Developmental Psychology

Introduction

  • Importance of understanding origins of personal problems.
  • Prior discussion focused on cognitive development and its stages.
  • Transition to social skills development and personality formation.

Personality vs. Temperament

  • Key Concepts:

    • Temperament: Innate characteristics present at birth that influence personality development.
    • Often confused with personality, but distinct.
    • Influence how individuals interact and adapt to their environment.
    • Personality: A collection of characteristics developed through experiences and learning over time.

  • Discussion Points:

    • Are you born with your personality or do you learn it? Consensus leans towards a mix of both: temperament is inherited but personality is learned.
    • Examples of temperament: easy babies, difficult babies, slow-to-warm-up babies.

Characteristics of Temperament

  • Easy Baby:
    • Plays with toys, stops crying when held, and follows general rules.
  • Difficult Baby:
    • Cries often, only specific caregivers (e.g., mom) can comfort them, which may deter social interaction from others.
  • Slow-to-Warm-Up Baby:
    • Initially shy or hesitant around new people, but becomes comfortable with time.
  • Impact:
    • Individual temperament influences social interactions and personality development in later life.
    • Interaction patterns as a baby can correlate with later social behaviors and relationships.

Attachment Theory

  • Attachment: The bond between a caregiver (not exclusively the mother) and the child; critical for social development.

  • The Strange Situation: A method to observe attachment styles in children (typically used at 18 months).

    • Procedure:
    1. Child is placed in a room with toys; caregiver is present.
    2. A stranger enters the room.
    3. Caregiver leaves the room.
    4. The caregiver returns to observe the child's reactions.

  • Attachment Styles:

    • Secure Attachment:
    • Signs of distress when caregiver leaves.
    • Seeks comfort upon return, quickly calms down.
    • Predicts healthier relationships in adulthood: trust, intimacy, and emotional sharing.
    • Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment:
    • Clings to caregiver; exhibit anxiety in stranger's presence.
    • Upset upon caregiver’s departure and hard to console upon return.
    • May grow into adults with insecurities in relationships.
    • Anxious-Avoidant Attachment:
    • Little show of distress when caregiver leaves.
    • Can easily be consoled by strangers.
    • Avoids intimacy in relationships; comfortable being alone.
    • Disorganized/Disoriented Attachment:
    • Often associated with trauma or abusive environments.
    • Child displays confusing behaviors and intense emotional reactions; struggles to establish trust.

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development

  • Overview: The theory explains how people judge right from wrong.
  • Activity: Consider moral dilemmas to assess morality at different ages.

Moral Dilemmas:

  1. Ant and Grasshopper:
    • An ant who worked hard in summer and a grasshopper who played seeks help in winter.
    • Discussion explores varying responses with no right or wrong answers; reflects on personal values and societal expectations.
  2. Heinz and the Drug:
    • The dilemma involves stealing a drug to save a dying wife; explores legality versus morality.
    • Responses vary based on individual morals, highlighting complex ethical considerations about life and death.

Stages of Moral Development by Kohlberg

  • Preconventional Level:
    • Morality based on external consequences (rewards/punishments).
  • Conventional Level:
    • Morality based on societal rules and laws.
  • Post-Conventional Level:
    • Morality determined by individual ethics, allowing for flexibility and personal interpretation.

Parenting Styles

  • Parenting strategies impact children's development; conceptualized by control and warmth levels.
  • Styles:
    • Authoritative (High Control, High Warmth): Combines structure with emotional support. Produces self-reliant, well-adjusted children.
    • Authoritarian (High Control, Low Warmth): Strict rules with little emotional support; results in moody, aggressive children with poor communication skills.
    • Permissive Indulgent (Low Control, High Warmth): Emphasis on nurturing but lack of discipline leads to impulsive behavior and immaturity.
    • Permissive Neglectful (Low Control, Low Warmth): Little support and guidance; often results in poor social skills and a demanding disposition.

Conclusion

  • Parenting is challenging; understanding styles can aid in improving relationships and addressing past issues.
  • Acknowledging your upbringing enables better parenting practices.
  • Encouragement not to blame parents, as they usually acted based on their own experiences and resources.