Psychology Module 48: Stranger Anxiety

Stranger Anxiety: Fear shown by infants towards unfamiliar people, typically starts around 8 months.
Attachment: Emotional bond developed between caregiver and child, evidenced through seeking closeness and showing distress during separation.

Harry and Margaret Harlow: Conducted important experiments with monkeys, revealing that comfort is more crucial than food for infant bonding. Monkeys isolated from others showed significant social and mental deficits.

Critical Period: Key timeframe shortly after birth when exposure to certain stimuli is essential for normal development.
Imprinting: Early attachment formation in certain animals during a specific critical period; does not apply to children.

Strange Situation: Developed by Mary Ainsworth, this behavioral test assesses children's attachment styles in different scenarios.

Temperament: Refers to individual emotional reactivity and intensity inherent in a person.
Basic Trust: A foundational sense of predictability and safety in the world, formed in infancy through responsive caregiving.

Children attending daycare tend to have improved cognitive skills in thinking and language but may exhibit more aggressive behavior.

Self-awareness: Develops when individuals can identify themselves in a mirror, signifying a level of cognitive maturity.

Authoritarian Parenting: Defined by rigidity and strictness with minimal warmth towards the child.
Authoritative Parenting: Balances high standards with emotional support and involves children in decision-making, promoting healthy development.
Permissive Parenting: Characterized by few restrictions on a child's behavior, leading to potential challenges in self-discipline.
Neglectful Parenting: Involves minimal involvement in the child's life, possibly hindering emotional and social development.