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Social Development in Childhood

Ella Gray

Ella Gray

9 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers social development, focusing on attachment, parenting styles, and social learning. Key topics include Harlow's and Lorenz's attachment research, Ainsworth's Strange Situation, Baumrind's parenting styles, Erikson's psychosocial stages, Freud's psychosexual stages, and Bandura's social learning theory. It also includes practice questions and exam tips.

AP Psychology: Social Development - Your Ultimate Study Guide ๐Ÿš€

Hey there, future AP Psych master! Let's dive into the world of social development. This guide is designed to be your best friend the night before the exam, making sure everything clicks and you feel super confident. Let's get started!

๐Ÿ‘ถ Early Attachments and the Need for Connection

The Foundation of Social Bonds

  • Even before birth, babies are tuning in! They show a preference for their mother's voice and native language. This early attachment is crucial for survival. ๐Ÿ’–
  • Attachment isn't just about food; it's about connection and security.
Memory Aid

Think of attachment as the superglue of relationships. It starts early and shapes how we connect with others later in life.

Harry Harlow's Monkey Business ๐Ÿ’

  • Harry Harlow's experiments with rhesus monkeys revolutionized our understanding of attachment.

  • He challenged the idea that attachment is solely based on the need for nourishment.

  • Contact comfort is KEY! Baby monkeys preferred a soft, cloth โ€œmotherโ€ over a wire one that provided food.

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    Caption: Harlow's experiment showed that infant monkeys preferred the cloth mother for comfort, not just food.

  • Secure base: The cloth mother acted as a secure base for the monkeys, allowing them to explore and return for comfort.

  • Harlow's unethical experiments showed that social isolation can lead to severe developmental issues, like catatonia and inability to form relationships. ๐Ÿ’”

Key Concept

Early secure social bonds are crucial for healthy development. Lack of affection can lead to difficulties in forming relationships later in life.

Exam Tip

Remember Harlow's monkeys! They're a classic example of the importance of contact comfort and secure attachment.

Konrad Lorenz and the Power of Familiarity ๐Ÿฆ†

  • Konrad Lorenz studied imprinting, a rigid attachment process in animals that occurs early in life.

  • He found that goslings imprinted on him, following him as if he were their mother.

  • Critical period: There's a specific time frame for imprinting to occur.

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    Caption: Lorenz's goslings imprinted on him, demonstrating the power of early exposure.

  • Mere exposure: While humans don't imprint, familiarity breeds fondness. We tend to like what we're used to.

Quick Fact

Imprinting is like a fast track to attachment, but it's not the same as human attachment, which is more flexible.

๐ŸŽญ Attachment St...

Question 1 of 18

Babies show a preference for their mother's voice and native language even before they are born. This indicates that:

Babies are born with fully developed social skills

Early attachment is not important for babies

Babies are tuning in to their environment from an early stage

Babies only develop social skills after birth