Submitted by: Hafsa Ahsan

SAP ID: 60470

MS Semester 1
Course: Child Development
Submitted to: Dr. Nazia Mumtaz
Assignment 3
Topic: Theoretical impact on the child and the family (Emotional and social
development pattern)
Introduction

Emotional and social development in children is an extremely important part of their overall growth
and well-being. This development in uences a child's self-con dence, empathy, the ability to
develop meaningful and lasting friendships and partnerships, and a sense of importance and value to
those around him/her. Typically developing children follow a predictable pattern of emotional and
social development, and the theoretical impact of these patterns on both the child and the family can
be profound and multifaceted.

Theoretical Frameworks

Several theories provide a framework for understanding emotional and social development:

1. Erikson's Psychosocial Theory: Erik Erikson's eight-stage theory emphasises the impact of
social experience across the lifespan. It implies that personality develops in a predetermined
order through eight stages of psychosocial development, from infancy to adulthood. During
each stage, the person experiences a psychosocial crisis that could positively or negatively
affect personality development. (Erikson, 1950).

2. Bowlby's Attachment Theory: John Bowlby emphasised the importance of early

relationships, particularly with primary caregivers, in shaping emotional development.
Secure attachment leads to better emotional regulation and social competence (Bowlby,
1988).

3. Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory: Jean Piaget highlighted the role of cognitive
development in social understanding. As children grow, they move from egocentric thinking
to understanding others' perspectives, which is crucial for social interactions (Piaget, 1962).
This way any child. Proceeds to grasping the concept of what other people’s actions and
emotions mean and how to act accordingly.

4. Bandura's Social Learning Theory: Albert Bandura proposed that children learn social
behaviours through observation and imitation of others, particularly parents and peers.
Children look up to those who surround them, these people are the role models who become
the acting and maintaining gures of the child’s socio-emotional development (Bandura,
1977).

These theoretically expressed patterns have a great impact on both the child and parents overall.
These impacts will be explained in detail below individually. If all the development occurs
positively via the above mentioned theoretical frameworks, the child’s socio-emotional
development impacts positively in their lives.

Impact on the Child

The emotional and social development patterns signi cantly impact a child's overall development.

1. Self-Esteem and Con dence: A child's ability to handle social and emotional milestones
can contribute signi cantly to the development of self-con dence and self–esteem. Children
who develop self-con dence and competence feel more con dent and better about their
abilities (Erikson, 1950).The academic setting fosters a sense of trust that leads to
emotionally and socially capable children being more engaged and performing well.
fi
fi
fi
fi
fl
fi
fi
fi
fi
 2. Emotional Regulation: Controlling emotions is very important for mental health. Children
with strong emotion regulation skills are better able to cope with stress and challenges
(Kochanska, 2001).By effectively managing emotions, children can prevent behavioral
issues and build resilience to handle failures and disappointments in a healthy manner.

3. Social Competence: Developing social skills like cooperation, empathy, and

communication is essential for forming healthy relationships. Social competence is linked to
better academic performance and overall well-being (Goleman, 1995). Children who are
socially competent are more likely to form meaningful friendships, which can provide
support and enhance their sense of belonging and happiness.

4. Behavioural Adjustment: Emotional and social development affects a child's behavior both
at home and at school.Children who exhibit good social and emotional skills are less prone
to behavioral problems and better adapted to different social environments (Steinberg, This
adaptation is crucial for their integration into society and functioning in different social
contexts.

Impact on the Family

The emotional and social development of children also has undeniable implications for the family.
The development is signi cantly impacted by the following points which in-turn also affects the
parents simultaneously.

1. Parental Role: Parents are crucial in nurturing their child's growth. Demonstrating warmth,
responsiveness, and appropriate behaviors is vital for fostering healthy emotional and social
development (Bandura, 1977). Active involvement in a child's life, including participating in
activities together and providing emotional support, promotes positive growth and
strengthens family bonds.

2. Family Dynamics: A child's development can signi cantly in uence family dynamics. For
instance, a securely attached child contributes to a positive family environment, while
behavioral issues may strain family relationships (Bowlby, 1988). Emotional or social
development challenges in a child can cause stress and frustration for parents and siblings,
affecting the overall harmony within the family.

3. Stress and Support: The family must adapt to the changing needs of the child at different
developmental stages. This can be stressful, but a supportive family environment promotes
resilience and coping skills in children (Steinberg, 2001). Open communication within the
family helps address issues promptly and fosters a nurturing environment that supports
emotional growth.

4. Educational Involvement: Families play a signi cant role in a child's education. A child's
emotional and social development can in uence their engagement and success in school,
which in turn affects the family's involvement in their academic journey. Positive
development in these areas can lead to better school performance, increased parental
involvement, and a stronger emphasis on the value of education within the family (Piaget,
1962).

5. Cultural and Social In uences: The family's cultural and social context can impact how
emotional and social development is nurtured. Different cultural backgrounds may
emphasise various aspects of development, such as collectivism versus individualism, which
can shape the child's social interactions and emotional responses (Bowlby, 1988).
fl
fi
fl
fi
fi
fl
 Understanding these in uences can help families support their children in culturally
sensitive ways.

Conclusion

It is undeniably true to state that there is unwavering impact of the social and
emotional development stages on both the child and the family. All the theories hold
immense importance in showing how the changes can occur in the child as a result of
a positively fostering environment. However, if the environment is opposed to the
positives then the development would be vice versa of the above expressed impacts.
Therefore, to shape a complete and blooming socio-emotional developmental
pathway, the parental and social roles need to be folded according to the desires of
the parents. The child learns and acquires what is present and not what is expected.
fl
References

• Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Prentice Hall.

• Bowlby, J. (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human
Development. Basic Books.
• Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and Society. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam
Books.
• Kochanska, G. (2001). Emotional development in children with different attachment
histories: The rst three years. Child Development, 72(2), 474-490.
• Piaget, J. (1962). The Moral Judgment of the Child. Free Press.
• Steinberg, L. (2001). We know some things: Parent-adolescent relationships in retrospect
and prospect. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 11(1), 1-19.
fi