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Child Development

Patrice Engle


updated 3 pm 3/10
  1. Major Issues

    1. Is experience or genetic background more important for development?
      (Nature vs. Nurture)
    2. Stability or change - how consistent are we over time?


  2. Infancy
    1. Prenatal Development
      1. zygote (2 weeks) to embryo to fetus (9 weeks)
      2. gender: all begin as females
      3. teratogens
        smoke, alcohol, drugs, malnutrition, radiation.
    2. Newborn Knowledge
      1. Hearing: recognizes mother's voice
      2. smell: within hours mother's smell
      3. sight: sees 8-12 inches
    3. Development during infancy
      1. Importance of both maturation and experience

  3. Social Development
    1. Attachment: A unique and enduring bond.
      1. Harlow's monkeys: food is not enough - contact comfort
      2. infants attach in the first year
      3. parents attach in first days
    2. Why parents or children fail to attach
      1. maternal, paternal depression or neglect, substance abuse
      2. child temperament: difficulty
      3. birth circumstances - separation
    3. Long-term consequences of attachment
      1. sense of security
      2. ability to explore
    4. Attachment patterns vary by culture.


  4. Parenting.
    1. Four styles of parenting.
      1. Authoritarian: Rules and Obedience
      2. Authoritative: Demanding and Responsive; Give explanations.
      3. Permissive: Let Children have their Way
      4. Rejecting-Neglecting: parents disengaged

    2. Consequences of authoritative parenting
      1. high self-esteem
      2. high sense of control
      3. high competence
      4. (may depend on culture)

  5. Personal development.
    1. Erikson's 8 stages (see text)
      1. Crises or periods of growth
      2. Resolve each one before move on to next
    2. Erickson's Psycho-Social Stages of Development

      Age Tasks
      First Year trust vs mistrust
      Toddler (1-2) autonomy vs shame
      Preschooler initiative vs guilt
      Elementary School competence vs inferiority
      Adolescence identity vs role confusion
      Young Adulthood intimacy vs isolation
      Middle Adulthood generativity vs self-absorption
      The aging Years Integrity vs despair


      Other Stages in Adolescence

      Adolescence Sub-Stage Task
      Moratorium Postpone and explore
      Identity Diffusion Jump from one role to another
      Foreclosure Commitment without thinking
      Identity Achievement Decision aftert houghtful exploration


  6. Provide responsive cognitive stimulation


FIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
PERFECT PARENTING
  1. No teratogens (drugs, alcohol, cigarettes) prenatally (especially the first 3 months)
  2. Form strong attachments with kids
  3. Use Authoritative parenting
  4. Resolve identity and intimacy crises yourself
  5. Provide responsive stimulation from birth onwards.



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