Psychosocial Development During the First Three Years

Chapter 8

First Appearance of Basic Emotions

HappinessSmile – from birthSocial smile – 6 to 10 weeksLaugh – 3–4 months

AngerGeneral distress – from birthAnger – 4–6 months

Sadness Distress to “still face” – 2–7 mos.

FearFirst fears – 6–12 monthsStranger Anxiety – 8–12 months

Understanding Emotions of Others

Emotional Contagion Early infancy

Recognize Other’s Facial Expressions 7–10 months

Social Referencing - Understanding an ambiguous situation by seeking out another person’s perception of it Babies look at their caregivers upon

encountering a new person or toy

Self-Conscious Emotions

Shame Embarrassment Guilt Envy Pride

Emerge middle of second year Need adult instruction about when to feel

them

TEMPERAMENTThe foundation of personality…

Structure of Temperament

Kagan – Infant’s temperament video Easy – 40% Difficult – 10% Slow-to-warm-up –

15% Unclassified – 35%

Genetics and Environment in Temperament

Genetic Influences

Responsible for about half of individual differencesEthnicity, gender

Environmental Influences

Cultural caregiving stylesBoys & girls treated differentlyParents emphasize sibling differences

Goodness Of Fit

Combines genetics and environmentGoal is to create environments that recognize temp & encourage more active functioning

Developmental Issues in Infancy

Developing Attachments – video (Bowlby & Ainsworth)

Secure attachment: baby cries or protests when the primary caregiver leaves and greets the caregiver happily upon his or her return

Avoidant attachment: baby rarely cries when separated from the primary caregiver and avoids contact upon his or her return

Ambivalent (resistant) attachment: baby becomes anxious before the primary caregiver leaves, is upset during his or her absence, and both seeks and resists contact on his or her return

Factors that Affect Attachment Security

Opportunity for attachment Quality of caregiving

Interactional synchrony Infant characteristics Family circumstances Parents’ internal working

models

Multiple Attachments

Fathers Siblings Grandparents Professional

caregivers

Factors that Affect Attachment of Children in Child Care Initial Attachment

Quality Family

Circumstances Quality of Child Care

Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Extent of Child Care

Attachment and Later Development

Secure attachment related to positive outcomes in: Preschool Middle childhood

Continuity of caregiving may link infant attachment and later development.

Contact With Other Children

Siblings Rivalry is often present, as is affection The more securely attached siblings are to their parents,

the better they get along with each other

Contact With Other Children

Sociability With Nonsiblings

Some children are more sociable than others, due to such temperamental traits as mood, readiness to accept new people, and ability to adapt to change

Children of Working Parents The Impact Of Early

Child Care Most important

element in the quality of care is the caregiver; stimulating interactions with responsive adults are crucial to early cognitive, linguistic, and psychosocial development