Attachment Theory and Child Development

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Questions and Answers

Which assessment tool is specifically used to evaluate attachment behaviors in the home?

Cassidy-Marvin system

Main-Cassidy system

Attachment Q-sort (correct)

Preschool Assessment of Attachment

What percentage indicates the most stability seen in attachment classifications from 9 to 72 months?

60%

100%

50%

84% (correct)

What factor can change maternal behavior and potentially impact attachment security?

Emotional stress in the mother's life (correct)

Father's involvement in caregiving

Child's age

Mother's level of education

Which of the following attachment classifications is associated with caregivers being dominated by the child?

Disorganized attachment Signup and view all the answers

What is a key element that enables altruistic behavior in humans according to the caregiving system?

Emotional empathy Signup and view all the answers

What skill does the Mountain Test primarily assess in children?

Recognizing different perspectives Signup and view all the answers

At what age do most children typically begin to perform false belief tasks successfully?

By age four Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'false belief' refer to in the context of theory of mind?

Understanding that someone can be mistaken about the location of an object Signup and view all the answers

Which component of theory of mind involves recognizing that two individuals may have different desires regarding the same object?

Diverse desires Signup and view all the answers

What outcome is often correlated with performance on false belief tasks?

Greater social competence Signup and view all the answers

What is the direct effect of positive caregiving practices?

Increased prosocial behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which three strengths are supported by positive caregiving according to the content?

Self-regulation, empathy/sympathy, and emotion understanding Signup and view all the answers

What behavior do temper tantrums typically NOT involve?

Playing quietly Signup and view all the answers

What factor may contribute to the frequency of temper tantrums in children?

Low reward responsiveness Signup and view all the answers

How do temper tantrums relate to the concept of a 'spoiled child'?

They reflect unmet emotional and care needs. Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a necessary process for the development of conscience in children?

Learning standards of conduct Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the four components that Kochanska identifies in the organization of conscience?

Cognitive bias Signup and view all the answers

Which emotion is considered a part of moral emotions in the context of conscience development?

Guilt Signup and view all the answers

How is self-regulation related to conscience according to the provided content?

It helps individuals behave in accordance with their conscience. Signup and view all the answers

Which principle is NOT mentioned as an important moral principle in the context of conscience?

Generosity Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Early Childhood Psychosocial Development

Learning Objectives: This chapter explores emotional, attachment, caregiving, dominance, aggression, gender identity, self-development, conscience, self-regulation, play, childcare, and infant mental health in early childhood.

Emotional Development in Early Childhood

Cognitive Behavioral Model: Emotions are motivational states arising from situational appraisals. Appraisals trigger body changes and emotional expression.
Situational Appraisals: Children evaluate situations based on desires and beliefs influencing their emotional responses (e.g. desire for cookie vs. expected cake).
Emotional Scripts: Children learn and use scripts about common emotional situations to express emotions in those situations.

Development of Pride

Overestimation of Control: Preschool children often overestimate their control over events and link this to social approval.
Authentic Pride vs. Status-Based Pride: Preschoolers experience intrinsic motivation based on skill mastery rather than social status when feeling pride.

Development of Embarrassment

Focus of Attention: Embarrassment arises when a person become aware they are the focus of others' attention.

Development of Shame and Guilt

Negative Self-Evaluation (Shame): Shame stems from a negative evaluation of the self leading to feelings of worthlessness and powerlessness.
Negative Behavior Evaluation (Guilt): Guilt is associated with repairing a wrong and a desire to make amends.
Temperament: Children’s temperament (e.g. fearfulness or exuberance) can influence whether shame or guilt dominates. Children who are more fearful develop guilt more readily.

Development of Jealousy and Envy

Desire for Resources: Jealousy is the desire to maintain a valued relationship; envy is the desire for what another has.
Social Comparison: Jealousy and envy often involve social comparisons and feelings of inferiority.

Attachment and Caregiving: Attachment and caregiving systems are acquired through relationships with caregivers.
Mental Models/Schemas: Children develop behavioral models for attachment, caregiving, dominance, and sexual experiences with caregivers from internal schemas.
Developmental Significance: These schemas inform emotional, identity, and social decisions, affecting future relationships.
Social Cognition: Children's ability to observe, understand, and predict other's behaviors develops over the early years of life. Key stages in this development include understanding that different people can have different desires, diverse perspectives, and knowledge.

How can Attachment be Assessed After Age 2?

Protocols, Measures: Measures include the Cassidy-Marvin system and the Preschool Assessment of Attachment, along with the Attachment Q-Sort to measure child behaviours within the home environment.

Caregiving System: Capacities

Empathy and Sympathy: Empathy, understanding another's emotions, and sympathy, concern for another's distress, are critical capacities of the caregiving behaviours which are learned through early social experiences.

Emotional Regulation Skills

Self-Care: Strategies to manage emotions during early childhood include sleep, diet, and exercise.
Methods to Increase Self-Regulation Skills: Strategies also include comfort, avoidance and distractions, as well as cognitive reappraisal.
Emotion Regulation: Processes support emotional management during the early years.

Dominance System Changes and Continuity

Resource Control: Children use both prosocial (sharing, cooperation) and coercive (aggression) strategies to achieve resource control.
Power Differentials: Preschoolers understand power differences and use strategies accordingly.

Sex Development Issues

Gender Identity Development: Children's understanding of gender identity, sex, and roles develops progressively, using gendered clothing, behaviors, and activities.
Caregiver Behaviors: Caregivers may differ in their interactions and expectations with boys and girls, potentially influencing their experiences and developmental trajectories.

Preschool-Age Children

Play Styles: Different types of play emerge including unoccupied, solitary, onlooker, parallel, associative, and cooperative. Pretend and rough and tumble play develop later.

Children and Media

Early Childhood Media Usage: Children are exposed to significant levels of media in their early years.
Potential Impacts: Excessive exposure to media can negatively impact aspects of development including behavior, cognitive abilities, and social-emotional regulation.

Childcare and Preschool

Caregiver Contributions: Parental, teacher, and family characteristics have stronger impacts on developmental outcomes as opposed to childcare alone.
Preschool: High quality childcare plays a vital role in supporting cognitive, language, and social competence, while lower quality care can be associated with problems.

Infant Mental Health

Developing Capacity: Infant Mental Health is defined by developing capacity in five developmental areas including: security, emotions, relationships, exploration, and learning.

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Description

This quiz explores essential concepts in attachment theory and child development, including attachment behaviors, caregiving practices, and developmental milestones. Test your knowledge on critical elements like false belief tasks and attachment classifications that significantly influence children's emotional growth.