INFANCY AND CHILDHOODPhysical & Social Development

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Brain Development At birth you have most of your brain cells Neural networks have to develop though Maturation must take place

Biological growth processes enabling change

The parts of the brain responsible for basic functions develop first (linked to evolutionary psychology)

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Motor Development With few exceptions – sequence of motor

development is universal Roll over before sitting

Creep on all fours before walking

Genes matter! Identical Twins usually sit & walk on nearly the same day

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Maturation and Infant Memory Earliest memories not before age 3 The brain cortex has to mature to store long-term

memories Think of your earliest memory…Write it down

Your homework – talk with your parents and estimate your approximate age

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Stranger Anxiety About 8 months infants begin to display a fear of

strangers How do you approach a child with stranger anxiety?

Get permission

Get on their level

Ask for interaction in a casual way

If child is still nervous, back off and play with one of their toys

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Origins of Attachment Attachment – emotional bond with another person Body Contact

Harry & Margaret Harlow reared monkeys to study attachment (it had nothing to do with food)

Harlow's Studies on Dependency in Monkeys.mp4

Should the same ethical constraints be imposed on animal research that exist for humans participants? Why or why not?

They wouldn’t be able to do the same study today

Did the Harlows’ studies imply that women should be the primary caregivers for infants? Why or why not?

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Origins of Attachment Familiarity

Critical period – optimal period shortly after birth when certain evens must take place for proper development

Konrad Lorenz studied Imprinting of birds They attach to their own species best, but a box on

wheels works too

It’s hard to reverse once created

Fly Away Home Trailer

Children don’t “imprint” but do like what is familiar – it’s safe

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Attachment Differences Securely attached children

Comfortable and explore in new environments w/mom

Distressed when mom leaves & seek contact upon return

Insecurely attached children Less exploration and more clingy w/mom

Cry loudly when mom leaves & stay upset/indifferent when she comes back

Mary Ainsworth’s research found: Sensitive responsive parents tend to have securely

attached children (remember correlation is not causation)

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Depravation of Attachment Neglect and/or trauma can prevent attachment

Leads to withdrawn children, frightened, may not develop speech

Abusers have often been abused, but the abused are not always abusers

Moving from foster house to foster house can be a cause

Daycare?

Quality daycare does not appear to effect attachment

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Self-Concept Begins at 6 months and evolves

By 8-10 it is stable

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Child Rearing Practices (Parenting Styles) Authoritarian

Parent imposes rules and expects obedience

“Because I said so”

Permissive Give in to child’s demands

Make few demands, use little punishment

Authoritative Set rules and enforce them

Explain reasoning and encourage discussion

Give and take (G”ive” – Authoritat”ive”)

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Get out a piece of loose leaf paper and complete the following…

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

How would each type of parent get

balky children to:

Authoritarian Permissive Authoritative(Give & Take)

1. Clean up toys after play.

2. Eat dinner.

3. Go to bed.