Developmental Psychology

Social Development6.2

Learning Outcomes

General framework (applicable to all topics in the option)

• To what extent do biological, cognitive and sociocultural factors influence human development?

• Evaluate psychological research (that is, theories

and/or studies) relevant to developmental psychology.

Learning Outcomes

Social development• Examine attachment in childhood and its role in the

subsequent formation of relationships. • Discuss potential effects of deprivation or trauma in

childhood on later development. • Define resilience. • Discuss strategies to build resilience.

Examine attachment in childhood and its role in the subsequent formation of

relationships

Attachment• John Bowlby 1907-1990• Developed Attachment theory• Studied children from the WWII who had been

separated from their parents.• Found that many had emotional problems and

linked this to separation from their mother.• Believed that attachment was an innate pattern

and helped infants to survive.• Basic biological need.• If deprivation – permanent and irreversible

damage

Internal Working Model

• Infants develop working models of the world based on the development of a secure and attachment relationship with a parent or caregiver.

• In such a situation, the child develop aworking model of the world as safe and secure.

• Oterhwise – negative working models (the world is dangerous, frightening…)

• It will change and incorporate new ways.

Internal Working Model

• If the child experiences love and affection, he or she come to see himself or herself as worthy of love and attention.

• If they have experienced neglect and rejection they might develop a model of denial (or on the reality)

The Strange Situation

• Mary Ainsworth 1913-1999• developed Bowlby’s ideas and came up with

how to test attachment theory empirically• - called the strange situation paradigm

• She was a student to Bowlby• Conducted research in Uganda (1967) and then

in Baltimore (U 1971) studied children and mother interactions: resulted in SSC

The Strange Situation• Studies the child’s reaction to separation and

reunion with the attachment figure (often the mother)

1. The parent and child are alone in the room2. The child explores the room without parental

participation3. A stranger enters the room, talks to the

parent and approaches the child4. The parent quickly leaves the room5. The parent returns and comforts the child

Types of attachment

• Type A – avoidant (20% of the children)• Type B – Securely attached (70% of the

children)• Type C – ambivalent (10 % of the children)• Type D – insecure-disorganised/disorganised

attachment (came later – 1986, by Main and Solomon)

The Strange Situation - Mary Ainsworth

One example of “a strange situation”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s608077NtNI

What is your attachment style?

• http://www.web-research-design.net/cgi-bin/crq/crq.pl

• This interactive survey takes about 5 minutes to complete. The questionnaire is designed to measure your 'attachment style'--the way you relate to others in the context of intimate relationships

Evaluation of the attachment theory and the strange situation

Evaluate using:1. Gender2. Culture3. Method4. Ethics

• Any thoughts?• Read p. 197-199 if you need help

The role of early attachment in the subsequent formation of relationships

• Internal working models continue throughout the lifespan

• Relationship between the experience of attachment in childhood and adult love relationships

Hazan and Shaver’s Love Quiz

• Read the following statements and indicate which paragraph best describes your attitute to close relationships – on page 200 (A, B or C)

Hazan and Shaver’s Love Quiz’s research 1987

• Put in a newspaper and asked for volunteers to pick ”a box” and to describe their parents’ parenting styles.

• 620 people answered (self-selected), 14-82 years old, mean age 36. 205 males and 415 females.

• Second sample of 108 college students.

Hazan and Shaver’s Love Quiz’s research

Results:• 20% showed A (anxious-avoidant:

”unresponsive, rejecting”)• 60% showed B (secure attachment: ”attentive

and responsive”)• 20% showed C (anxious- ambivalent: ”anxious,

sometimes responsive”)