) 15%-50% (?)

• Withdrawing

• Slow to adapt

• Low activity

• Bad mood

Unlabeled (The rest)

Goodness/Poorness of Fit

Fit: how one fits into an environment

Good: Match

Poor: incompatible

“It is easier to change environment than fit, it is up to the parent to accommodate for child’s temperament”

Goodness of fit: When the environment and expectations of child are synced with child’s temperament

Poorness of fit: When the environment does NOT match with child’s temperament and/or needs.

Physical Development in Infancy

Socioemotional Development in Infancy (Attachment; Dr. John Bowlby & Dr. Mary Ainsworth) FOUR PHASES

“Attachment MUST happen in infancy (in the first 6-months of life) to be stable adults”

Phase 1: Indiscriminative Social Response (1-2 months)

• Baby cries to signal their need for comfort and security

• (a releaser, releasing emotions, communication)

• Anyone can response to cry and baby will go to anyone providing comfort

Phase 2: Discriminative Social Ability (2-7 months)

• Baby knows who mom and dad are

• Baby has to be attached to someone at this point

Phase 3: Attachment (7-24 months)

• infant and adult attachment is formed

• separation protest: kid will be upset if attachment leaves

• a signal symbolized by crying aimed at making attachment figures return

• (a separation protest means the child is attached)

Phase 4: Goal Corrected Partnerships (3 years +)

• slightly more aware of attachment’s (adult) feeling

• child will take their parents need into account when interacting with them

• they understand their needs may need to wait, usually not good at this but are aware

• They can access attachment given their ability to move around

Dr. Ainsworth’s Findings

Strange Situation Experiment:

Attachment (mother) and baby enter a room full of toys, eventually a stranger enters too. The mother then leaves for a few minutes. How does baby react to her being gone? How does baby react when she returns? (Does baby seek comfort or get angry?)

Secure Base: Child sees a parent as an attachment figure they can go to for comfort and security (preferred attachment style) (65% of USA infants)

The following are when parent is NOT viewed as a secure base

Insecure Resisted: Rejects parent when they return (10-15%)

Insecure Resilient: Want help but unsure if they can trust it (10-15%)

Insecure Avoidant: Child avoids parent (20%)

Important group: Disoriented, disorganized. appear confuse and apprehensive when approached by parent. (4%)