1. Theories of Psychological Development
Chapter 5 (page 177)

2. What is a theory?
• A psychological theory explains how and
why certain things occur, usually on the
basis of scientific evidence.

3. Psychological theories
• There is no single theory of development
that is so comprehensive or broad that it
can explain all areas of development
across the entire lifespan.
• Most theories of psychological
development focus on one specific aspect
or area of development.

4. Gibson’s theory of
Perceptual Development
Affordances and Differentiation

5. Gibson’s theory of perceptual development
• Infant’s role = Active explorer in their world.
▫ Monitors what is happening in its environment
and actively searches for and obtains information.
The infant then uses this information to guide its
actions. These abilities gradually develop and are
refined through experience over time with
incoming sensory information.
= Perceptual development.

6. Gibson’s theory of perceptual development
• An important feature of perceptual
development: exploration and search for
affordances of the environment:
▫ The affordance (perceived qualities) of objects
or events that are experienced.
▫ Differentiation is the ability to selectively
perceive differences between things the
environment.

7. Gibson’s theory of perceptual development
Small
Furry
Four legs
It’s a rabbit!
Another rabbit!
Long ears Small ears
It’s a cat.
AFFORDANCESDIFFERENTIATIO
N

8. Gibson’s theory of perceptual development
Video: Pots and pans.
• We become more efficient at differentiation
through active exploration.
▫ Experience and ongoing interaction with things in
the environment.
• The older we get, the more experienced and
familiar we are with the environment.
Therefore, become better at differentiation.
• i.e. our perceptual development and our ability
to differentiate is age-related.

9. Gibson’s theory of perceptual development
• Question: Why is differentiation an important
skill that children must have before they can
learn to read?
Video: Sesame Street.

10. Emotional Development
Attachment theory

11. Emotional Development
• Mid 20th century, some psychologists observed
that children who had spent their early years in
orphanages (where they received minimal
care, attention, and physical contact)
experienced emotional difficulties in their later
years and into adulthood.
▫ Hypothesis: Psychological bond, or
attachment, between infants and their caregivers
is important in emotional development

13. Attachment theory
• From the moment of birth, infants depend on the
people around them for their survival.
• Their caregiver responds whenever the infant indicates
(often by crying) that they are
hungry, cold, tired, uncomfortable, or has other needs.
• Over time, the infant develops an emotional connection
with the people who respond to its needs.
• This process is called attachment.

14. Attachment theory
• Attachment: The tendency of infants to form an
emotional bond to another person, usually with
those who are most closely involved with them.
▫ Psychologists believe that the attachment(s) formed
during infancy has a considerable influence on a
person’s emotional development throughout the
lifespan.

15. 4 key characteristics of strong attachment
(Bowlby)
Show video of the strange situation
What are some indicators of attachment?
(Ainsworth)

16. Types of Attachment
• Infants can form different types of attachment
with their caregivers.
• The strength of each of these attachments
depends on how sensitive and responsive the
caregiver(s) is to the infant’s needs.
• Two main categories: Secure and insecure.

17. Secure Attachment
• Balance between dependence and exploration.
• Infant uses caregiver as a ‘home’ (or safe base)
where they can explore unfamiliar environment.
• Show distress and decreases exploration when
caregiver is not there. When caregiver
returns, infant is enthusiastic and seeks physical
contact with them.
• Feel safe and able to depend on their caregiver.
• About 65% 1-year-olds in this category.

18. Insecure Attachment: Resistant
• Infant appears anxious even when their
caregiver is near.
• Become very upset when separated from
caregiver. When the caregiver returns, the infant
approaches them, cries to be picked up, then
squirms or fights to get free (unsure what it
really wants).
• Result from caregivers who are not very
responsive to their infant’s needs.
• About 12% of 1-year-olds in this category.

19. Insecure Attachment: Avoidant
• Infant does not seek closeness or contact with
caregiver, treats them much like a stranger.
• Infant rarely cries when caregiver leaves the
room and ignores the caregiver upon their
return.
• May be the result of neglectful or abusive
caregivers.
• 20% 1-year-olds in this category.

20. Strange situation test
• Stranger anxiety: infant’s wariness or
cautiousness when a stranger (unfamiliar adult) is
present.
• Separation anxiety: Indicated by an infant’s
distress when they are separated from their main
caregiver.
How do you think early attachment
experiences would influence an individual’s
later emotional wellbeing (adulthood)?

21. How human attachments form
• Humans have a biological/inherited need to
form attachments.
▫ Infants give attachment signals:
Crying, smiling, gazing, vocalising, clinging
(inherited abilities to get attention)
▫ Caregivers respond with nurturing behaviours.
• Attachment is a two-way relationship.
• Sensitive (or critical) period = First year of life.

22. Factors influencing attachment
The sensitive responsiveness of the caregiver.
• Mothers with securely attached infants:
▫ Quick to respond to infant’s crying (attachment
signal), and more able to accurately identify the cause
of crying, and the remedy required.
• Mothers with insecurely attached infants:
▫ Lack awareness of what their infants were feeling or
needing. Less physical contact with infants.
Caregiving activities revolve more around mother’s
interest/mood. Less interested in mothering.

23. Factors influencing attachment
The sensitive responsiveness of the caregiver.
General attitude towards parenting, influenced by:
• Relationship between the parents
• Involvement of others in the parenting
• The number of other children
• Being in paid employment
• Adequacy of the family income and housing

24. Factors influencing attachment
Characteristics of the infant:
• Infant’s personal characteristics can influence a
caregiver’s responsiveness and appropriateness of
the response made.
• How do you think the caregiver would emotionally
and physically respond to each baby?
▫ Baby 1: Cheerful, relaxed, adaptable, has regular
pattern of eating, eliminating, and sleeping.
▫ Baby 2: Moody, tense, fussy, irregular habits.

25. Group activities
1. Play School! Using Gibson’s theory of
perceptual development, and your
understanding of affordances and
differentiation, create a mini playschool scene
to assist children in their perceptual
development.
2. Indicators of attachment (page. 188)
3. Secure attachment
4. Insecure attachment: Avoidant
5. Insecure attachment: Resistant