Social Development

Stage #1

trust vs mistrust

• learn who to trust to fulfill needs when stressed

• those who don’t develop trust in the world (due to neglect/abuse) have trust issues later

Stage #2

autonomy vs shame and doubt

• try to use their new physical and cognitive skills

• seek control/independence

  ex. feeding and dressing by themselves

• BUT if failure, regret/shame/doubt

  • and if parents intervene, impedes child’s confidence development

Stage #3

Initiative vs. Guilt

• self-esteem emerges from setting and achieving goals

industry (Competence) vs inferiority

• seek to master skills for integration in society

• competence in an area (baseball, or music, or math) makes them feel industrious

• if fail = feel inferior

identity vs role confusion

• when teens reexamine their identities/goals

• and experiment

intimacy vs isolation

success = establish strong, committed relationships (marriage, strong social network)

failure = isolation (can’t share thoughts and feelings with someone else) :((((

generativity vs stagnation

• adults strive to be productive in a meaningful way

  • work, volunteering, parenthood, hobbies

• without meaning => “midlife crisis” (stagnation)

integrity vs despair

integrity = sense of fulfillment/satisfaction with life

despair = regret (missed opportunities) depression

• too much overlap in stage 2, 3, 4

• identity crisis that erikson said was only for teens actually happens throughout life

• too vague to be tested scientifically

• social development through the stages is different in different cultures

AKA cognitive empathy

= understanding that others have different perspectives/beliefs

• helps to predict how others will react

  • helpful in nurturing relationships

= deep, emotional tie with a loved one

• according to Bowlby, this helps to keep infant close to mother, increasing infant survival

• for infants, built through touching, talking, and caring

  • stimulates OXYTOCIN

• affects physical and emotional development

= hatchlings follow the first creature they see

= experiment where baby monkeys isolated from mother

• ones isolated the longest had severest problems

  • couldn’t reintegrate into monkey society

  • chewed off own fingers and toes

= physical emotional comfort an infant receives from being in physical contact with mother

= a hormone released during contact between baby and parents

• helps attachment bond form

stage 5 (identity vs. role confusion)

+

stage 6 (intimacy and isolation)

• combined for girls

• distinct for boys

experiment that observed 3 points:

1. how infant responds to when mom leaves

2. how well infant plays with stranger

3. how infant responds to mom’s return

results:

four different attachment styles

a type of attachment style

1. distress when mother leaves

2. avoidant of stranger

3. happy to see mother when return

a type of attachment style

1. intense distress when mother leaves

2. very fearful of stranger

3. approach mother upon return, but __rejects contact (__cold shoulder lol?)

a type of attachment style

1. unbothered when mother leaves

2. plays with stranger

3. doesn’t notice mom returning

a type of attachment style

• inconsistent behavior

= an intermediate way to give contact comfort when caregiver is away

ex. teddy bear, blanket

= babies get upset when caregiver leaves

(6-9 months old)

= anxiety when unfamiliar people appear

(1-2 yrs)

what’s the role of a child in their own development?

= a child’s consistent combination of mood, activity level, and intensity of emotions

a type of parenting style

• strict rules (w/o explanation)

• severe punishments for breaking rules

Effect on children:

→ kids only follow rules to avoid punishment

→ struggle to be initiative/be independent as young adults (scared to break rules)

a type of parenting style

• too much freedom (no rules)

• opposite of authoritarian

Effect:

→ trouble following rules and social norms at school and work

→ low self-esteem (because think parents don’t care enough to check in on them and set rules)

a type of parenting style

• balance of rules w/flexibility (in between authoritarian and permissive)

• explains why rule exists

  • rules = kids responsibilities to others

• rules relax as kids get older (negotiation)

a type of parenting style

• uninvolved/cold

• unresponsive to child’s needs

= children play side-by-side, paying attention to each other, but no interaction

= change beliefs/actions to more closely match those held by groups to which they belong

• very important to young teens

• not as much as older teens

girls:

• cooperatively in 2-3

• lots of talk

boys:

• competitively in large groups

• talk is restricted to context (the game directions)

also, male friendships last longer

• fights restored quickly (less grudges)

teenagers trying to develop an identity

• causes conflict with family and friends

= like a rite of passage for teens

• erikson thought it necessary/natural to next stage

ex. getting license

ex. quinceñera

= ability to adapt behavior to the situation

= ability to respond appropriately to others’ reactions

= “storm and stress”

= teen angst

= pressure to meet societal/familial expectations

a type of teen egocentrism

= “I am unique and will be great”

= Main character of own story

Helpful → gives motivation for interests

Detrimental → fixation on unlikely belief of importance

• neglect other responsibilities

a type of teen egocentrism

= belief that others are always watching/judging

• explains the importance of conformity in teens and why they’re so embarrassed by small mistakes

teens’ self-image is dependent on how others think of them

= a false belief for teens

“I can’t be hurt” “it won’t happen to me”

• due to still-developing prefrontal cortex

• lasts until young adult

• teens given more responsibility/autonomy

  • despite teen not always making the best choices

• even the most rocky relationships usually stabilize as child reaches 20-30s

= supporting each other and sharing private thoughts

• in teen friendships, crucial to self-esteem

= pressure from family/friends/society to reach certain milestones

ex. get a job, get married, have children

= when kids leave home and parents feel bad

• BUT parents usually realize they’re more satisfied with life and marriage

= crisis in middle adulthood where you question your job, values, relationships

Stage #1 of grief

= pretending it didn’t happen

Stage #2 of grief

= emotions rise up

Stage #3 of grief

= “if only ___, then it wouldn’t have happened:

• for religious people, make deals with god

Stage #4 of grief

= isolation, coping, foggy/confused

Stage #5 of grief

= understanding the incident (not necessarily moving on)

Stage #6 of grief

= doing something positive to reduce loss

ex. donating to related charity, honor the deceased with a scholarship, creating a program