Social-Emotional Development of the Infant Chapter 9

Social-emotional Development Type of development involving a person’s disposition, interaction with people and social groups, and emotions Three main parts

1st Part Disposition – person’s general mood Cheerful to moody

2nd Part Learning to interact with people and social groups Family members, schools, clubs

3rd Part Ways people show feelings through emotions of love, fear, anxiety and anger

Social-emotional development happens quickly during the first year These traits are the root of a child’s later personality By the end of the first year, personality traits show even more

Temperamental Differences in Infants Temperament – tendency to react in a certain way to events Sometimes called disposition also Experts think temperament is partly inherited Due to prenatal conditions and ease of birth Factors along with environment shape a person’s personality

Rate characteristics Easy, slow to warm up, and difficult Easy – regular habits, respond quickly to new situation, cheerful Slow to warm up –take more time to adapt Difficult – irregular in habits, withdraw or protest, even scream in new situations

4 out of 10 are easy 1 out of 10 are slow to warm up 1 out of 10 are difficult

Easy babies get off to a good start Difficult babies have a rough start Parents feel stressed which increases stress on baby Good constant care of difficult babies make them happier

Infant’s Growing Social World Not truly social at birth End of first year social development underway 3 aspects

1. Interacting with Others Turn in direction of human voice Move bodies in rhythm of human speech Babies send signals through cooing, crying Distinguish between family and strangers Initiate – to begin –social contact Follow others around house

2. Interacting with Adults Love to be held, talked to, cuddled and comforted Help mental development by providing lots of loving care

3. Interacting with Other Children Siblings – brother & sisters Watch and follow children Like to play with sibling’s toys

Learning to Trust Trust is a key part of social development Erik Erikson (psychologist) Studied trust as one aspect of personality development He viewed personality as ever-changing Described eight stages for a persons lifespan

Stages unfold one after another Each task must be met Can be positive or negative No one is completely successful in any stage More successful, the healthier the personality will be

1st Stage Trust VS mistrust Infants learn whether to trust others of mistrust them Mistrust – most serious form of not trusting, which includes a lack of trust and feelings of suspicion See page 244 figure 9-4

Trust 2 key factors are essential 1 – infants learn to trust by having a consistent environment Same routines, caregivers, surroundings 2. infants learn to trust by having their basic needs met promptly each time Needs include food, clothing, warmth, sleep, cleanliness, cuddling playing and communicating

Showing Attachment Closeness between people that remains over time Healthy brain development depends on attachment Overcoming stress easier for those who formed strong attachments in infancy

Develop attachment to those who care for them Attachment behaviors – actions one person demonstrated to another person to show closeness to that person Staying close or following a person

Attachment closely related to fear of strangers and fear of being left alone See figure 9-6 page 245

Infants Express Emotions By 2 months babies begin to construct emotions 3 – 4 months babies have two responses Distress shown by crying Excitement shown by cooing and wiggling By the end of the first year they show love, fear, anxiety, anger, jealousy, joy and sadness

Emotions are thoughts that lead to feelings and cause changes in the body You are upset at someone (thought), you may become angry (feeling). Your anger may increase your heart rate (change in body)

Thinking changes, a four year old may fear monsters where older children don’t Emotions mature and change Age-appropriate behaviors – proper or expected ways to express emotions at certain ages

Love Love develops when babies realize they are separate (object concept) Associate people that make them feel full, clean and comforted Associate these with caregivers Show love and affection to important adults and children who keep them company

May become attached to objects Need them when they are upset or fearful Need them when routines change Toy attachment can give them security

Fear Babies have startle reflex for loud sounds Not showing true fear Fear as an emotion occur around 6 months of age To be fearful babies must know they can be hurt

Two kinds of Fear Fear of the unknown— Don’t know strangers, new bed, sudden movement Fear different sounds, crack of thunder Fear learned from direct experiences or teaching – Fear getting soap in their eyes Doctor’s office Snapping dog

Adults who act or look fearful in a storm might cause children to be fearful Adults who tell them that many things can hurt them, teach fear

anxiety Fear of a possible future event (worry) Seen in babies by 10 – 12 months First anxiety of infant is separation anxiety – common in babies caused by the fear that loved ones who leave them will not return See clues of upcoming separation (picking up keys, telling baby good bye)

Separation anxiety in babies younger than 2 yrs may be due to: Babies under 2 can’t understand why parents must leave Unlike 2 yrs olds, who remember parents have returned, they don’t have that memory During the first year, babies need someone to fulfill their needs (dependence), 2 yr olds are more independents 2 yr olds can express their needs better

Anger Infant rage – occurs when baby is distressed Swing arms, legs excitedly Turn red and cry loudly By 8 – 10 months true anger develops Direct anger toward a person or object Babies show anger in physical ways (throwing)

Babies show anger when: They are held against their will Toys are taken from them They are being distracted when they want their needs met

Show anger in physical ways because they can’t speak Meeting baby’s needs quickly often prevents anger Staying calm also helps and not looking upset Parents can reduce baby’s anger by holding them close for a short period of time

Group discussion: Discuss how emotions are useful. Compare the usefulness of emotions to those emotions that can hinder abilities to work and play to the fullest

Babies temperaments seem to shape their personalities Babies temperaments seem to shape their personalities. How would you describe your temperament? Have you had these characteristics for a long time? Do others in your family have them?