Developmental Psychology

Social Development 6.2

Learning Outcomes

General framework (applicable to all topics in the option)

• To what extent do biological, cognitive and sociocultural factors influence human development?

• Evaluate psychological research (that is, theories and/or studies) relevant to developmental psychology.

Learning Outcomes

Social development

• Examine attachment in childhood and its role in the subsequent formation of relationships.

• Discuss potential effects of deprivation or trauma in childhood on later development.

• Define resilience.

• Discuss strategies to build resilience.

Examine attachment in childhood and its role in the subsequent formation of relationships

• • • • • • •

Attachment

John Bowlby 1907-1990 Developed Attachment theory Studied children from the WWII who had been separated from their parents.

Found that many had emotional problems and linked this to separation from their mother.

Believed that attachment was an innate pattern and helped infants to survive.

Basic biological need.

If deprivation – permanent and irreversible damage

Internal Working Model

• • • • Infants develop working models of the world based on the development of a secure and attachment relationship with a parent or caregiver.

In such a situation, the child develop aworking model of the world as safe and secure. Oterhwise – negative working models (the world is dangerous, frightening…) It will change and incorporate new ways.

Internal Working Model

• If the child experiences love and affection, he or she come to see himself or herself as worthy of love and attention.

• If they have experienced neglect and rejection they might develop a model of denial (or on the reality)

The Strange Situation

• • • Mary Ainsworth 1913-1999 developed Bowlby’s ideas and came up with how to test attachment theory empirically - called the strange situation paradigm • • She was a student to Bowlby Conducted research in Uganda (1967) and then in Baltimore (U 1971) studied children and mother interactions: resulted in SSC

•

The Strange Situation

Studies the child’s reaction to separation and reunion with the attachment figure (often the mother) 1. The parent and child are alone in the room 2. The child explores the room without parental participation 3. A stranger enters the room, talks to the parent and approaches the child 4. The parent quickly leaves the room 5. The parent returns and comforts the child

Types of attachment

• • • • Type A – avoidant (20% of the children) Type B – Securely attached (70% of the children) Type C – ambivalent (10 % of the children) Type D – insecure-disorganised/disorganised attachment (came later – 1986, by Main and Solomon)

The Strange Situation - Mary Ainsworth One example of

“a strange situation” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6 08077NtNI

What is your attachment style?

• http://www.web-research-design.net/cgi bin/crq/crq.pl

• This interactive survey takes about 5 minutes to complete. The questionnaire is designed to measure your 'attachment style'--the way you relate to others in the context of intimate relationships

Evaluation of the attachment theory and the strange situation Evaluate using: 1. Gender 2. Culture 3. Method 4. Ethics • • Any thoughts?

Read p. 197-199 if you need help

The role of early attachment in the subsequent formation of relationships • • Internal working models continue throughout the lifespan Relationship between the experience of attachment in childhood and adult love relationships

Hazan and Shaver’s Love Quiz

• Read the following statements and indicate which paragraph best describes your attitute to close relationships – on page 200 (A, B or C)

Hazan and Shaver’s Love Quiz’s research 1987 • • • Put in a newspaper and asked for volunteers to pick ”a box” and to describe their parents’ parenting styles. 620 people answered (self-selected), 14-82 years old, mean age 36. 205 males and 415 females.

Second sample of 108 college students.

Hazan and Shaver’s Love Quiz’s research • • •

Results:

20% showed A (anxious-avoidant: ”unresponsive, rejecting”) 60% showed B (secure attachment: ”attentive and responsive”) 20% showed C (anxious- ambivalent: ”anxious, sometimes responsive”)