Emotional & Social Development

1. Emotional & Social Development • Infancy and Toddlerhood • Dennis Karpowitz • Psychology 333 • Child Psychology

2. Emotional Personality Theories • Erik Erickson • Trust vs. Mistrust – Birth to 18 months • A realization of hope (to get and to give) • Mother • Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt – 1.5-3 years • A realization of will (hold on and let go) • Parents.

3. Emotional Theories Continued • Margaret Mahler • Normal autistic phase – first few weeks • Normal Symbiosis phase – until 5 months • Separation-Individuation Process • Initiated by reaching, grasping, crawling and walking • 5 months to 3 years of age.

4. Erikson & Mahler Emphasize • Warm, sensitive and responsive parenting • Selfhood in toddlerhood • Trust with self and others • Separation-Individuation process • Failure to develop a sense of trust and a sense of individuality portends later problems.

5. Development of Emotional Expression • Happiness - Social Smile • 6-10 weeks • Laughter • 2-4 months • Anger and fear • 6-12 months • Stranger Anxiety

6. Other’s Emotions • Facial expression organized • 7-10 months • Social Referencing • Some as early as 6 months • Clear by Toddlerhood

7. The Self • Self-Conscious Emotions • End of 2nd year • Shame, embarrassment • Guilt, envy, pride

8. Emotional Self-Regulation • Adjust intensity of emotions • Mobility (crawling, walking) helps (can withdraw or approach) • Mothers should encourage the positive • Boys hide unhappiness • Language adds control • Fraiberg, work with blind children

9. Temperament • Defined as individual differences in syle of reaction that are present early in life. Personality Behavior Temperament Genetics/Biology

10. Temperament -9 Dimensions • Activity level • Rhythmicity • Distractibility • Approach/Withdrawal • Adaptability

11. Temperament Continued • Attention Span and Persistence • Intensity of Reaction • Threshold of Responsiveness • Quality of Mood • New Additions • Smiling / laughter • Soothability • Distress to limitations

12. 3 Common Temperament Groups • Easy children (40%) • Difficult children (10%) • Slow-To-Warm-Up (15%) • 35% No clear grouping

13. Temperament Continued • Measuring Temperament • Stability of temperament • Genetic influences • Environmental influences • Goodness-of-fit model.

14. Attachment • A strong affectional tie that we feel toward specific “special” people . . . • Bowlby’s Ethological Theory • Preattachment – First 6 weeks • Attachment-in-the-making - 2-8 months • Clear-cut attachment – 6 months - 2 years • Separation anxiety • Reciprocal relationship - 1.5 + years

15. Ainsworth - Strange Situation • Secure Attachment, 55-65% • Child • Sees mother as secure base • May or may not cry at separation • Strong preference for Mother • Seek contact upon Mom’s return • Mother • Warm, positive, consistent and nurturing

16. Insecure Attachment 1 • Avoidant, 15-20% • Child • Unresponsive of indifferent to mother • Avoid or slow to greet upon parent’s return • Mother • Distant or angry

17. Insecure Attachment 2 • Resistant / Ambivalent, 10-15% • Child • Severe distress at mother leaving • Fail to explore when parent is absent • Ambivalent, angry or resistant upon mother’s return • Mother • Inconsistently available • She may be intrusive and then withdrawn

18. Insecure Attachment 3 • Disorganized-Disoriented, 5-10% • Child • Greatest insecurity • Confused, contradictory behaviors • Disorientation, dazed facial expression • Mother • Inconsistent parenting: neglect and rejection • Mother often has significant emotional problems

19. Attachment Continued • Family life changes change the quality of attachment • Maternal deprivation - Sptiz • Quality care giving • Sensitivity to child’s needs • Interactional synchrony

20. Problematic Care giving • Awkward contact • Routine contact • Over stimulation • Intrusion • Gross inconsistency • Anger, rejection.

21. Attachment Continued • Multiple attachments • Increases over time • Increases with contact • Father • Siblings • Peers • Later effects of insecure attachment • Difficulty relating to others emotionally • Difficulty maintaining long-term relationships.