Theories on Development Chapter 6 Pages

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPME NT

Emotional Development Attachment Theory Looks at the close social and emotional bond that develops between an infant and the care givers/parents (attachment) At around 6-8months babies show a strong preference for their mother and if they are separated from them then they show signs of separation anxiety. (emotional distress experienced when the infant is separated from who they have formed a bond with)

Harlow and Rhesus Monkeys. Why do babies form an attachment to their mothers? Harlow believed it was because she was the one that feeds them. He decided to investigate on Rhesus monkeys. He found that his “feeding hypothesis was not supported” Monkeys preferred the cloth mother over the wire mother despite the wire mother providing the food. ated 3min ated 5min

John Bowlby Attachment theory John Bowlby provided a new approach. Believed that attachment had a strong biological basis. Infants are programmed to display certain behaviours such as smiling, clinging which leads to an affectionate protective adult response. Adults are hardwired to be attracted to this behaviour. Bowlby came up with an attachment process that occurs in infants

John Bowlby AgeInfant behaviourAdult response 0-newbornCryingCare and sympathy 4-6 weeksSocial smilingJoy and pleasure 3-4 monthsAnger, surprise, sadnessReinforces connection with parents 5-7 monthsFearContinues to reinforce connection 6 monthsHappy greeting (smiles, arms to parents) Consolidates parent connection 6-8 monthsShame and shynessConsolidates parents connection How infants attach to their carers over time. Each behaviour is shared with an adult response which makes the attachment stronger.

Is there anything wrong with these strong bonds that are formed???

As a consequence of these strong bonds when a parent needs to leave the infant becomes distressed. This is known as separation anxiety. 30sec There are different phases of attachment according to Bowlby.

1234 Phase namePre-attachmentCritical period- attachment in the making Clear-cut attachment Coal directed partnership Age in months >48 behaviours Dont discriminate between different people Dont mind being left alone with unfamiliar people Preference for humans. Direct signals to certain people Recognise their parents Separation anxiety Children predict and accept the comings and going of parents. Separation anxiety decreases.

Bowlby’s Findings Infants need to develop a secure dependence before launching out on their own explorations. To grow up mentally healthy the infant should experience a warm, intimate and continuous relationship with his/her mother.

Mary Ainsworth Wanted to look at 1.How does attachment occur? 2.Are there different types of attachment? 3.What are the long term effects of attachment?

1) How does attachment occur? It occurs gradually over time. As they become more attached then they show stronger signs of distress when the carer leaves. To study an infants reaction to being separated Ainsworth developed a technique called the Strange Situation. HU 3min15

2) Different Types of attachment. 1.Secure attachment: most common type (65%). Care giver responds to the infant appropriately and consistently to ensure that the infant believes the mum will be available and responsive. 2.Resistant attachment: accounts for 10% of attachments. Babies anxious even when mum is around. Protest when she leaves and cant be comforted easily when she returns. Care give not consistent in responding to the infants needs. 3.Avoidant attachment: accounts for 25% of attachments. Babies seek little contact from mum and isn’t distressed when she leaves. Can be with the care giver of a stranger. Caregiver is usually inconsistent. 6min

What causes theses differences in attachment?

There are three things that cause these differences.. 1.Care giver factors. 2.Role played by the infant. 3.External factors (family circumstances) Page 198.

3) Effects of Attachment Deprivation Impacts on emotional development, mental illness, depression and delinquency. Can be short or long term. Impact of healthy Attachments. Become more resilient, competent with high self esteem. Experience more positive emotions Advanced cognitive development Healthier relationships in adulthood.

Cognitive Development

Cognitive Development: transitions in patterns of thinking including reasoning, remembering and problem solving. This is why children think differently from adults.

Jean Piaget Piaget proposed a stage approach to children’s cognitive development. He believed thought processes go through a series of changes across four different stages. At each stage thinking matures as the child comes to understand and utilise new information. Everyone goes through each stage however the rate may differ from one person to the next. STAGES: 1.Sensorimotor 2.Pre-operational 3.Concrete operational 4.Formal operational

Assimilation and Accommodation How infants come to an understanding of the world. Children create thinking frameworks (mental patterns also called schemas). These are the building blocks of intelligent behaviour that helps them understand the world around them. These frameworks (schemas) are developed via the process of assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation: taking in NEW information and incorporating it into our existing ideas. The world is fitted in to what the child already knows. Accommodation: altering your existing ideas (OLD) as a result of new information. 1min16 Using these two processes children move through the four stages of cognitive development.

Piaget’s model StageStage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4 DescriptionSensorimotorPre-operationalConcrete operational Formal operational Typical agesBirth -2 years2-7 years7-11 years11 through to adulthood. Cognitive changes Coordination of sensory input and motor responses Development of symbolic thought Mental operations applied to concrete events Mental operations applied to abstract ideas Key developments *Object permanence *Conservation *Irreversibility *Centration *Egocentrism *Reversibility *Decentration *Hierarchical classificaton *Logical, systematic and abstract thinking

Sensorimotor stage Object permanence Pre-operational stage: Conservation Centration Egocentrism Concrete operational stage Reversibility Formal operational stage

Evaluating Piaget’s Work There is lots of research to support his theory. His theory has inspired many others His theory has been applied to educational settings which has changed the way children are taught at school. He has provided valuable information about when to teach certain concepts and how to teach them.

Criticisms. Underestimated children’s development. Mixing across the stages. The timing for each stage varies so children don’t always pass through each stage at a set age. His observations were biased. Small sample size (his own children) Tests may have been culturally biased.

Psychosocial Development

ERIKSONS 8 STAGE MODEL Erikson divided life into 8 psychosocial stages. Psychosocial stage: 8 stages in which the individuals major goal is to satisfy desires related to social needs. Each stage characterises a psychosocial crisis. Psychosocial Crisis: a challenge in each of Erikson’s stages that a person must deal with in order to develop positive traits in the future. If you do not handle the crisis then negative traits will appear.

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Evaluating Erikson’s Theory His theory shows how social situations stimulate personality development by dealing with challenges linked to certain periods of a person’s life. His descriptions don’t explain the enormous personality differences that exist between people. His concepts like trust and autonomy are hard to test. His work has been very influential.

Moral Developm ent

Bob’s wife is dying of cancer and the drug to help her costs $200,000. Bob cant afford this and no one will help him. Without the drug she will die. He breaks into the pharmacy and steals the drug. Should Bob have done this? Why/why not?

Moral Development Morals: A person's standards of behaviour or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do Moral development: the change in moral behaviour over time. Morality: the ability to distinguish right from wrong and to behave accordingly. Was what Bob did right or wrong??

Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stage Theory Looks at how people acquire a sense of right and wrong. Kohlberg’s theory is based on the idea that people progress through three levels of moral development. Each level is divided in 2 stages. Everybody needs to go through the 6 stages in order and no stage can be skipped over.

Kohlberg’s Levels Level 1:Pre-conventional Consists of stage 1 and 2. Concerned with the self. Judge morality by consequences. Level 2: Conventional Consists of stage 3 and 4. Moral reasoning determined by conformity. Level 3: Post-conventional Consists of stage 5 and 6. Decide on a personal set of ethics. Moral thinking is more flexible. Stage 5 reasoning is determined by careful consideration. Stage 6 reasoning is determined by principles that are abstract, emphasising equity and justice.

Level of Moral Development Pre-conventional LevelConventional LevelPost-conventional Level StagesStage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4Stage 5Stage 6 Life stagechildren Many adolescents and adults Some adults reach this level Very few adults reach this level. OrientationPunishment and obedience Naive reward- related to self Mutual interpersonal expectations, relationships and conformity Authority law and order Social contact/ individual rights Individual principles and conscience Key features about right and wrong Determined by what is punished. Punishment provides info about what is wrong Determined by what is rewarded Determined by close other’s approval or disapproval Determined by society’s rules/laws to be obeyed Determined by society’s rules/laws which are viewed as fallible rather than absolute- laws should be obeyed Determined by abstract ethical principles that emphasise quality and justice. Bobs life example.Bob should no steal –he will go to jail He should steal to save his wife. But he will go to jail to pay the price. He should steal. What is expected of him from family. Should not steal because of the effect on society. What if everybody decided to do the same thing. He should steal the drug. Life is more important than money He should steal. Life is important. His wife’s life is very important.

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Evaluating Kohlberg. Supported by research As children get older moral reasoning alters in a predicted direction. First four stages have been found in other cultures. Concerns: Most people never reach level6 Some people may skip stages or go in reverse order. Too biased towards males Mixing of stages.

homework Activities: 6.3 all 6.7 all 6.9 all 6.11 questions 1,2,3,4,6