Social Development

Vygotsky’s Theory Piaget: Stressed importance of child’s interaction with objects as a primary factor in cognitive development Vygotsky: Stressed importance of social interactions with other people, typically more highly skilled children and adults Scaffolding Zone of proximal development Vygotsky believed that children learn best when being helped by a more highly skilled peer or adult in a process called scaffolding. The zone of proximal development is the difference between the mental age of tasks the child performs without help and those the child can perform with help. L10.27

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) Vygotsky’s Theory Can’t do, even if guided Can do, if guided Can do independently Vygotsky believed that children learn best when being helped by a more highly skilled peer or adult in a process called scaffolding. The zone of proximal development is the difference between the mental age of tasks the child performs without help and those the child can perform with help. Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) L10.27

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver Infants attach to those who are familiar and with whom they are comfortable. Stranger anxiety develops at about 8 months. Harry Harlow and the rhesus monkey experiment The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Early psychologists thought attachment was simply to satisfy the need for nourishment. An accidental finding overturned this explanation. Harry Harlow and the rhesus monkey experiment The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Harry Harlow attachment experiments Is attachment associated with primary drives? Separated from mothers at birth, placed in a cage with two surrogate “mothers.” Half fed by wire mother, half by cloth mother. Regardless of which one fed, they spent significantly more time with “contact comfort” from cloth mother. The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Harry Harlow attachment experiments When exploring, used the cloth mother as a base When anxious, would cling to cloth mother Body contact seems to be a fundamental factor in attachment. The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver What accounts for attachment differences? Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” Secure infants Avoidant infants Ambivalent infants Disorganized-disoriented infants The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver What accounts for attachment differences? Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” Secure infants Mothers were loving, warm and sensitive to infant’s needs Responsive to infant’s attempts to communicate The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver What accounts for attachment differences? Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” Secure infants Explored and played comfortably in mother’s presence Calm when stranger entered Became distressed when mother left Sought contact with her when she returned, easily soothed The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver What accounts for attachment differences? Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” Avoidant infants Mothers were unresponsive, insensitive, and coldly rejecting The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver What accounts for attachment differences? Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” Avoidant infants Somewhat willing to explore Did not look at stranger when entered Little reaction when mother left or returned Little interest or concern The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver What accounts for attachment differences? Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” Ambivalent infants Mothers tried to be responsive, but were inconsistent and insensitive to baby’s actions Talked to infant about something unrelated to its actions The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver What accounts for attachment differences? Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” Ambivalent infants Clinging, unwilling to explore Very upset by stranger regardless of mother’s presence Hard to soothe when mother left Demand to be picked up when mother returned, but also pushed or kicked her The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver What accounts for attachment differences? Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” Disorganized infants Found to be abusive or neglectful parent The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Attachment Attachment: The emotional bond between infant and caregiver What accounts for attachment differences? Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation” Disorganized infants Seemed fearful with a dazed and depressed expression Seemed unable to decide how to react to mother’s return Approached mothers with eyes turned away, as if afraid to make eye contact The four types of attachment are secure, avoidant (unattached), ambivalent (insecurely attached), and disorganized–disoriented (insecurely attached and sometimes abused or neglected). Harlow’s classic research with infant rhesus monkeys demonstrated the importance of contact comfort in the attachment process, contradicting the earlier view that attachment was merely a function of associating the mother with the delivery of food. Wood8.21

Social Development: Temperament Attachment is not necessarily the result of the mother’s behavior alone. The infant’s temperament may influence the mother’s reactions. Temperament: Behavioral characteristics established at birth Easy Difficult Slow to warm up The three basic infant temperaments are easy (regular, adaptable, and happy), difficult (irregular, nonadaptable, and irritable), and slow to warm up (need to adjust gradually to change). M9.19

Day Care and Attachment Does daycare disrupt a child’s attachment to their parents? Research suggests the answer is NO. Attachment is more clearly related to the parenting at home High quality daycare is important Cognitive development Social development Little disagreement that children who merely exist for 9 hours a day in understaffed centers deserve better. The three basic infant temperaments are easy (regular, adaptable, and happy), difficult (irregular, nonadaptable, and irritable), and slow to warm up (need to adjust gradually to change). M9.19

Wednesday Assignment You will create an advertising flier for a new day care center for preschool-aged children. Keep in mind the cognitive and social development levels of the children. What kinds of programs and activities will be offered? What levels of staffing will you have? Include things like costs, hours, levels of care, etc. Pictures!!