Human Development• The Process of

Change that Occurs from Infancy to Death

Stages of Development….• Prenatal• Infancy• Childhood• Adolescence• Adulthood• Old Age

Guiding Principles….

• Nature and Nurture (each influence different stages)• Development is in sequence (stages)• Growth rates vary person to person• Readiness (The child must have mastered

the previous stage)• Optimum time and Critical periods

What happens if we hurry a child through a developmental sequence?

Infant Development: Birth-Age 2oTime of rapid brain growthoFeeloSmelloTaste

Depth Perception?

Adaptive (survival) Reflexes..• Cough• Grasping reflex• Rooting reflex• Sucking reflex• Moro reflex

Physical Development: Ages & Stages (sometimes called developmental milestones)

Emotional Development: Even basic emotions take time to develop…• Excitement• Distress• Delight• Anger• Disgust• Fear • Elation• Affection• Jealousy• Joy

Does Imprinting occur in human beings?Attachment= Strong emotional bonds

Harry Harlow: “The Nature of Love”

Harlow’s experiment in stages

Experiment on intelligence evolves

The Iron Maiden

Harlow’s theory of love= Contact Comfort

Harlow becomes President of the APA

Less than one year later….

• Monkeys not thriving!• Unable to mate• Violently antisocial• Display autistic- like features (rocking, head-

banging, biting themselves)• Extreme self mutilation

Harlow identified three components to attachment:

Touch-Motion-Play

What about infant attachment?

The Strange Situationo Secure Attachment =mother

is sensitive to infant, consistent, responsive

o Ambivalent Attachment=Child sends mixed messages

o Avoidant Attachment = child ignores mother- attaches to strangers same as parent

o Disorganized Attachment= child is confused and

disoriented, shows fear (abuse?)

Mary Ainsworth

Is there a critical period for attachment?

What do you think?

How Important is Parenting?

Traits of Greatest Importance to Parents….• Frankness/honesty in dealing with others• Desire to make a name for one’s self• Concentration• Social mindedness (concern for others)• Strict obedience to authority• Appreciation of art, music, and literature• Economy in money matters• Loyalty to the church• Knowledge of sexual hygiene• Tolerance of others• Curiosity• Patriotism• Good manners• Independence• Academic achievement• Willingness to work hard

Across generations…. 1929 1978 1989 1997Frankness/honesty 27 26 56 38Desire to make a name 5 1 3 4Social Mindedness 9 7 0 0Strict obedience 13 26 48 30Appreciation art/music 0 5 12 8Economy in money 25 17 11 30Loyalty to the church 50 22 12 11Knowledge of sexual hygiene 15 8 3 4Tolerance of others 6 47 15 11Curiosity 1 10 17 4Patriotism 21 4 5 4Good manners 30 23 8 30Independence 25 76 40 34Academic achievement 19 6 17 30Willingness to work hard - - 45 64

Parenting Beyond Attachment

Types of Parents

• Authoritarian: Enforce strict rules- demand obedience• Permissive: Little

guidance, no limits, much freedom• Authoritative:

firm/consistent, love & logic with responsibility

Diana Baumrind

Carl Rogers: Parents give 2 kinds of support…

• Conditional Positive Regard= Parents show love only when child behaves in certain ways.• Unconditional

Positive Regard= Parents show love – no matter “who” the child is, or how they behave.

What is optimal?

Positive-Strict-WarmoBetter self-esteem oStrong morals/values oResponsibleoResilient in times of stress

Negative-Permissive-ColdoLook to escape punishmentoLower self-esteem

Goodness of fit……