Lifespan Development Week 5 2024 PDF

Week 5: Lifespan Development Dr. Yun-Han Wang September 30th 2024 1 Checking in… 2 Plan for the day üCognitive development in children üSocial and personality development üAttachment throughout the life course üAging üDeath...

Week 5: Lifespan Development Dr. Yun-Han Wang September 30th 2024 1 Checking in… 2 Plan for the day üCognitive development in children üSocial and personality development üAttachment throughout the life course üAging üDeath 3 Lecture outcomes ü Understand how nature and nurture contribute to cognitive, social, and personality development across the lifespan ü Describe research methods in Developmental Psychology ü Describe the role of attachment throughout the lifespan ü Differentiate different attachment and parenting styles ü Know the recent research findings in aging ü Describe the grieving process 4 How do we understand how the way world works? Both nature and nurture plays a role Acquire knowledge through cognitive development The development of thinking take place across the lifespan E.g., learning, problem solving, memory, planning, language 5 Nature and Nurture Nature è Biology Nurture è Environment § The Great Debate § Where does intelligence come from? Development involves the interaction of both 6 The interaction between nature and nurture Continuous and Discontinuous Development What is Continuous Development? Gradual, cumulative changes Trees growing wider and taller What is Discontinuous Development? – Sudden change – Change in form/type 8 Piaget’s stage theory The sequence of development is universal The stages are fixed in order 9 Sensorimotor Stage World is experienced through senses and interactions with the world Mental representations are limited Object permanence: objects continue to exist even when out of sight Developed after 9 months old 10 11 Preoperational Stage Develop symbolic-representation capabilities E.g., drawing, using language Egocentrism: not able to take the perspective of others Lack logical reasoning, only focus on one dimension Conservation problems 12 13 Concrete Operational More complex thinking Can master the conservation task - decentration Can do math Understand the principle of reversibility Some objects can be changed back to original form 14 Other skills children will master A dog is a mammal A white terrier is a dog Seriation: So… A white terrier must be a ______ Classification: Transitivity: Identity: 15 Formal operational stage Can think logically about hypothetical situations or abstract ideas Can look for alternative solutions to solve problems This stage will not occur without formal education This stage may be absent in some societies 16 A 5th stage? Postformal stage Developmental psychologists suggest an additional stage There is a difference in the way how adolescents and adults handle emotional issues In postformal stage: Logic is integrated with emotions Uses past experiences to solve new problems Decisions are made based on situations 17 Flaws in Piaget’s theory What are its limitations? 18 Applications of cognitive development research in Education Kindergartners’ phonemic awareness is the strongest predictor in reading achievement Improve teaching in these skills Children from low-income families have poorer mathematical knowledge Less frequent engagement with numerical activities (e.g., board games) 19 Studying children: Research methods Involuntary or obligatory responses Record behaviors that require little or no conscious effort (infants) E.g., tracking infant’s eye movements Voluntary responses Behaviors that a person completes by choice E.g., what toys children choose to play with? Parent-report questionnaires/interviews Parents are great observers of their child’s behavior Psychophysiological responses What biological changes impact children’s behavior? Measure hormone levels, brain activity 20 Psychophysiology: Event-related potentials 21 Social & Personality Development Think about: 1. What experiences have the biggest impact on who you are now? 2. Who has the biggest impact on you? 3. How do relationships change over 22 time? 1. What experiences have the biggest impact on who I am now? Growing up in a diplomatic family is challenging Moving out of home country since only 4 months old Adjusting to different country and culture Adapting to different education curriculum and learning environments How does that affect my social and personality development? Able to mingle well with people from different backgrounds Adapt and overcome adversity Deal with current or future stress effectively 23 2. Who has the biggest impact on me? 1.Parents Being responsive Raising a pair of twins fairly (providing equal resources) 2. Identical twin sister (6 minutes younger) Always have a companion Social facilitation Personality: tend to be more introverted 3. Teachers Supportive vs. Bullying (constant comparison; doubting capabilities – sharing one brain; being forced to separate at school) 24 3. How do relationships change over time? Moving out of home for this first time Home sickness Expand social relationships through engaging in community events Make new friends! Build connections with mentors and colleagues 25 Now, who are willing to share? 1. What experiences have the biggest impact on who you are now? 2. Who has the biggest impact on you? 3. How do relationships change over time? 26 Family Relationships Early attachment Strong emotional attachment with your carer Biologically natural: evolved to stay close to people for security, food, and warmth Sense of security varies Depending on how confident infants think their caregivers will provide necessary support to them 27 Attachment Theory The emotional bonds children develop with carers are important in their social and personality development What happens when a child is separated from their caregiver? Bowlby suggest that attachment behavior may have an adaptive value Important for survival 28 Remember the power of touch? Importance of contact comfort Harry Harlow’s research asked: why do infants bond with their mothers? Week 4 29 Individual Differences in Attachment Strange Situation Assess attachment type by recording child’s response via a brief separation from caregiver 30 Strange situation 31 Individual Differences in Attachment Three main styles: Secure (60%): distressed when caregiver leaves, but are quickly comforted when upon return Avoidant (20%): was not distressed among separation, avoided the caregiver upon return Anxious-Resistant (or called ambivalent 20%): very distressed when caregiver leaves, and are not calmed upon return Disorganized: A mixture 32 Why do children differ in attachment styles? Responsive Secure Care Giving Unresponsive to Child’s Avoidant Needs Inconsistently Anxious/ Responsive to Resistant (ambivalent) Child’s Needs 33 Benefits of a secure attachment style Develop stronger friendship with peers Positive self-concept (a positive image of the self) More advanced emotional understanding Develop conscience early (i.e., moral development; act with standards of conduct) Persist on challenging tasks More likely to remain secure during adulthood 34 Insecure (avoidant) children are likely to Be classified as bullies Have difficulty making and maintaining friendships Solution? 35 Evaluate Your Attachment Style § What style of attachment bond did you form with your parents? § What kinds of experiences may lead to this attachment style? § Do you think this impacted your later relationships? Why or why not? 36 Parenting Styles Authoritative style: § Set high but reasonable expectations Expectations/Control § Are warm and responsive Low High § Children develop greater Warmth/Responsiveness competence and self- confidence Low Uninvolved Authoritarian § Reach coregulation during adolescence High Permissive Authoritative § Recognize each others’ competence and autonomy 37 Peer Relationships Learn how to initiate and maintain social interactions e.g., managing conflict, turn-taking, compromise, bargaining, learn to work together as a team The importance of play “unstructured” play Friendships could be additional sources of support and security 38 Challenges Rejection: provoke behavioral problems Aggressive behaviors May encounter challenges of bullying, and conformity pressures Peer pressure Social comparison Feeling inadequate Benefits? 39 Adolescence Focused on psychological intimacy, involving personal disclosure, vulnerability, and loyalty (or betrayal). Gender identity becomes more stable Renewed egocentrism Imaginary audience ‘everyone is looking at me!’ Personal fable ‘I am special, no one knows what it’s like to be me’ 40 Attachments in adults: Romantic Relationships 41 Three Styles of Adult Attachment § Secure I find it relatively easy to get close to others and am comfortable depending on them and having them depend on me. I don’t worry about being abandoned or about someone getting close to me. § Avoidant I am somewhat uncomfortable being close to others; I find it difficult to trust them completely, difficult to allow myself to depend on them. I am nervous when anyone gets too close, and often, others want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being. § Anxious/Resistant I find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I often worry that my partner doesn’t really love me or won’t want to stay with me. I want to get very close to my partner, and this sometimes scares people away. 42 Attachment and Dating § Tendency to have a partner of similar style § Why? 1. Secure are more likely to be attractive people § Kind, caring, trustworthy, understanding 2. Security people are more likely to create security in their partners If a person experienced a change in security, the other person also changes the same way – emotion contagion § Or both 1 & 2 43 Impact on Relationship Functioning Higher security… § More satisfying relationships § Less conflict § More enduring relationships § More likely to provide support to partner in times of distress 44  Social Understanding Children develop social skills by observing adults Relationships with others are important in: developing social and emotional skills developing expectations for people understanding how to interact with others Social Referencing (before turning 1): consult others’ emotional response to determine how to respond to an uncertain situation 45 Social referencing 46 Theory of Mind Theory of Mind (18- months): begin to understand how mental states affect people’s behavior 47  Personality Development § Temperament (early differences in reactivity and self-regulation) underlies personality growth § Biologically based § Are later influenced by parental care § Personality = temperament + Experience § Goodness of fit § Personality are refined over time through experiences with others 48 Social & Emotional Competence Conscience (moral sense) Requires goodness of fit Temperament (good self-regulation)+ experience (responsive maternal care parents) Gender schema: What is “maleness” and “femaleness” Social (learning from others) and biological influences (e.g., puberty) 49 Aging 50 Introduction The growing importance of understanding aging Taiwan Elderly population (aged over 65) doubled from 2,031 thousand in 2002 to 4,086 thousand in 2022 (National Development council) What would you need to be happy at age 80? How will you get what you need? 51  Theories of Aging Biogenetics and sociocultural contexts could influence one’s beliefs, satisfaction with life, social relationships as we age Life course theories § Social expectations § Timing of life events and social roles (parenthood, retirement) § Membership: cohorts (generation) /sociocultural groups (race) Life span theories § Processes within the individual that change over the life span 52 Cognitive Aging Decreases Increases § Fluid Intelligence § Crystallized Intelligence § Recall of Information § Previous knowledge (when without memory enable better decision- cues) making § Working Memory § Ability to utilize more § Information Processing efficient strategies Speed § E.g., Old chess players are able to search more § Inhibitory Functioning systematically and less redundantly § Decline in vision & hearing 53 54  Impact of decline in older adults Driving: May be more experienced drivers, they are dangerous drivers! Traffic accidents are highest in the elderly. Poorer reaction time Poor vision Require a health examination and cognitive function testing 55 Changes in Personality General consensus was that our personalities don’t change much But some people changes Due to certain life events (divorce, illness, war) 56  The beliefs and perceptions of oneself changes over time Changes in How to finding positive meanings in life? self-related Autobiographical narratives (Who are you? What makes you special?) processes enhance self-esteem and guide behavior Self-descriptions (reflecting about one’s life) help people cope with challenges in older age 57 Young at heart Physical age vs. subjective age I am only 17! Subjective age: How old do you feel? Most adults say they feel younger After age 40, people feel 20% younger than their actual age Positive self-perceptions of aging = Feeling younger + having a positive age identity Life longer, healthier, report greater well-being Age identity: How satisfied you are with your aging? Are you able to accept changes in your physical appearance? 58 Relationships Relationships is an important source of support and comfort § Convoy Model of Social Relations § Social connections held together by exchanges in social support § Frequency, type, and reciprocity of exchange impacts one’s health and well-being § The perception of the availability of support is more important than actual support received § Social isolation: subjective assessment of loneliness + objective absence of social networks 59 Relationships § Socioemotional Selectivity Theory § Focuses on motivational changes for seeking social contact. § Older adults optimize positive affect (emotions) by prioritizing time spent with emotionally close significant others § Older adults have smaller support networks § Older marriages tend to have more positive interactions (affectionate behavior) 60 Marriage Married individuals who receive positive social and emotional support report better health Darkside of marriage Relationship problems One partner is the primary caregiver 61 Emotion and Well-being Emotional challenges of aging: Losing loved ones, decline in health Well-being differs across the life span Highest in early and late adulthood Stress and anger decrease with age Measures of well-being: Global subjective well-being – assess overall perceptions of life Hedonic wellbeing – assess positive and negative affect Psychological well-being – assess positive aspects of psychosocial development (e.g., sense of autonomy ), as opposed ill-being 62 Longevity Influences § Genes (only 25%) § Environmental and behavioral factors account for more Successful aging § Avoidance of risk factors, e.g., disease, disability, obesity § Maintenance of high physical and cognitive functioning § Active engagement in social and productive activities 63  Death and Dying A very unpopular research topic… Death marks the endpoint of our lifespan. There are many ways that we might react when facing death. Kubler-Ross developed a five-stage model of grief as a way to explain this process 64  1. Hard to believe that someone important is not coming back. 2. Death seem cruel and unfair. One could feel angry at ourselves for things we did or didn’t do before their death. 3. Making deals: "Please God, if you heal my husband, I will strive to be the best wife I can ever be, and never complain again." 4. A reaction to the emptiness we feel when realize the person is gone forever 5. Gradually, pain eases, and it is possible to accept what has happened. 65  To reduce risk or severity of depression and improve Post-Doctoral mental wellness Research: To enhance resilience towards adverse life events Aging and Mental and to reduce social isolation Health To engage vulnerable and at-risk older adults in the community through productive aging activities and mental well-being interventions 66 Recent Research (Wang et al., in prep) Examine the efficacy of mindfulness-based in older adults in reducing depressive symptoms The importance of tailoring interventions for the elderly (mobility issues, length of training, amount of homework 67 Recent Research Anorexia in Aging Aim to identify psychosocial factors that may impact older adult’s eating behaviors 68 Next class Week 7: Learning and Memory lecture Pets (preferably dogs, no birds) are welcome to join us in this lecture. Does anyone have a dog that they are willing to bring to class? Please email me! 69