Chapter 10 Young Adulthood

Chapter 10 is about young adulthood which is from 22 to 34. The part of the book that most interested me was the social dimension. There is a whole list of different things in social dimension: marriage, relationship, sexuality, children, being single, voluntary childlessness, miscarriages, work life, religion, gender roles, and etc. There was a sentence really stood out for me. “Marriage and the emergency of the family become one of the most significant life changes in young adulthood”. What about the adolescence who make families before adulthood? These are the young adults who are having the most hazards and risk. Which are being on welfare, divorce, drug use, alcoholism, etc. I think maybe they have more involvement in these hazards because they have all of these other responsibilities on their shoulders. I don’t believe all young adults who make families will fall into these hazards but I do know it is common amongst this group of people. How can these young adults figure out who they are if they are too busy taking care of another human being? This rode can be a hard one and I am speaking from experience. Sometimes these hazards are the easiest way to put on a band aid on all the responsibilities of becoming young parents/families. However that band aid will eventually fall off. From my experience as a fairly young parent I had to start all over. I am barely finding out who I am, at slower rate than I think is considered “normal”. A young parents rode is a hard and slow one to success but not impossible. Ashford, J. B., & LeCroy, C. W. (2013). Young Adulthood. In Human Behavior in the Social Environment (5th ed., p. 507). Belmont, CA: Jon-David Hague.

In Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory, he states that the infant stage is where trust is first developed. During the infant stage if a child is cared for and develop a positive bond with the caregiver, then they may be more trusting of people as they get older, and have a sense of security (p 245). On the other hands some infants do not make a positive bond because they receive inconsistent care and feel rejected. Some of those infants grow up being suspicious and fearful of people in the world.

            Margaret Mahler theory of separation-individuation states that the infant become autonomous the older that they get (p 270).  Mahler view is that as the child gets older they may venture away from the caregiver, but they will always return, or check back and make sure that the caregiver is still there. This may be due to the infant knowing that they can trust the caregiver.

            In comparing these two theories, they can be applied when observing the infant during the assessment phase. If the infant is not attach to the caregiver, and is not affected when they leave then they may have learned that the caregiver is not reliable, therefore they will not be attach to the individual. If the infant wanders away and never look back to see if the caregiver is still there then they have learned to be independent and depend on themselves at this early stage of life. When contrasting these two theories, Erikson theory states that a child will learn trust if cared for on a consistent basis, where Mahler theory says that yes a child may have trust but they eventually learn to be individual and have their own identity outside of the caregiver that have cared for them. In the end the infant grow up to trust themselves more than the individual that may or may not have cared for them.

Reference: Ashford Jose B., Lecroy Craig Winston

Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A Multidimensional Perspective, Fifth Edition

Blog 1-Infancy

Chapter six discussed the importance of attachment between an infant and their primary caregiver (mother). The chapter also revealed many risks that an infant may face later in life, if an attachment is not form with their primary caregiver.  Psychiatrist John Bowlby said attachment has a biological, evolutionary basis, meaning an infant forms a bond with their caregiver to ensure survival.  The interplay between the mothers and infants systems affects both other affective and other psychobiological states (Ashford and Lecroy pg. 267). If an infant does not form a bond with his or her mother, they are at high risk of developing negative relationships/attachments throughout their lives.  Depressed mothers who express they are stressed, may have an infant who develops insecure-avoidant attachment.  A baby tends to match the mothers mood even when other non-depressed adults (pg. 268).  Other parental risk factors that may affect attachment include alcoholism, childhood abuse, neglect, unplanned pregnancy, and mothers who are experiencing domestic violence and their own personal trauma may result less engagement with their infant.  Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development can/should be applied to the infancy population as well. The eight different stages are patterned sequences of stages encompassing appropriate physical, emotional, and cognitive tasks that the individual must master in the struggle to adjust to the demands of the social environment (pg. 99 & 100).  Erikson’s first stage of human development is Trust vs. mistrust (infancy). An infant must appropriately develop a healthy balance between trust and mistrust, but if the infant does not master the stage, Erikson’s theory says not mastering the stage can potentially bring up problems later in the individuals life.   In chapter six, learners became aware of how a negative relationship will have a lasting effect on their child and the importance of forming a healthy attachment with their infant.   

Ashford, J. B., LeCroy, C. W. (2013). Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A Multidimensional Perspective (5th ed.

                The first year of life according to Erik Erikson is the struggle between trust and mistrust (Santrock, 2012).  Erikson theorized that after being in the safe and warm environment of the mother’s womb babies are thrust into a world where things are not as secure for them. The goal of this year according the Erikson is one of trust and mistrust, he also proposed that if trust is not learned in the first year it will become an ongoing issue that is visited over and over again during every stage of development (Santrock, 2012).  One of the key ways babies learn to trust is: consistent feedings that leave baby well fed, being kept warm and comfortable, and sensitive touches (Santrock, 2012). 

            Piaget on the other hand divides the first of life into several stages: reflex activity, primary circular reactions, secondary reactions and coordination of secondary schemes (Ashford & Lecroy, 2013).  During the reflex activity stage, the baby learns of its environment through reflexive actions, this stage is from birth to one month of age.  The next stage is the primary circular reaction, the stage is from one to four months of age, and during this stage the baby learns that reflexes can bring about desirable results and repeats them to get that result (Ashford & Lecroy, 2013).  The third stage within the first year of life is the secondary circular reaction stage, this is when the baby starts to notice the world around them and they start to gain control over their bodies movements, this stage is typically between the fourth and eighth month of life (Ashford & Lecroy, 2013).  The final stage in Piaget’s first year of life is the coordination of secondary schemas, generally it is between the eighth and twelfth month, this is the stage where baby put together a string of tasks to accomplish a goal and the develop object permanence (Ashford & Lecroy, 2013). 

 

Santrock, J.  (2012). Essentials of life-span development. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill

            Company.

Ashford, J. & Lecroy, C. (2013).  Human behavior in the social environment. Belmont, CA:

            Cengage Learning.

B1: Chp. 6 Infancy

I will be discussing Belsky social theory and how it affects infants. In Belsky social theory, circular influences, states that depending on how the parents of said child interact in their marriage has a lot do with how they interact with their child. If caregivers/parents have a bad relationship then it can cause stress which will then affect how they interact with child. Which might eventually affect the baby’s responses. Clarke-Stewart had a different but similar theory. He looked at circular influences in alternative approach. His theory was the mother’s participation with the infant enhances the infant’s growth. Then the infant increases the father partaking which in turn increases the mother’s attentiveness after seeing the father involved. Both believe that the mother is the key to the child’s development which I feel is true to a certain extent. I say that because currently in our society our social norms are constantly changing. Mothers were once the primary caregivers but now it is more common to see fathers also as primary caregivers, stay at home dads. If I had to choose sides I would have to agree more with Belsky social theory. When there is stress in families, parents can take it out on their child(ren). I don’t feel like the child’s attentiveness influences the father’s involvement. A father who WANTS to be there will be there regardless of how much their child interacts with them. I can imagine Belsky theory. The caregivers are too busy dealing with their own problems which causes them to revert their attention to the problems rather than attending child. Ashford, J., & LeCroy, C. (2013). Infancy. In Human behavior in the social environment: A multidimensional perspective (5th ed., p. 279). Belmont, CA: Jon-David Hague.

Ella Carter

SOCW 3339

Theoretical Blog

Infancy

     Over the years there has been a change in how we view babies and their development.  Before the 20^th century infants were seen as “blobs” that couldn’t see, hear, think, or feel.  We know now that babies are highly sensitive.  The experiences they have during early infancy can shape personalities and other characteristics for the rest of their life (Ashford & Lecroy, p.245).

     Erick Erickson’s theory of Psychosocial Development states that we proceed in life through stages of development.  Once we accomplish one stage we progress to another each one building upon the other.  The infancy stage being birth to one year, referred to as trust vs mistrust, Erickson believed this was the most fundamental stage in life.  When infants are given consistent warm and nurturing care it allows them to form positive emotional bonds and social attachments to their care givers.  This attachment to care givers helps babies to develop a sense of self in order to achieve knowledge.  Infants that are not given this warm and nurturing environment, and are neglected develop mistrust.  This type of neglect can prevent or delay cognitive development and hinder movement into other stages (p. 246).

     Piaget’s cognitive theories of development were developed by first observing his own children.  From birth to 2 years of age he considered the sensorimotor stage.  This stage is divided into 6 substages, from the beginning mostly reflex actions to goal directed behavior.  Not only is the infant learning to achieve a desired result through a series of actions they are also growing physically stronger in these accomplishments (lifting of the head is an important milestone).

CA     Using these theories as a guide to direct social workers and educate parents can be useful in determining if an infant may be experiencing difficulties.  It is equally important to recognize that the ages are not set in stone, some babies’ progress at a faster rate than others.  Both of these theories are mutually consistent with each other.  When the environment is warm and nurturing and the infants needs are being met, ultimately this provides fertile ground for cognitive development.

References:

Ashford, J. B., & Lecroy, C. W. (2013).Human Behavior in the Social Environment; A

     Multidimensional Perspective (5^th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

       

Theoretical Blog Assignment

Natalie Ramsey

Theoretical Blog

           Chapter 6 on Infancy seeks to explain/describe the different theories of infant development. One of the leading theorist, Erik Erickson identifies the stage of infancy as trust vs mistrust. His research suggest that children who are nurtured, given care and interacted with will learn to trust and will develop confidence, security, optimism and other attributes of a well-developed human being.  Whereas, infants whose needs are not met, will experience insecurity, worthlessness, and general mistrust in the world. 

           A contrasting theory by Jean Piaget describes how infancy cognitive development takes place. His infancy stage is a sensorimotor stage that lasts from birth to age two. In this stage language and thought are develop. In essence, this stage where an infant starts to develop their five senses and become aware of the world around them.
Considering these two theories one might speculate that Erikson suggest that the emotion development whereas Piaget theories are on how infants brains develop. Both of these theories describe fundamental development of infants and one cannot be said to be more important than the other.  This is foundational to the development of the other stages of growth. If the affects of these vital developmental stages do not take place, theoretically, all other stages remain in jeopardy.

           In cases where children do not receive the emotional development they need, they can show signs of nonorganic failure to thrive, where there is no underlining medical condition. Cases of nonorganic failure to thrive usually have been attributed to emotional deprivation (Ashford & LeCroy, p.274).  In the brain research that has been conducted, it has been shown that an infant’s neurons will double in size by the time he/she is two years of age (Nowakowski R.S.).

 

Reference:

Ashford, J., & LeCroy, C. (2013). Human behavior in the social environment: A multidimensional perspective (5th ed.). Australia: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.

Nowakowski R.S. Stable neurons numbers from cradle to grave. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.2006;103(33):12219-12220

Theoretical Blog Assignment

Leticia Gudino

SOCW 3339

Feb. 17, 2015

                                                              Theoretical Blog

       During infancy babies communicate by crying, cooing, and smiling. When a baby is upset their reaction will be to cry. If a 5 month old is sleeping in his crib and begins to cry the mother’s reaction can have an effect on the child’s development according to Erik Erikson’s stages of development.  The first stage is Infancy which is classified as ages 0 to 18 months old. The challenge in this stage is trust vs mistrust.  In this stage children develop the sense of trust in people they love. If the infant wakes up and starts to cry and his mother does not respond this can lead to the development of mistrust causing the child to unsuccessfully complete this stage. In the other hand, if the mother responds immediately to the infant giving him love and cuddling him, it will lead him to develop trust and the babies needs will be fulfilled. If parents fail to provide a secure environment, children will develop mistrust can grow up to not trust people, suffer from relationship problems and it can affect the rest of their life. (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2010, p.172). Some people believe that by responding to every infants cry by holding them and giving them love can lead to attachment issues. According to John Bowlby’s evolutionary theory of attachment, a baby forms a close intimate relationship with a caregiver to ensure its survival. (Ashford & Lecroy, 2013, p.266).  He believed that if a child had security and trust the child’s emotional stability would be set for life. Children who later in life act up may be a result of not having that attachment during infancy. I believe both Erikson and Bowlby’s theories give a similar result. In Erikson’s theory an infant is forming his identity were as Bowlby’s theory both the child’s and the caregiver’s identity are being defined.

Ashford, J.B., Lecroy, C.W. (2013). Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A                    Multidimensional Perspective.

Kail, R.V., Cavanaugh, J.C. (2010). Human Development a Life-Span View.