Psychology Chapter 3: Infant Development

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of Freud's psychosexual stages during infancy?

Development of self-concept

Satisfaction from oral activities (correct)

Building trust and security

Need for social interaction

Which stage of Erikson's theory focuses on trust versus mistrust?

Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority

Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion

Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (correct)

Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt

What does synchrony in parent-infant interactions promote?

Detachment in relationships

Higher intelligence scores in infants (correct)

Increased emotional distress in infants

Reduced cognitive development

Which statement about the mother-infant bond is true?

Mothers' bond is heavily influenced by synchrony. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the concept of fixation in Freud's theory?

A strong sense of insecurity due to unmet needs Signup and view all the answers

What key factor contributes to the positive outcomes noted in highly synchronous 6 to 8-month-old infants?

Low stress levels Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic distinguishes the mother's role in caregiver routines compared to the father's?

Mothers generally provide more structured caregiving. Signup and view all the answers

Erikson's first stage of psychosocial development mainly emphasizes which aspect?

Meeting the infant's physiological needs Signup and view all the answers

At what age do babies typically start to learn to identify changes in emotional expressions?

3 months Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the final stage of emotional development mentioned for infants?

They learn to interpret emotional perceptions of others. Signup and view all the answers

What age do children typically show self-recognition in a mirror according to the Rouge Test?

21 months Signup and view all the answers

What emotional skill is developed by 7 months of age?

Reading and responding to facial expressions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Dr. Edward Tronick’s still face experiment?

Examining emotional communication between infants and caregivers Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential effect of marital conflicts on infants?

Emotional withdrawal and less synchrony Signup and view all the answers

How does higher education of caregivers affect attachment?

It produces better attachments Signup and view all the answers

What impact does a mother's mental health have on her child's attachment?

Depression can reduce the mother's capacity to interpret infant signals Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes securely attached infants in contrast to insecurely attached infants?

More emotionally mature and sociable Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of insecure attachment in adulthood?

More risk-taking behavior in sexual relationships Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT influence secure attachment in infants?

Infant's age and physical development Signup and view all the answers

What long-term effect does secure attachment have on social relationships?

Promotes more supportive friendships Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior is associated with mothers who have panic disorder regarding their infants' attachment?

Behavior that may interfere with attachment Signup and view all the answers

What hormone is released by mothers during interactions with their infants, which is linked to empathy?

Oxytocin Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of a father's bond with their infant?

Synchrony in interactions Signup and view all the answers

During which phase of attachment do infants begin to signal primarily to caregivers they spend the most time with?

Focus on one or more figures (3-6 months) Signup and view all the answers

What behavior is indicative of secure base behavior in infants?

Clinging to a primary caregiver Signup and view all the answers

What phase involves infants developing an internal model of how their behavior affects their relationship with caregivers?

Internal model Signup and view all the answers

What is a common expression of separation anxiety in infants?

Crying and protesting when separated from the mother Signup and view all the answers

At what age does separation anxiety typically begin to decline in infants?

12-16 months Signup and view all the answers

Which hormonal response in fathers is associated with physical activity and possibly aggression?

Vasopressin Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is associated with securely attached mothers?

More responsive to their infants Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a dimension identified by Buss and Plomin regarding temperament?

Rhythmicity Signup and view all the answers

What effect do neurological processes have on temperament according to the content?

They influence behaviors related to temperament. Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the tendency to select environments that complement one's own characteristics?

Niche-picking Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of self-concept emerges between 8 to 12 months of age?

Subjective Self Signup and view all the answers

What did the classical longitudinal study by Kagan and colleagues reveal about children classified as highly inhibited at 4 months old?

They remained highly inhibited into later childhood and adulthood. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a primary feature of the Objective Self in toddler development?

Understanding oneself as an object in the world Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about insecurely attached mothers is correct?

They tend to feel less confident in their parenting role. Signup and view all the answers

What is social referencing primarily used for in infants?

To figure out novel situations Signup and view all the answers

Which attachment style is characterized by infants showing confused and contradictory behaviors during reunion with the caregiver?

Insecure - disorganized attachment Signup and view all the answers

During Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation, how do securely attached infants typically behave?

They show extreme distress when separated but are comforted upon reunion. Signup and view all the answers

What key factor influences the stability of attachment quality in children?

Consistency of life circumstances Signup and view all the answers

Which caregiver characteristic is crucial for fostering secure attachment?

Contingent responsiveness Signup and view all the answers

Which attachment style involves infants that avoid or are slow to greet their parent during reunion?

Insecure - avoidant attachment Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant factor that can lead to a caregiver being emotionally unavailable?

Economical or emotional distress Signup and view all the answers

What does the protocol of the Strange Situation assess in infants?

Their attachment styles Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

HPCS4027 Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Course offered at Stanley Ho Community College
Lecturer: Irene Tsang ([email protected])
Academic year: 2024-2025, Semester 1

Course outline: Attachment, Personality, Temperament, Self-Concept

Freud's Psychosexual Stages: pleasure-seeking, related to infant's need satisfaction
Oral stage: derive satisfaction from the mouth
Mother-child symbiotic relationship: crucial for meeting needs
Nursing (feeding) considered a co-exchange, beneficial for healthy development
Fixation: strong sense of insecurity, never get "enough", leading to over-giving (positive oral fixation)

Erik H. Erikson's Theory of Development

8 Stages: Basic trust vs. mistrust (infant), Autonomy vs. shame and doubt (toddler), Initiative vs. guilt (pre-schooler), Industry vs. inferiority (school-ager), Identity vs. role confusion (adolescent), Intimacy vs. isolation (young adult), Generativity vs. stagnation (middle age), Ego integrity vs. despair (older adult)

Trust versus Mistrust

Erikson's first stage
Infant's needs (like feeding) must be met consistently
Relationship extends beyond the mere physical, encompassing security and warmth

Attachment

Synchrony: opportunity for parent-infant mutual, interlocking attachment behaviors
Takes practice to develop
Benefits highly synchronous 6-8 month-olds: larger vocabularies at age 2, higher intelligence scores at age 3, reduced stress levels, supports synapse and neuron development
Mother's bond: mothers provide more routine caregiving, interact more and smile more in early weeks, bodies release oxytocin during interaction (empathy and physical relaxation)
Father's bond: depends on synchrony, more time playing, watching and interacting with babies stimulates vasopressin (arousal, aggression, and physical activity);

The Infant's Attachment to Parent: Characteristics of attachment

Bowlby's 4 stages:
- Nonfocused orienting and signaling (0-3 months): signals needs through smiling, crying, and eye contact
- Focus on one or more figures (3-6 months): signals to caregivers most frequently
- Secure base behavior (6-24 months): proximity-seeking behaviors, caregivers as a safe base
Internal model (24+ months): child imagines how behavior impacts caregiver relationship, smiles more to primary caregivers, impacts future relationships
Attachment behaviors:
- Stranger anxiety: cling to mother when strangers are present
- Separation anxiety: cry and protest when separated; peaks at about 12 months
- Social referencing: use cues from caregivers (facial expressions, tone of voice) to understand situations, regulates emotions
Secure and Insecure Attachment
- Ainsworth's Strange Situation Scenarios: designed to asses attachment styles
  - with mother, with mother + stranger, alone with stranger, alone with stranger/for minutes, reunited, alone again/with stranger, reunited
- Secure attachment, Insecure-avoidant, Insecure-ambivalent, and Insecure-disorganized Attachment,
Secure attachment
- during reunion, actively seek contact, crying is reduced
Insecure attachment
- during reunion, avoid or are slow to greet parent, anxious, clingy
- avoidance, difficulty expressing emotions
Attachment styles
- Secure, Anxious, Avoidant, Disorganized

Attachment: Long Term Consequences

Securely attached: more sociable, positive relationships with friends, less clingy, less aggressive, emotionally mature, likely to be leaders, higher self-esteem.
Insecurely attached: less supportive and positive friendships, more likely be sexually active and practice riskier sex.

Personality and Temperament

Personality: stable patterns in how people relate to their surroundings
Temperament: basic behavioral and emotional predispositions
Thomas and Chess: activity level, rhythmicity, approach/withdrawal, adaptability, quality of mood, distractibility and persistence
Buss and Plomin: activity level, emotionality, sociability
Goodness of fit

Self-concept

Subjective self: awareness of separateness from others, endures over time
- appears at 8-12 months with object permanence
Objective self: child understands themselves as an object in the world (and has properties like gender, name, etc.)
- evident from 2 years
Rouge test: used to study self-awareness, used with 2-year olds, test mirrors child's recognition of their self.

The Emotional Self

Babies initially learn to identify changes in emotional expression through age 2-3 months
Later they are able to read and respond to facial expressions from caregiver age 7 months.
Lastly, as age expands, they gain further comprehension by understanding the emotional perceptions of others, and anticipate actions to guide behavioral choices by around 12 months old.

Other caregiver characteristics influencing secure attachment (cont'd)

Age, mental health (depression and panic disorder)

Question to Ponder

What kind of attachment do you have with your parents? Has this changed since childhood, or does it reflect the type of attachment you had when you were younger?
What factors will influence your choice of childcare if one or both parents decide to work? What would be best for your child?

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Description

Explore key concepts in infant development from Freud's psychosexual stages to Erikson's psychosocial theory. This quiz covers essential aspects of parent-infant interactions, emotional development, and the importance of nurturing relationships in early life. Test your knowledge on the critical theories that shape our understanding of infancy.