marina sangkavichai psychology 1. nature versus nurture debate nature: the influence of our...
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Marina SangkavichaiPsychology 1
Nature versus Nurture DebateNature: the influence of our
inherited characteristics on our personality, physical growth, and social interactions
Nurture: the influence of the environment on personality, physical growth, intellectual growth and social interactions
Aristotle said “ A human is a social animal destined to live in close relationships with important others.”
How do the bonds of attachments to others form?
In all cultures, infants develop an intense bond with their caregivers.
Infants prefer familiar faces and voices At 8 months, some infants may develop a
fear of strangers called stranger anxiety. They may greet strangers with crying and
reaching for family caregivers. Interesting: Babies have “schemas”
( mental molds or concept of their caregivers ) unfamiliar faces don’t fit their schemas.
How do infants become attached? Infants become attached to those-typically
their parents-who are comfortable, familiar, and responsive to their needs
Interesting research: for many years, developmental psychologists reasoned that infants became attached to those who satisfied their needs for nourishment.
In the 1950’s, a man named Harry Harlow bred monkeys for learning studies. He separated monkeys from their mothers raised them in sanitary, individual cages which had baby blankets.
Surprisingly infant monkeys became attached to their blankets. When taken out to launder, the monkey became distressed.
This contradicted the “nourishment” hypothesis since the blankets provided no food.
Video: Harlow and Rhesus Monkeys and Harlows Monkeys
Harlow created two artificial mothers. One was a bare wire cylinder with a wooden head which dispensed food.
The other, a cylinder wrapped in a terry cloth----which cylinder do you think the monkey preferred?
Even though the bare wired cylinder provided food, the monkey preferred the cylinder with terry cloth!
Like human infants clinging to their mothers, the monkeys would cling to their cloth mothers when anxious.
Other studies have shown other qualities---rocking, warmth, and feeding- made the cloth mother even more appealing.
Secure: explored happily and used mother as an anchor. When toddler is reunited, she is easily soothed
Avoidant: willing to explore but did not look at mother for support.
Ambivalent: mixed feelings, mixed reaction when mother returns
Disorganized-disoriented: some babies seem undecided on how to react to mothers return.
Video: Strange situation
Securely attached infants have sensitive responsive care givers can play comfortably in their mother’s presence, exploring a new environment.
Securely attached children approach life with a sense that the world is predictable and reliable.
Other infants who grow up with insensitive, unresponsive mothers---mothers who attended to their babies when they felt like doing so but ignored them at other times-had infants who often became insecurely attached. Disorganized/disoriented attachment style.
Harlow’s monkey studies showed striking effects. When put in a strange situations without their artificial mothers, the deprived infants were terrified.
Erik Erikson theorized that securely attached children form a lifelong attitude of trust rather than fear.
It is often debated, but many researchers now believe that our early attachments form the foundation for our adult relationships. Do you agree or disagree?
Babies reared in institutions without the stimulation and attention of a regular caregiver or locked away at home under conditions of abuse or extreme neglect are often withdrawn, frightened, even speechless.
Imprinting: children and animals become attached to whatever moves and cares for them during the first few hours of their birth!
Adolescence is the culturally defined period between childhood and adulthood. Socially the adolescent is no longer a child, yet not quite an adult.
Length of adolescence varies from culture to culture. In North America, most 14 year old girls live at home and go to school.
In contrast, many 14 year old females in rural villages of the Near East are married and have children.
Adolescence is marked by physical changes
Examples are: Girls starting periods Boys deepening their voices Height changes Adolescence is also marked by a search
for identity and purpose. “ Who will I be in the future?” Can you relate?
Imaginary audiences: ( people they imagine are watching them ). Teenagers act like others are aware of their thoughts and feelings.
This leads to painful self-consciousness. For example, my brother believing everyone was staring at his pimple.
Type of thought common to adolescents in which young people believe themselves to be unique and protected from harm.
They may feel unique, they somehow feel protected from dangers of the world and so do not take the precautions they should. May result in unwanted pregnancy, reckless driving, drinking and driving and drug use.
Peer groups: brains, nerds, jocks, dancers, rappers, gothic, new wave, cheerleaders
There is increased identification with peer groups. Which group did you belong to in high school or did you have a group?
Peer group: consisted of people who show similar social status ( also ways of being ).
Facilitates identity formation Conformity to peer group
How would you define adulthood? What would make someone in this society an adult?
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? What steps will you take to get there?
Moral development: starts in childhood and continues into young adulthood. During this period we acquire values, beliefs, and thinking abilities that guide responsible behavior.
Moral values come through in sharper focus during adolescence
Kohlberg posed dilemmas to children of different ages to study moral development.
Dilemma: A woman in Europe was dying from a rare disease. Her only hope was a drug that a local druggist had discovered. The druggist was charging ten times more than it cost him to make it. Heinz, the husband of the dying woman, had desperately tried to borrow money to buy the drug but he could borrow only half of the amount he needed. He went to the druggist, told him that his wife was dying, and asked to let him pay the druggist later or to sell the drug at a lower cost. The druggist refused, saying he had discovered the drug and he was going to make money from it. Later, Heinz broke into the druggist’s store to steal the drug for his wife. Should Heinz have done that? Why?
Preconventional Stage: actions are evaluated in terms of possible punishment, not goodness or badness, obedience to power is emphasized. “ He shouldn’t steal the drug because he could get caught and sent to jail.” ( avoiding punishment ).
Before age 9, most children show this type of morality of self interest.
Also obey to gain concrete awards ( if you do it, you’ll be a hero ).
Conventional Stage: reasoning is based on a desire to please others or to follow accepted rules and values. ( authority )
Example: People will see him as a thief. He should not break the law and wife’s condition doesn’t justify stealing it.
Postconventional: follows self accepted moral principles. This affirms people agreed-upon rights ( People have a right to live ).
As our thinking matures, our behavior also becomes less selfish and more caring
Our thinking becomes less selfish and looking for more towards society. Empathy for others.
Starting and establishing a career 18-75
Asking what life is all about/Trying to find meaningful work and relationships
Starting a family, taking on new roles ( such as parents, careers, etc.)
Adolesence 13 to early twenties Goal is deciding who or what they to be in
terms of occupation, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior patterns. Failure to do this leads to confusion, withdrawal or blending into the crowd.
Early Adulthood twenties to thirtiesBeing able to share who they are with another person in a close committed relationship. Failure to do this may suffer from loneliness or isolate themselves from others.
Key BenefitsYears of attendance correlates well
with how you manage your life. Many cognitive gains between the
first and last year of collegeProvides you with valuable feedback
about your skills and abilitiesOpportunities for more friends and
social networks!
Middle Adulthood Forties and Fifties The challenge is to be creative, productive,
and nurturant of the next generation. Failure to do this will be passive, self centered, feel that they have done nothing for the next generation.
Late Adulthood Sixties and Beyond▪ Issue is whether a person will reach wisdom,
spiritual tranquility, a sense of wholeness, and acceptance of his or her life.
Bernice Neugarten examined the lives of 200 people between 70 and 79. 75% were satisfied with their lives after retirement.
Older persons generally do not become isolated and neglected by their families. Most prefer to live apart from children.
Stay active and interested in life! Have friends of all ages!
Older person who lives alone is not necessarily desolate and lonely
Few elderly persons ever show signs of senility or mental decay and few ever become mentally ill.
John Glenn at age 77 became the oldest person to fly into space in October 1998.
Age is being re-defined I.e. 30’s is the new 20’s. Not being married by 30 is not a bad thing
anymore. End of lectureLife expectancy use to be 50-60/ now its 75-80End of lecture