Topic 7 Emotional and Social Development PDF

Topic 7 Early Childhood Development and Learning Emotional and Social Development Objectives By the end of this topic, you should be able to discuss these key questions: 1. What kinds of attachment are there? 2. How can we identify them? 3. How should this affect child care? 4....

Topic 7 Early Childhood Development and Learning Emotional and Social Development Objectives By the end of this topic, you should be able to discuss these key questions: 1. What kinds of attachment are there? 2. How can we identify them? 3. How should this affect child care? 4. Can attachment styles be changed? 5. Does attachment have a lifetime effect? 2  Emotional and social development Children are "born with social needs, innate tendencies to seek direct contact with an adult (Usually the mother)" (Gleitman et al., 2009, p. 787). Human babies are relatively helpless and need others to survive …  What is attachment? -First social relationship; Strong emotional bond between infant and caregiver giving security and comfort How can we tell if an infant is -Provides a safe base attached to to explore the world someone? Emotional Attachment  Attachment Theory An explanation of emotional relationships and caregiver – infant interaction. Grew out of John Bowlby’s studies of maternal deprivation from 1950s. Infants show their attachment through proximity-seeking behaviors, meaning infants like to be near those they are attached.  Maternal Deprivation [The] evidence is now such that it leaves no room for doubt … that the prolonged deprivation of a young child of maternal care may have grave and far-reaching effects on his character and so on the whole of his future life.’ Bowlby 1953 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwxjfuPlArY&list= PLoiv1SzspFSYQWXOV9JpRAXtggG7wlNge  Evidence for maternal deprivation 1) “Juvenile delinquents”, children raised in correction institutions 2) Children in hospital for a long term 3) Children raised without maternal care All these types of children: Grew less well Had ‘retarded’ physical, emotional, or intellectual development When older, were superficially friendly and unstable in their relationships. Deprivation: Harlow’s experiments Monkeys who could get comfort from the towel- covered ‘monkey’ were better adjusted physically and mentally  “Monkey Love Experiments” Harlow concluded that comfort was important for the developing monkey and not food alone that connects mother and infant. Harlow's research showed that the need for affection created a stronger bond between mother and infant than did physical needs (food). So Harlow’s work suggested that the development of a child’s love for their caregiver was emotional rather than physiological. Bowlby’s phases of attachment formation PHASE 1: INDISCRIMINANT SOCIABILITY (0-2 months) Infant shows no preference among care-givers PHASE 2: ATTACHMENTS IN THE MAKING (2-7 months) Increasing preference for most familiar and responsive individuals PHASE 3: SPECIFIC, CLEAR-CUT ATTACHMENTS (-24 m) Infant displays separation anxiety and stranger anxiety PHASE 4 :GOAL-COORDINATED PARTNERSHIPS (24 m) Infant can increasingly tolerate short parental absences Why do infants form attachments? Bowlby (1977) argued that the infant’s emotional tie with its mother (principal caregiver) evolved because it promotes survival. Children who form an attachment to an adult develop a deeper parent-child relationship and are more likely to survive. He also believed that an infant’s early interactions with a parent were crucial to “normal development”  Bowlby’s Theory in Brief Bowlby emphasised the importance of the relationship between a child and a single primary caregiver. He believed that this attachment occurred instinctively, and this led to changes in policy and practice in institutions.  Critiquing the evidence Sweeping conclusions Studies based on small number of people Bowlby’s study – only 14 juveniles  Activity 1 Are we born with Emotional Attachment, or is it acquired by an infant/child in his/her society? That is, is Emotional Attachment innate or acquired?  Social Attachment Relationships (social aspects) rather than genetic endowment are important (Ainsworth 1978)  Attachment Types There are different types of attachment Different types reflect differences in patterns of interaction with mother The attachment type dictates present and future patterns of relationship  Investigating Attachment Types The Strange Situation (Ainsworth 1978) Twenty-minute session in lab 1. Mother and 12-month-old introduced to experimenter in a ‘playroom’ 2. Mother leaves room for three minutes, child alone with experimenter 3. Mother returns, reunites with child 4. Then both mother and experimenter leave room for 3 mins, return  The Strange Situation The situation is videotaped Particular attention paid to child’s behaviour at separation and reunion Aim to observe differences in coping with the stress of separation Four different types identified –next slide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH 1m_ZMO7GU Question What factors, do you think, may influence babies’ category of attachment? Inter-generational Transmission of Attachment Can childhood attachment experiences have an impact on them as adults in their attachment with own children? Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan & Main, 1985): uses current representations of past attachment experiences Defining deprivation and separation Deprivation – refers to the break in an infant’s attachment with its main caregiver, either for a short or a long time. Separation – refers to when an infant is no longer with its main caregiver for some reason, again either short-term or long-term. Therefore, separation leads to deprivation.  Factors that help determine the nature of attachment 1) Caregiver’s responsiveness and sensitivity 2) Baby’s temperament 3) Cultural and environmental factors 4) Deprivation: Case study of Genie Other deprived children: ‘Wild children’; feral children Evidence from Eastern European countries following the collapse of communism (the Czech twins). Koluchova (1972) the Czech twins Jarmila Koluchova studied identical twin boys who were born in Czechoslovakia in 1960. At first their development was relatively normal but their mother died and they were institutionalised for a year, then brought up by an aunt for another 6 months. The twins father remarried and they went to live with their father, stepmother and her 4 children. Koluchova (1972) the Czech twins They suffered from This carried on for over 5 rickets (lack of vitamin D Their stepmother often years until they were in the bones), were small locked them away in a found and rescued at the for their age, could not room and beat them. age of 7. talk or recognize pictures. It was predicted that They were frightened of they would not the darkness and had develop normally and only developed to a would remain well normal 3-year-old level. behind in intellectual development. Koluchova (1972) the Czech twins They were placed in a school for children with severe They went on to train in learning difficulties where By 11 their speech was electronics and later they began to catch up normal, by 15 their IQ was married, had families and with children of their age normal for their age. a normal life. and went on to a normal school.  Activity 2 Are we born with Social Attachment, or is it acquired by an infant/child in his/her society? That is, is Emotional Attachment innate or acquired?  Conclusions It is still unclear if attachment is more biologically determined or socially acquired. What do you think (see activities 1 and 2 above)? Attachments are the first relationships a child forms with important others (like mother or caregivers) surrounding him/her. These attachments/relationships set a pattern for future relationships as an older child and adult. Attachment knowledge is important in real situations, and intervention programs have been developed to improve relationships.