Social & Emotional Development
of Infants
Erik Erikson
• Developmental psychologist
• Professor at Harvard and Yale
• Known for theory of psychosocial development
of human beings
• Greatest innovation= eight stages of
psychosocial development
• 1st stage in this theory= trust vs. mistrust
(infancy- 1 year) where infants learn whether
to trust or mistrust others around them.
Trust vs. Mistrust
• Social development trust is basis of good
relationship with others.
Two ways to build trust in infants:
a) Provide consistent environment.
b) Provide their basic needs consistently.
• Interference Lack of love &
attention may cause failure to grow
& develop optimally aka failure to thrive.
Trust vs. Mistrust
• Emotional development infants
who are frequently held & cuddled
develop feelings of safety, love, & trust.
Infants who aren’t as well-loved feel
confused & not trusting.
This leads to behavior & relationship
problems later in life!
• Interference Bitterness & mistrust in an
infant’s environment interferes w/
healthy development.
Imitation
Emotional
Infants catch the
tone of adults’
moods and respond
with similar moods.
Social
Infants learn to
imitate & adjust the
actions of those
around them.
Search for independence
Emotional
As children learn new
physical skills, such as
walking, they are
developing
independence.
Social
The loving care of
parents help children
to find their own sense
of identity &
independence.
Video clips
• (Child Development milestones)
• (Emotional Development– imitation)