PSYC 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: John Colapinto, Jacques Mehler, General Idea

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: James Mac Dougall

Document Summary

Developmental psychology the study of the changes in physiology, cognition and. Development starts in the womb: development starts at the moment of conception, zygote first cell of life. Within 18 hours of birth, birds attach themselves to any adult. Will not go back to biological mother if imprinted to something else: harry harlow described nonhuman attachment. At the time psychologists believed infants needed their mothers. Freudians believed mother was source of libidinal (life or emotional or primarily as food sources sexual) pleasures. Behaviourists believed mother was valued as result of secondary reinforcement (role as food provider) Observing through one way mirror the child, caregiver and friendly but unfamiliar adult in 8 semi-structured episodes in lab playroom. Crux of procedure standard sequence of separations and reunions between child and each adult. Child experiences increasing distress + greater need for caregiver proximity. Extent to which child copes with distress + strategies he uses to indicate quality of child"s attachment to caregiver.