How does a warm and nurturant home influence' social and personality development?

Studies have shown that early social attachment form the basis of close interpersonal relations in adulthood (Bowlby, 1973). Poor mothering, repeated separations of parents from child, marriage break-ups, limited interactions with other children, may disrupt normal development.

Kathy Malabanan - Siytangco a Filipino parent, has this to say about her two children Brian, three, and Steven, one year old on mothering. (Weekend Magazine, October 1980).

These days, I'm busy with my bibingka stand and a gift shop in Tropical Hut, while Joseph is occupied with some projects. But as much as possible, we try to take our children with us so that they will see what we are working on, and understand why. This early, we try to make them feel responsible already. When the boys spill something, they themselves have to wipe it. When they remove their shoes, they have to put them back where they belong.

Attachment which is a natural tendency to seek closeness to particular people make infants feel more secure. This is also observed among the young of other species to show attachment to their mother in different ways. Example: Infant monkeys cling to their mother's chest; puppies try to reach the warm belly of their mother; ducklings and chicks follow their mother about. Attachment is an early unlearned response to the mother. Among the early years has been related to an inability to develop close personal relationships in later life.

In the Philippines, a lot of young parents are now working outside the home. The reason is basically economic; living standards are getting higher and parents have to earn more to make both ends meet. Others have some sort of business or career. Thus, the need for "yayas" have grown through the years because they have become a necessity.

Observations made on the "yaya system" show that children are apt to follow whatever their "yayas" do. You see this in their behavior like mannerisms, language and even on their personalities. The child identifies herself with the yaya and becomes less attached to the often times absent mother. So she looks up to her yaya instead.

Normally, attachment reaches a peak of about age 2. Then the child become progressively willing to be separated from the mother until about age 3 when he feels sufficiently secure in the absence of the mother. He is now ready to interact with other children and adults.

Why is interaction with other children is important?

Children also learn many of their social skills by interacting with siblings and peers. They learn to enjoy each other's acting, give and take, share fun, and understand how another child feels.

What conclusions may be drawn on parent-child relationships?

1. Competent and self-reliant children are produced by parents who are:

a) fairly firm and consistent in their expectations of how their children should behave,

b) warm and affectionate to their children, and who

c) respect their children's opinion.

2. Parents who are more concerned of the needs of their children than their own, produce offspring who become secure and confident in their approach to new situations or other people.

3. Children are apt to identify with parents and adults who are warm and nurturant and viewed as similar to them in some way. This is explained in the process known as identification.

What are sex role standards?

Masculine and feminine behavior is culturally determined and vary from society to society. Roles of men and women differ. Sex-roles are approved behavior in which men and women are expected to behave. These are transmitted in large part by parents, at an early age by treating children differently on their sex. This can be seen in play activities, toys, and "attire" for daily wear or special occasions.

How sexual development characterized?

1. The period of transition from childhood is known as adolescence. It extends roughly from 12 to late teens.

2. At the onset of adolescence, youngsters experience a period of rapid physical growth, known as growth spurt. This is accompanied by the gradual development of secondary sex characteristics. The changes that occur cover a period of 2 years.

3. Puberty is marked by menstruation in girls and by the appearance of live sperm cells in the urine of boys.

4.Generally, girls mature earlier by 2 years than the boys. Some adolescents mature early while others mature late than the average.

Why do adolescents experience role confusion as in, "identity crisis"?

According to Erikson role confusion is that stage of development wherein the adolescent in faced by various identification which have not been harmonized and integrated in himself.

The search for personal identity is one of the major tasks faced by the adolescent. He tries to evaluate the values and beliefs of his parents, teachers, and peers to produce a unified self-picture. When these valued are not consistent, he experiences role confusion and this is seen in trying out one social role after another, until he realizes his personality identity.

The search for identity can be resolved in many ways. Some adolescents after a period of experimentation and soul searching, commit themselves to a life goal and work for it. Others do not experience "identity crisis". Adolescents who accept their parents' values proceed toward a career consistent with their own parents.

How is development seen as a life-long process?

Development is a continuous process from birth to old age. Erikson proposed 8 stages. He called them psychosocial stages because he believes that the development depends on social relations established at different points in one's life. The 8 stages are:

1. first year of life
2. second year
3. third through fifth years
4. sixth year to puberty
5. adolescence
6. early adulthood
7. middle adulthood
8. the aging years