W8 L3 Chapter 1-6: Social and Emotional Development in Childhood

Basic set of universal emotions present from infancy:
- Primary emotions:
- Examples include happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust.
- Universal across cultures and require no significant learning.
- Root motivations for primary emotions:
- Attraction to pleasant stimulation.
- Withdrawal from unpleasant stimulation.
Secondary emotions:
- Develop later and are influenced by social context.
- Examples include shame and embarrassment.
- Acquired through cultural and social learning.
Methods of measuring emotions in children:
- Observational methods, such as facial expressions.
- Physiological studies.
Changes in emotional expression as children age:
- Early development (infants): social smiles and laughter.
- Later development: emergence of emotions like anger and fear.
Role of caregivers:
- Infants use caregivers as a secure base in uncertain environments.
- Co-regulation: Emotional regulation occurs with adult support.
- As children grow, they learn to self-regulate emotions through language and understanding of social norms.
Social influences on emotional development:
- Understanding of situational appropriateness for emotional expressions (e.g., male anger vs. female sadness).
- Use of false emotions for personal gain.
Integration with moral understanding:
- Emotional expression becomes linked to concepts of good and bad.

Defined as early appearing and stable individual differences in:
- Reactivity (emotional arousal)
- Self-regulation
Cornerstones of adult personality development:
- Temperament differences observed from birth:
- Examples of temperament types among children:
  - Easy child (40%): Adaptable, cheerful, establishes routines.
  - Difficult child (10%): Intense reactions, struggles with routines.
  - Slow to warm up (15%): Low activity, more negative mood.
  - Others (35%): Combination of various traits.
Research findings on temperament:
- Links between temperament and later psychological outcomes.
- Some temperamental types are resilient in high-stress environments.
- Parenting has a significant impact on modifying temperament.
Shyness and social dynamics:
- Cultural shifts can alter perceptions of temperament in school settings (e.g., shyness viewed less favorably).

Importance of attachment in emotional development:
- Forms close emotional bonds between infants and caregivers.
- Historical foundations from Freud’s theories on attachment.
Secure attachment:
- Leads to trust, self-confidence, and social skills.
- Missing a secure attachment can hinder later development.
Harry Harlow’s contributions:
- Monkeys preferred comfort over food in experiments.
- Established attachment is about comfort, not just survival needs.
Bowlby’s ethological theory of attachment:
- Stages of attachment development:
- Pre-attachment (birth to 6 weeks): No specific attachment bonds.
- Attachment-in-the-making (6 weeks to 6/8 months): Different responses to familiar vs. unfamiliar caregivers.
- Clear-cut attachment (6/8 months to 18/24 months): Increased distress upon caregiver separation.
- Reciprocal relationship (after 18 months): Understanding of caregiver's return and normal separation durations.
The Strange Situation Test (Mary Ainsworth):
- Method to categorize attachment styles:
- Secure attachment: Playful, explores, accepts comfort.
- Avoidant attachment: Unresponsive, slow to greet.
- Resistant attachment: Clingy or angry reactions.
- Disorganized attachment: Contradictory behaviors, confusion.
Importance of parenting styles on attachment quality.

The significance of self-development:
- Major social achievement of childhood.
Understanding the self: Developmental milestones include mirror studies that show self-recognition around 18 months.
Formation of self-concept:
- Based on gender, social group memberships, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Involves social comparison.
Importance of positive self-esteem:
- Influences confidence, independence, optimism, and sociability.
- Recognizes that high self-esteem is not merely feeling good but involves realistic self-assessment.
Development of self-esteem by age:
- High self-esteem in early childhood due to supportive environments.
- Decline during early primary school due to performance comparisons.
- Understanding of ability vs. effort common in later childhood, affecting self-esteem.

Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory:
- Stage theory with fixed periods of psychological crises that influences personality.
- Positive resolution builds strengths; negative resolution creates vulnerabilities.
Stages of psychosocial development:
- Stage 1: Trust vs. mistrust (0-1 year) - Is the world predictable and supportive?
- Stage 2: Autonomy vs. shame and doubt (1-3 years) - Can I do things by myself?
- Stage 3: Initiative vs. guilt (3-6 years) - Am I inherently good?
- Stage 4: Industry vs. inferiority (6-puberty) - Am I competent?
Erikson’s approach focuses on interconnected development across the lifespan, differing from theorists like Freud.

Social and emotional development in childhood encompasses emotional growth, temperament differences, attachment formation, self-awareness, and personality evolution.
These concepts provide crucial frameworks for understanding future behavioral and psychological outcomes.