Social Development Infancy and Adolescence, Study notes of Introduction to Psychology

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CAP 12 NOTES Social Development Infancy: Using caregivers as a base for growth - Human infants are dependent on caregivers for survival BUT biologically prepared to learn search for caregivers and take the help —> emotional bonds —> base to explore the world = ATTACHMENT (—> Harlow’s surrogate monkeys’ mothers: role of contact comfort in the development of attachment bonds) Erikson —> THEORY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: each stage of life is associated with a particular crisis to be resoled through interactions with other people (the natural human environment is social environment, we survive with the help of others) primary problem: developing the sense of TRUST Bowlby —> emotional bond between human infant and adult caregiver (especially mothers) is promoted by a set of INSTINCTIVE TENDENCIES IN PARENTS —> attachment behaviors in young humans (from evolutionary history: attached babies were more likely to survive to adulthood and pass on their genes, strengthen when 6/8 months and start explore) —> SOCIAL REFERENCING) Ainsworth —> STRANGE-SITUATION TEST, attachment classifications: 1. SECURE: 60%, actively explore while mother is there, upset when she leaves, crawl when she returns, play with strangers if she is there 2. INSECURE-RESISTANT: 10%, anxious even with mother, not explore, ambivalent behavior when she comes back, scared of strangers even when she is there 3. INSECURE-AVOIDANT: 15%, little distress when mother leaves, avoid her when she returns, not scared of strangers 4. DISORGANIZED/DISORIENTED: 15%, no coherent strategy —> SENSITIVE CARE creates secure attachment —> leads to positive effects later on in life: sense of trust, confidence, better problem solving, emotional health, sociability Some children are more SUSCEPTIBLE to parental effects —> genetic makeup —> Brain’s usage of SEROTONIN —> 5-HTTLLPR —> two forms (alleles): short (s) and long (l) — > l has greater activation of serotonin into brain neurons —> l homozygous children are LESS AFFECTED BY NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCES (behavior regardless the level of maternal sensitivity) Cross-cultural differences in infant care (!Kung San, Efe and Aka, hunter-gatherer societies: treat infants with indulgence, constantly with physical contact, respond quickly) Helping and Comforting others Erikson, children from 1 to 12 yo, 3 stages: development of AUTONOMY, INITIATIVE, INDUSTRY - psychologically healthy person = responds appropriately to others’ needs without sacrificing self-control —> PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR —> infants are predisposed to behave PRO-SOCIALLY - EMPATHY emerges early —> egocentric empathy when little —> then comforting other and succeeding (able to read the other person’s mind) - GIVE AND HELP tendency: end of the first year, games of give-and-help, enjoy helping in adult tasks - SHARING: increasing with age, especially when they need to collaborate and achieve a goal Social Learning - chimpanzees and < 2 yo children —> emulation = understand the goal and and get there with different ways - > 3 yo children —> OVERIMITATION = repeating the actions of a model (even though irrelevant) - Peak of gender segregation: 8-11 years —> masculine/feminine activities (not symmetrical) —> world of boys and world of girls —> interaction ADOLESCENCE = TRANSITION FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD Starts: first signs of puberty Ends: when the person is viewed as him/herself and member of the community (some cultures have rites) —> EMERGING ADULTHOOD - In Erikson’s theory: adolescence = identity crisis —> establish a new identity - Braking away from parental control —> parents may fear dangers and tighten controls —> conflicts, rebellion (till more ore less 16) - More independency form parents = increasingly concerned about peers —> more similar behaviors in the same group —> result of selection rather than conformity —> negative influences (peer pressures) - Peak in recklessness and delinquency (particularly in males = young-male syndrome) - Myth of invulnerability - Sensation seekers - Immature inhibitory control centers (prefrontal lobes) WHY THIS BEHAVIOR? 1. ADOLESCENTS’ SEGREGATION FROM ADULTS - Product of modern times, not natural selection - Moffit’s explanation: delinquency and such activities are seen as “adult activities” (but does not account to non-adult risky adolescents’ behaviors) - Harris’ explanation: adolescents engage in risky activities not to join the adult world but to segregate from it 2. NEUROLOGICAL BASIS OF RISK TAKING - Underlying changes in adolescents’ brains - Competition between two developing brain systems: - Cognitive-control network - Socioemotional network - —> es: simulated driving task —> influence of peers (reward pattern), no difference in the cognitive-control area Young-male syndrome - From evolutionary perspective: potential value of behavior for reproduction —> males who take risks achieve higher status —> attract females — > pass their genes - Status by demonstrating fearlessness and valor - Not all men —> those who have less need to risk due to safer paths and already high status, don’t do so - ALSO WOMEN FIGHT —> evolutionary point of view —> in response to gossip about sexual activities Moral Reasoning Kohlberg’s Scale - Assessed moral reasoning by posing dilemmas to people —> how would behavior and why - Each successive stage takes into account a broader portion of the social world than the previous one —> developmental progression: to reach the next, must first pass the previous -> few people goes beyond 4, most stops at 2 or 3 (adolescent go higher) - Moral reasoning is not the same as moral action - Higher level of moral reasoning = most likely to help others Sexual Exploration - Adolescence = sexual blooming - Boys —> more accommodative, girls —> more assertive - Typical patterns of sexual attraction: sexual attraction at 10/12, sexual fantasies at 13 + beginning of masturbation, sex at 19 on average (70%) - DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS OF SEXUAL MINORITIES (gay/lesbian) —> same process, coming out at 17/19 and problems often (disappointment of the family, physical and verbal abuse, especially in some ethnic groups) - Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and pregnancy —> declining — > sexual education at school - Young men are more eager than young women to have sexual intercourse —> women get pregnant = great cost = greater attention - Tendencies! - Restraint VS promiscuity —> influenced by the presence of caring father at home —> also earlier puberty (difference in experience, not in genes)