Infancy (Part 3)

The Roots of Socialization Emotions in Infancy Non-verbal encoding The non-verbal expression of emotion Infants display similar kinds of emotion The degree of emotional expression varies Experiencing Emotions Not the same as adults Non-verbal expression may be reflexive With maturity, emotional expression increases in range Reflects a greater complexity developing in the brain

Emotions in Infancy

Non-verbal encoding

The non-verbal expression of emotion

Infants display similar kinds of emotion

The degree of emotional expression varies

Experiencing Emotions

Not the same as adults

Non-verbal expression may be reflexive

With maturity, emotional expression increases in range

Reflects a greater complexity developing in the brain

Separation & Stranger Anxiety Stranger Anxiety Infant’s wariness in the presence of an unfamiliar adult Increased cognitive abilities play a role in stranger anxiety As memory develops they respond positively to familiar faces Separation Anxiety Distress displayed by an infant when the usual caregiver leaves With the growth of cognitive abilities, familiar faces become bonded with the infant

Stranger Anxiety

Infant’s wariness in the presence of an unfamiliar adult

Increased cognitive abilities play a role in stranger anxiety

As memory develops they respond positively to familiar faces

Separation Anxiety

Distress displayed by an infant when the usual caregiver leaves

With the growth of cognitive abilities, familiar faces become bonded with the infant

Smiles Earliest Smiles Earliest smiles are meaningless by 6 – 9 weeks they smile at things that please them Anything that amuses them brings a smile Social Smiles Smiles directed toward particular persons By 18 months their smiles are directed toward their mothers & other caregivers

Earliest Smiles

Earliest smiles are meaningless

by 6 – 9 weeks they smile at things that please them

Anything that amuses them brings a smile

Social Smiles

Smiles directed toward particular persons

By 18 months their smiles are directed toward their mothers & other caregivers

Decoding Others’ Expressions Discrimination of Emotions Can tell when caregiver is happy to see him/her Can discriminate vocal expressions of emotion earlier than facial expressions Can discriminate between happy & sad vocal expressions at 5 months Infants learn to produce & decode emotions & begin to learn the effect of their emotions on others

Discrimination of Emotions

Can tell when caregiver is happy to see him/her

Can discriminate vocal expressions of emotion earlier than facial expressions

Can discriminate between happy & sad vocal expressions at 5 months

Infants learn to produce & decode emotions & begin to learn the effect of their emotions on others

Experiencing Others’ Feelings Social Referencing Looking to the emotional responses of caregivers or other adults when in an unfamiliar setting for cues to interpret the situation Search others’ facial expressions & imitates it Occurs in ambiguous or uncertain situations

Social Referencing

Looking to the emotional responses of caregivers or other adults when in an unfamiliar setting for cues to interpret the situation

Search others’ facial expressions & imitates it

Occurs in ambiguous or uncertain situations

Development of the Self Self-Awareness Knowledge of oneself Begins around 12 months Culture affects self-recognition Theory of Mind Knowledge & beliefs of how the mind works & how it influences behavior Capacity to understand another’s intentions grows during infancy Empathy Experiencing another’s feelings

Self-Awareness

Knowledge of oneself

Begins around 12 months

Culture affects self-recognition

Theory of Mind

Knowledge & beliefs of how the mind works & how it influences behavior

Capacity to understand another’s intentions grows during infancy

Empathy

Experiencing another’s feelings

Relationships Attachment Affectionate, reciprocal relationship formed between an infant & the primary caregiver Bonds form between infants & parents, siblings, other family members, & others When children experience attachment to a given person they feel comfortable around them Harlow’s Experiment

Attachment

Affectionate, reciprocal relationship formed between an infant & the primary caregiver

Bonds form between infants & parents, siblings, other family members, & others

When children experience attachment to a given person they feel comfortable around them

Harlow’s Experiment

Types of Attachment Secure Attachment Mother is used as a base for exploration As long as the mother is present the infant explores independently Becomes upset when mother leaves & seeks her upon return Avoidant Attachment Proximity to the mother is unimportant to the infant Upon mother’s return, avoids her Ambivalent Attachment Displays positive & negative reactions to the mother Doesn’t explore much due to extremely close contact with mother Ambivalent with mother’s return Disorganized-disoriented Attachment Inconsistent, contradictory, confused behavior Least securely attached Runs to mother upon return but doesn’t look at her

Secure Attachment

Mother is used as a base for exploration

As long as the mother is present the infant explores independently

Becomes upset when mother leaves & seeks her upon return

Avoidant Attachment

Proximity to the mother is unimportant to the infant

Upon mother’s return, avoids her

Ambivalent Attachment

Displays positive & negative reactions to the mother

Doesn’t explore much due to extremely close contact with mother

Ambivalent with mother’s return

Disorganized-disoriented Attachment

Inconsistent, contradictory, confused behavior

Least securely attached

Runs to mother upon return but doesn’t look at her

Interactional Synchrony When caregivers respond to infants appropriately & caregiver & child match emotional states Produces secure attachment Responding of mothers separates secure from insecure attachment Mothers & Attachment

Interactional Synchrony

When caregivers respond to infants appropriately & caregiver & child match emotional states

Produces secure attachment

Responding of mothers separates secure from insecure attachment

Fathers & Attachment Fathers Seen as Having Secondary Child-rearing Role Some infants form a primary relationship with their fathers Father’s Nurturance, Warmth, Affection, Support, & Concern are Important to the Child’s Emotional & Social Well-being Certain kinds of psychological disorders (e.g. substance abuse & depression) are related to the father’s behavior Infants can develop attachments to other than mothers

Fathers Seen as Having Secondary Child-rearing Role

Some infants form a primary relationship with their fathers

Father’s Nurturance, Warmth, Affection, Support, & Concern are Important to the Child’s Emotional & Social Well-being

Certain kinds of psychological disorders (e.g. substance abuse & depression) are related to the father’s behavior

Infants can develop attachments to other than mothers

Differences in Attachment Differences in Mother & Father Attachment Attachment with the father and mother depend on how they deal with the child Mothers spend more time tending the child; fathers spend more time playing Play of the mother & father is different Attachment Across Cultures Certain attachment patterns seem more likely in particular cultures Attachment is viewed as subject to cultural norms & expectations

Differences in Mother & Father Attachment

Attachment with the father and mother depend on how they deal with the child

Mothers spend more time tending the child; fathers spend more time playing

Play of the mother & father is different

Attachment Across Cultures

Certain attachment patterns seem more likely in particular cultures

Attachment is viewed as subject to cultural norms & expectations

Multiple Interactions May develop multiple attachments & these can change over time Mutual Regulation Model Infants & parents learn to communicate emotional states to each other & respond appropriately Reciprocal Socialization As an infant is being socialized by the parents, the parents are being socialized by the infant Infant Interactions

Multiple Interactions

May develop multiple attachments & these can change over time

Mutual Regulation Model

Infants & parents learn to communicate emotional states to each other & respond appropriately

Reciprocal Socialization

As an infant is being socialized by the parents, the parents are being socialized by the infant

Interaction with Peers Sociability Level of sociability increases with age Social games such as peek-a-boo and crawl-and-chase are the foundation for social interactions Imitation of peers are part of the social experience & a teaching tool

Sociability

Level of sociability increases with age

Social games such as peek-a-boo and crawl-and-chase are the foundation for social interactions

Imitation of peers are part of the social experience & a teaching tool

Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages Trust v. Mistrust Birth to 18 months The infant develops a sense of trust in the environment This is based mainly on how the needs are met If met properly it develops a sense of hope that the needs will be met successfully in the future Autonomy v. Shame & Doubt 18 months to 3 years If the child is allowed to explore, a sense of independence develops If there is restriction & overprotection it produces a sense of shame & doubt in him/herself

Trust v. Mistrust

Birth to 18 months

The infant develops a sense of trust in the environment

This is based mainly on how the needs are met

If met properly it develops a sense of hope that the needs will be met successfully in the future

Autonomy v. Shame & Doubt

18 months to 3 years

If the child is allowed to explore, a sense of independence develops

If there is restriction & overprotection it produces a sense of shame & doubt in him/herself

Stabilities in Infant Behavior Temperament Consistent style or pattern of behavior Refers to patterns of arousal & emotionality that are consistent Refers to how children behave rather than what they do or why they do it It is reflected in activity level which reflects the degree of overall movement

Temperament

Consistent style or pattern of behavior

Refers to patterns of arousal & emotionality that are consistent

Refers to how children behave rather than what they do or why they do it

It is reflected in activity level which reflects the degree of overall movement

Categorizing Temperament Easy Babies Positive disposition & adaptable Difficult Babies Negative moods & slow to adapt Slow-to-warm Babies Inactive & relatively calm in their reactions to the environment & slow to adapt Moods are generally negative & withdraws from new situations Shy Babies Withdraws from social situations & is anxious in new situations Importance of Temperament Some temperaments are more adaptive than others Some temperaments are weakly related to attachment Cultural differences have a major influence on certain temperaments Biological Basis of Temperament Temperament excites the limbic system, especially the amygdala

Easy Babies

Positive disposition & adaptable

Difficult Babies

Negative moods & slow to adapt

Slow-to-warm Babies

Inactive & relatively calm in their reactions to the environment & slow to adapt

Moods are generally negative & withdraws from new situations

Shy Babies

Withdraws from social situations & is anxious in new situations

Importance of Temperament

Some temperaments are more adaptive than others

Some temperaments are weakly related to attachment

Cultural differences have a major influence on certain temperaments

Biological Basis of Temperament

Temperament excites the limbic system, especially the amygdala

Gender Issues Gender Social perceptions of maleness or femaleness Gender Treatment Boys & girls are treated differently Parents play with boys differently than girls Fathers tend to interact more with boys than with girls from birth The behavior of boys is interpreted differently than girls All cultures have gender roles for males & females

Gender

Social perceptions of maleness or femaleness

Gender Treatment

Boys & girls are treated differently

Parents play with boys differently than girls

Fathers tend to interact more with boys than with girls from birth

The behavior of boys is interpreted differently than girls

All cultures have gender roles for males & females

Gender Differences Activity Level Male infants tend to be more active Boys grimace more Boys have more disturbed sleep Male neonates are more irritable than females There’s no difference in the amount of crying Gender Roles Gender differences emerge via gender roles set by the society

Activity Level

Male infants tend to be more active

Boys grimace more

Boys have more disturbed sleep

Male neonates are more irritable than females

There’s no difference in the amount of crying

Gender Roles

Gender differences emerge via gender roles set by the society