Kathleen Stassen Berger Prepared by Madeleine Lacefield Tattoon, M.A. 1 Part II The First Two Years: Psychosocial Development Chapter Seven Emotional Development Theories About Infant Psychosocial The Development of Social Bonds Conclusions in Theory and Practices

2 The First Two Years: Psychosocial Development The interaction of infants’ emotions and their social context is dynamic This interplay is seen in a tiny baby smile at an engaging face or a toddler flop to the floor, kicking and screaming

3 Emotional Development in Infancy “Within the first two years, infants progress from reactive pain and pleasure to complex patterns of social awareness.” a period of life with “high emotional responsiveness…”

4 Emotional Development in Infancy Specific Emotions –infants progress from pleasure and pain –social smiles are evoked by a human face, normally evident about 6 weeks after birth –anger is evident at 6 months

5 Emotional Development in Infancy Specific Emotions –fully formed fear in response to some person, thing, or situation emerges at about 9 months Stranger Wariness… infant no longer smiles at any friendly faces, and cries if an unfamiliar person moves to close, too quickly Separation Anxiety… expressed in tears, dismay, or anger when a familiar caregiver leaves

6 Emotional Development in Infancy Specific Emotions –separation anxiety is normal at age 1 –intensifies by age 2, and usually subsides after that –1-year-olds fear not just strangers but also anything unexpected –emotions that emerge in the first month strengthen at about age 1

7 Emotional Development in Infancy Self Awareness –... emotional growth that has the infant realizing that his or her body, mind, and actions are separate from those of other people –self-recognition emerges at about 18 months

8 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Psychoanalytic Theory –connects biosocial and psychosocial development emphasizing the need for response maternal care

9 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Freud: the first year is the oral stage the mouth is the young infant’s primary source of gratification the second year is the anal stage the infant’s main pleasure comes from the anus… sensual pleasure of bowel movement… the pleasure of controlling

10 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Erikson: Trust vs. Mistrust – infants learn basic trust if the world is a secure place where their basic needs are met Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt –toddlers either succeed or fail in gaining a sense of self-rule over their own actions and bodies

11 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Behaviorism –emotions and personality are molded as parents reinforce or punish the child’s spontaneous behaviors –Infants experience social learning… learning by observing others

12 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Cognitive Theory –holds that thoughts and values determine a person’s perspectives early experiences are important –infants use early relationships to develop a working model a set of assumptions that the individual uses to organize perceptions and experiences

13 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Epigenetic Theory –holds that every human characteristic is strongly influenced by each person’s unique genotype… inborn predispositions

14 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Temperament –Inborn differences between one person and another in emotions, activity, and self-control. –Is epigenetic, originating in genes but affected by child-rearing practices.

15 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development The Parents’ Role –infant temperament often changes with adult guidance –interaction between culture influences and inherited traits tend to shape behavior –parents need to find a goodness of fit goodness of fit is a similarity of temperament and values that produces a smooth interaction between an individual and his or her social context

16 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Sociocultural Theory –“…human development occurs in a cultural context.” –theorists argue culture: has a substantial influence on infants has a major impact on infant-caregiver relationships, thus the development of the infant So the is question… How much influence does culture have?

17 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Ethnotheories ethnotheory –a theory that underlies the values and practices of a culture –that becomes apparent through analysis and comparison of those practices –not usually apparent to the people within the culture

18 Theories About Infant Psychosocial Development Proximal Parenting –practices that involve close physical contact with the child’s entire body, such as cradling and swinging Distal Parenting –practices that focus on the intellect more than the body, such as talking with the baby and playing with an object

19 The Development of Social Bonds Synchrony –is a coordinated interaction between caregiver and infant –an exchange in which they respond to each other with split-second timing

20 The Development of Social Bonds Attachment –according to Ainsworth, “is an affectional tie” that an infant forms with the caregiver—a tie that binds them together in space and endured over time

21 The Development of Social Bonds Secure Attachment –relationships in which an infant obtains both comfort and confidence from the presence of his or her caregiver Insecure-Avoidant Attachment –a pattern in which an infant avoids connection with the caregiver, as when the infant seems not to care about the caregiver’s presence, departure, or return

22 The Development of Social Bonds Insecure-Resistant/Ambivalent Attachment –anxiety and uncertainty are evident, as when an infant is very upset at separation from the caregiver and both resists and seeks contact on reunion Disorganized Attachment –marked by an infant’s inconsistent reactions to the caregiver’s departure and return

23 The Development of Social Bonds Secure and Insecure Attachment

24 The Development of Social Bonds Insecure Attachment and Social Settings –infants shift in attachment status between one age and another –most trouble children may be those who are classified as type D (table 7.4 )

25 The Development of Social Bonds Social Referencing –seeking information about how to react to an unfamiliar ambiguous object or event by observing someone else’s expressions and reactions—that other person becomes a social reference

26 The Development of Social Bonds Referencing Mothers –most social referencing occurs with mothers –infants heed their mother’s wishes, expressed in tone and facial expression

27 The Development of Social Bonds Referencing Fathers –increases in maternal employment have expanded the social references available to infants –fathers now spend considerable time with their children

28 The Development of Social Bonds Infant Day Care –more than ½ of all 1-year-olds in the U.S. are in “regular scheduled” nonmaternal care –family day care occurs in another caregiver’s home—usually the caregiver is paid at a lower rate than in center care, and usually one person cares for several children of various ages –center day care a place especially designed for that purpose, where several paid providers care for many children. Usually the children are grouped by age, the day care center is licensed, and providers are trained and certified in child development