1. Neurobiology and Communication
Unit 3 (the last one!)
Neurobiology and Communication

2. Neurobiology and Communication: Key Areas
Divisions of the nervous system and parts of the brain
Perception and memory
The cells of the nervous system and neurotransmitters at synapses
Communication and social behaviour

3. KA 4: Communication and Social Behaviour
(d) The effect of group behaviour and social influence
(a) The effect of infant attachment, socialisation and learning
Communication and Social Behaviour
(b) The effect of communication
(c) The effect of experience

4. Infant Attachment case study
The ‘strange’ situation
This is a research tool to investigate infant attachment.
Think about the following questions as you watch the video:
1. Why is this test set-up?
2. Describes the baby’s response when the mother
Leaves the room (first separation)
Enters the room
3. Describes the baby’s response when the mother leaves the room for the second time
4. What are the signs of secure attachment?
5. What are the signs of insecure attachment
6. How are children who are considered to be more securely attached more likely to behave in their first year.

5. Infant attachment
The emotional tie that binds infants to its carer is known as infant attachment.
Early infant attachment is important in laying the foundation for the future formation of stable relationships
Attachment becomes evident between 6 and 9 months.
Measures of attachment can be examined in ‘the strange situation’ case study as either secure or insecure.

6. Secure Infant attachment
Infants that form secure attachments:
Explore and play freely with toys when mother is present
Show distress when mother leaves
Refuse comfort from stranger
Goes immediately to mother, when she returns, for comfort and then calms down and returns to play
The infant comes across more opportunities for learning as they are more likely to investigate their immediate environment which in turn results in increased development of cognitive abilities:
brain-based skills we need to carry out any task from the simplest to the most complex.

7. Socialisation and Learning
Socialisation is the gradual modification of developing individual’s behaviour in order to accommodate the demands of an active social life within the community.
Young humans are dependant on adults for a long period of development during childhood and adolescence.
This provides time for socialisation and learning.

8. Socialisation and Learning
As children develop, different methods of control can influence social competence.
The quality of a developing child’s social competence is affected by the method of control adopted by their parents.
Authoritative control generally results in greater social competence than permissive control:
self-reliant, academically successful and socially accepted adults created

9. Methods of Control Authoritative (demanding but responsive) Permissive
Method Of Control
Behaviour Adopted By Parent
Authoritative
(demanding but responsive)
Is warm, nurturing and emotionally supportive towards the child
Sets limits, rules, high standards and explains reasons
Gives direction and expects responsible behaviour in return.
Reasons with the child and demonstrates respect
Permissive
(excessively lenient)
Is warm and nurturing
Does not set limits, lay down rules or assign responsibilities
Adopts ‘no discipline’ approach
Allows the child to regulate their own behaviour