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Physical Development in Infancy and Childhood - Sonic.net

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Chapter 4, The Develop<strong>in</strong>g Person 2<br />

<strong>in</strong>formation. In this way, children progress from the simplicity of the<br />

sensorimotor stage <strong>in</strong> the first two years to more complex stages of<br />

th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g, which <strong>in</strong>clude a develop<strong>in</strong>g "theory of m<strong>in</strong>d."<br />

Piaget believed that preschool children, <strong>in</strong> the preoperational stage, are<br />

egocentric <strong>and</strong> unable to perform simple logical operations. At about age 6 or<br />

7 they enter the concrete operational stage <strong>and</strong> can perform concrete<br />

operations, such as those required to comprehend the pr<strong>in</strong>ciple of<br />

conservation. F<strong>in</strong>ally, at about age 12, children enter the formal operational<br />

stage, <strong>in</strong> which abstract reason<strong>in</strong>g is with<strong>in</strong> their grasp.<br />

Recent research <strong>in</strong>dicates that human cognition, regardless of culture, tends<br />

to unfold basically <strong>in</strong> the sequence Piaget proposed. However, young children<br />

are more capable, <strong>and</strong> development more cont<strong>in</strong>uous, than Piaget believed.<br />

The cognitive abilities that emerge at each stage apparently beg<strong>in</strong><br />

develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a rudimentary form <strong>in</strong> the previous stage.<br />

Social <strong>Development</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Infancy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Childhood</strong><br />

Orig<strong>in</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Effects of Attachment<br />

Attachment style <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>fancy predicts later social development. Infants<br />

become attached to their mothers <strong>and</strong> fathers not simply because mothers<br />

<strong>and</strong> fathers gratify biological needs but, more importantly, because they are<br />

comfortable, familiar, <strong>and</strong> responsive. If denied such care, both monkey <strong>and</strong><br />

human <strong>in</strong>fants may become pathetically withdrawn, anxious, <strong>and</strong> eventually<br />

abusive. Once an attachment forms, <strong>in</strong>fants who are separated from their<br />

caregivers will, for a time, be distressed.<br />

Self-Concept <strong>and</strong> Child-Rear<strong>in</strong>g Practices<br />

As with cognitive abilities, a self-concept develops gradually. By 18 months,<br />

<strong>in</strong>fants recognize themselves <strong>in</strong> a mirror. By age 8 or 10, children’s selfimages<br />

are quite stable <strong>and</strong> are l<strong>in</strong>ked with their <strong>in</strong>dependence, optimism,<br />

<strong>and</strong> sociability. Children who develop a positive self-image <strong>and</strong> a happy, selfreliant<br />

manner tend to have been reared by parents who are neither<br />

permissive nor authoritarian, but authoritative while allow<strong>in</strong>g their children a<br />

sense of control. The parent<strong>in</strong>g-competence l<strong>in</strong>k is, however, correlational<br />

<strong>and</strong> does not expla<strong>in</strong> cause <strong>and</strong> effect.

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