AP Psychology: Social Development in Childhood

Introduction

• Human beings are social animals; social interactions are crucial for growth.
• From birth, humans recognize familiar faces and voices.
• Emotional attachment is developed with caregivers, typically parents.

Key Experiments on Attachment

Harlow's Monkey Experiment

• Researchers: Harry Harlow and Margaret Harlow.
• Infant monkeys separated from mothers and exposed to two surrogate mothers:
  • A wire mother providing food but no comfort.
  • A cloth mother providing comfort but no food.
• Findings:
  • Monkeys preferred the cloth mother in times of stress.
  • Nutritional needs were secondary to comfort for attachment.

Lorenz's Imprinting Experiment

• Researcher: Conrad Lorenz.
• Studied attachment through imprinting in ducks.
• Ducklings imprinted and followed Lorenz around.
• Human children don’t imprint but form attachments to familiar things.

Ainsworth's Strange Situation Experiment

• Researcher: Mary Ainsworth.
• Assessed children's attachment to their mothers in unfamiliar settings.
• Secure attachment:
  • Child explores when mother is present, becomes distressed when she leaves, and is comforted upon her return.
• Insecure attachment:
  • Child clings and remains upset even after the mother’s return.
• Ambivalent attachment:
  • Mixed responses: upset when mother leaves, but resists comfort when she returns.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

• The role of environment (nurture) vs. genetic temperament (nature) in attachment.
• Temperament is influenced by genetics and affects emotional responses.

Erickson's Stages of Development

• Eric Erickson identified eight stages of development.
• Focus on the first four stages in childhood:
  1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy)
     • Importance of feeding, affection, and security.
     • Lack can lead to trust issues or insecure attachment.
  2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Early Childhood)
     • Developing autonomy through environmental understanding and potty training.
     • Positive reinforcement is crucial.
  3. Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool)
     • Encouragement of independence and imagination.
     • Control over life aspects builds confidence and autonomy.
  4. Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age)
     • School influences self-perception and social identity.
     • Comparison with peers to understand social status.

Observational Learning

• Children learn through observing others.
• Mention of Albert Bandura's Bobo doll experiment (Unit 4, Topic 1).

Parenting Styles (Diana Baumrind)

• Identified four styles:
  1. Authoritarian
     • Strict rules, no room for discussion.
  2. Permissive
     • Loose rules, parents act more like friends.
  3. Negligent
     • Uninvolved in child’s life.
  4. Authoritative
     • Rules are explained, room for dialogue.
• Effects of parenting styles on children:
  • Authoritarian: Lower self-esteem, overreaction to mistakes.
  • Permissive: Immaturity, see parents as friends.
  • Negligent: Struggles in school tasks.
  • Authoritative: Higher self-esteem and autonomy.

Conclusion

• Parenting styles and attachment significantly impact child development.
• Reminder that correlation does not imply causation.
• Encouragement to use additional resources for AP Psychology preparation.