Life Span Development

Life Span Development Abstract This paper is concerned with summarizing the main argumentative points of the study â€Å"Attachment, exploration, and separation: Illustrated by the behavior of one-year-olds in a strange situation† by Mary Ainsworth and Silvia Bell (1970), and with outlying what can be considered the study’s main strengths/weaknesses.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Life Span Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The paper’s main idea is that, even though the mentioned article does contain a number of insights into the concerned subject matter, there are nevertheless a few weaknesses to it, as well. Introduction/Thesis statement One of the main preconditions that makes it possible for psychologists to choose in favor of a proper intervention-approach, when it comes to ensuring a healthy balance between the attachment-seeking and exploration-seeking anxieties in a young child, is their aware ness of the mentioned anxieties’ actual nature. In this respect, the study â€Å"Attachment, exploration, and separation: Illustrated by the behavior of one-year-olds in a strange situation† by Mary Ainsworth and Silvia Bell (1970) comes in rather indispensable. The reason for this is that this study effectively exposes the anxieties in question, as having been predetermined biologically by the laws of evolution. The authors also succeeded in establishing the discursive implications of the empirical data, obtained during the course of their study. In this paper, I will explore the validity of the above-stated at length, while also indicating what can be considered the study’s methodological weaknesses. (This is as clear, as it can be. We talk 4-page paper here – there is no way to have it expanded). Summary of the article The main idea that is being promoted by Ainsworth and Bell (1970) is that there is nothing ‘phenomenological’ in how infan ts go about forming the emotional attachments with their mothers, on one hand, and striving to explore the surrounding reality, on the other. According to the authors, the presence of these seemingly contradictory desires in a child is being reflective of the fact that he or she remains on the path of a thoroughly normal psycho-cognitive development.Advertising Looking for coursework on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is specifically the genetic factors, which make it possible for the representatives of our species to adapt to the environmental changes, as they continue to evolve, in the evolutionary sense of this word (Ainsworth Bell, 1970). Being utterly helpless, infants solely depend on their mothers. However, they are also being genetically ‘programmed’ to explore the world (when the nearby presence of their mothers is ensured), as the main prerequisite to be able to get out of the s tate of infancy (‘weakness’). To test the validity of such their hypothesis, Ainsworth and Bell conducted a longitudinal naturalistic investigation (over the sample of 56 infants, with their age ranging from 49 to 51 week-old) of how the externally applied stimuli affects the attachment-seeking and exploration-seeking behavioral patterns in a child. As the investigation’s empirically obtained data indicates, the selected infants did tend to exhibit an attraction towards the ‘novelty’ (strange situation), for as long as they were sure of their mothers’ nearby presence, â€Å"One of the conditions which facilitates approach and exploration of the novel is the presence, in reasonable but not necessarily close proximity, of the mother the object of attachment† (Ainsworth Bell, 1970, p. 60). It was also established that the exploration-seeking behavior, on the part a child, substantially weakens if he or she experiences the absence (remote ness) of an attachment-figure (mother), â€Å"Absence of the mother tends to tip the balance in the opposite direction with a substantial heightening of attachment behavior and concomitant lessening of exploration† (Ainsworth Bell, 1970, p. 61). What it is particularly notable, in this respect, is that such a behavioral pattern appears to be fully consistent with how infant-monkeys act, while placed under the similar set of circumstances. This, of course, implies the methodological appropriateness of the positivist method of making inquiries into what accounts for the mechanics of the young child’s behavior. In addition, it suggests that the would-be-applied intervention strategies (concerned with adjusting the child’s act to be emotionally balanced) can never cease being observant of the fact that, in order for us to be able to understand one’s reactions to the externally applied stimuli, we need to have a clear vision of what may account for these reac tions’ evolutionary function. (It is unclear from the comment what the professor implies).Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Life Span Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Critique of the article There can be only a few doubts that the study in question does represent a great value, as such that contains a number of insights into what causes small children to behave in one way or another, while facing the strange. Probably the main insight, in this respect, is concerned with the fact that, as the study indicates, in order for infants to be able to ensure their ‘evolutionary fitness’, they must be provided with the opportunity to enjoy the company of what happened to be their ‘attachment figures’ (mothers). After all, the concerned study does show that the notions of ‘attachment’ and ‘exploration’ (in regards to the behavioral patterns in a child), do organically derive out of each other. The implication of this is quite clear – it represents the matter of a crucial importance to ensure that small infants are able to form an emotional attachment with their parents (specifically, mothers) early in life. The reason for this is that without ‘attachment’, there can be no ‘exploration’, and consequently – no thoroughly normal psycho-cognitive development, on the part of a young child. What I also find utterly valuable about the study in question, is that it promotes the idea that, in order for psychologists to be able to gain an in-depth understanding of the workings of one’s psyche, they must be willing to refer to the representatives of Homo Sapiens species, as to what they really are – namely, ‘hairless apes’. Even though this particular implication of the concerned study may appear somewhat ‘unethical’, it does not make it less discursively legitim ate. (In the sense of how it relates to the currently dominant socio-cultural discourse of post-modernity). Nevertheless, there are also a few drawbacks to the study in question. The main of them appears to be the fact that the sample of 56 infants (who participated in the experiment) can hardly be considered thoroughly cross-sectional (in the sociological sense of this word) – especially, if we take into consideration that all of them happened to be White.Advertising Looking for coursework on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This, of course, undermines the would-be universal applicability of the study’s conclusions. What also undermines the study’s scientific legitimacy is that, methodologically speaking, it is unnecessary complex. Obviously enough, the authors tried a little too hard striving to ensure the scientific soundness of the investigated subject matter – hence, the hardly understandable formulas/graphs, contained in the study. (I do not deny the appropriateness of graphs; I simply suggest that the empirical phase of the research could have been more efficient). Even though Ainsworth and Bell do deserve to be given a credit, on the account of attempting to ensure the study’s methodological integrity, the researched matter’s qualitative nature suggests that they would be better off having refrained from adopting such an approach. After all, the investigation’s empirically obtained data is far from being considered counterintuitive. Quite on the contrary – it correlates rather well with what one’s commonsense logic tells about the mechanics of how a child reacts to the ‘strange’. We do not talk nuclear physics here. Conclusion I believe that that the deployed line of argumentation, in regards to what appears to be the reviewed study’s discursive significance, is thoroughly consistent with the paper’s initially provided thesis. (As I mentioned earlier, due to what was the paper’s page-wise format, I was simply in no position to provide an extended conclusion). Reference Ainsworth, M.S., Bell, S.M. (1970). Attachment, exploration, and separation: Illustrated by the behavior of one-year olds in a strange situation. Child Development, 41(1), 49-67.

4 Rules For Creating Awesome Content Your Audience Loves

4 Rules For Creating Awesome Content Your Audience Loves I know you’re not just another aimless blogger (or podcaster, video maker, [insert  what you do  here]) looking to clutter up the Internet. You have a specific purpose behind your content. You want to create content  that is valuable for your audience and grows your business. That’s the good news. The bad news is that, even with a noble purpose like that one, it’s really hard to get your content noticed. 4 Rules For Creating Awesome #ContentMarketing Your Audience Will Love via @sonjajobsonNo one is looking for plain old â€Å"accurate† or â€Å"relevant† content anymore. They don’t have to look for it because it’s flooding their inbox and social streams constantly, like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Your audience wants something more. They want content that not only provides accurate and relevant information, but something that applies to their specific situation, something they can relate with, and something that helps them make real, significant improvement in their life. Whether you’re aiming to teach, inspire, or entertain with your content, use the following 4 rules to create content  that your audience will love, share, and come back for. No one looks for accurate or relevant #content. Thats everywhere. Yours has to be better.Rule #1 – Not All Topics Are Created Equal Your readers are very picky. And why shouldn’t they be? Somewhere around 2 million blog posts are written every day. That’s a heckuva lot of content to choose from. So when it comes to picking a topic for your next blog post or video, it’s worth putting in a little extra time- and research- to get it right. And there’s one more thing to consider: A content topic that sounds great to you might not sound great to your audience. In order to stand out from the sea of content we’re all swimming in, you need to get inside your readers head. And here’s how to do it. Step 1: Stop confusing â€Å"audience† with â€Å"peers†. Sometimes when we sit down to create content, we accidentally slip into peer-mode. This is when we  create content that we  think will be impressive in our  industry. The problem is this: Content that impresses others inside  our industry isnt necessarily what will impress our  audience. Make sure you’re addressing topics that will help your viewers, not your peers. A topic that sounds great to you might not sound great to your audience. #blogging #contentmarketingStep 2: Do some Internet stalking. The very best way to find out what your audience really wants to know about is to go straight to the source. Look at questions your readers are asking, the problems they are struggling with, and the solutions they are searching for. Scour the comments sections on other related blogs to see what people are asking about. Check out QA websites like Qu0ra and Yahoo! Answers. Scan  profiles on social media for complaints, questions, or rants. This is all fodder for your next irresistible piece of content. Research  questions, problems, struggles, and solutions. #contentmarketing #bloggingStep 3: Look before you write (or record). Most topics have already been written about. It’s really hard to come up with a 100% original idea to create content on, so I’m not going to suggest you try and do that. But you should avoid creating content that is nearly interchangeable with what’s already out there. So after youve decided on a topic, do a quick Google search to turn up other content written on the subject. Ask yourself, â€Å"how can I improve on what’s already being said?† and â€Å"were there any questions left unanswered in that post/video/etc.?† and â€Å"how can I put my own spin on this subject?† Connect with your audience by improving on the #content that already exists. #contentmarketingRule #2 – Relate With Your Audience Earlier, we talked about how there is an abundance of blog  posts written every day, and how almost every topic has already been written about. This has led to a very important shift in what people are looking for online. Instead of searching only for accurate information and helpful tips, they are looking for those things piled on top of a style, personality, or a view point they can relate to. Your audience might have read a dozen blog posts on how to choose the right color paint for their kitchen remodel, but they might not really get it until they hear it from you. Your unique perspective, background, opinions, and personality will make your content unique. It won’t appeal to everyone, but it will appeal very strongly to those that relate with you (aka your dream customers or readers). So how, exactly, do you tap into what makes you you in order to create content that your readers can relate with? Start by getting comfortable showing some vulnerability. Get vulnerable with your audience. Share  opinions, values, and failures. #bloggingWhen we put our opinions, values, past failures (and even successes) out there, we open ourselves up to some degree of push back. But we also open ourselves up to a whole new level of connection with our audience. People can find facts anywhere- what they really want is the story. Your story. Rule #3 – Stay Focused Youve probably heard the expression that people have the attention span of a goldfish online. It’s true that almost all of your visitors have their cursor hovering over the back button, so it’s vital that you find a way to capture and keep their attention. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to stay focused. Bunny trails, long-winded introductions, and off-topic side notes are great ways to lose your visitor’s attention. Choose one very specific  topic for each piece of content, and then stick to it. If you try to tackle a topic that’s too large, you’ll feel yourself drifting from point to point. Bunny trails, long-winded introductions, and off-topic side notes lose attention. #bloggingHere’s a trick for making sure your content is focused: Identify the outcome you want for your audience after they view  your content. What one thing do you want them to learn, understand, or get inspired about? At every paragraph, bullet point, and sub-header, ask yourself â€Å"does this help my visitor accomplish that one specific goal?† Does every paragraph, bullet point, and sub-header help your audience accomplish a specific goal? #4 – Give Them An Easy Win Remember the outcome you identified a minute ago for your audience to achieve after viewing your content? This is the step where you drive that home and create  content so valuable that your audience will love it, share it, and come back for more. We know that valuable content should help our audience achieve something (whether it’s a specific goal, a lifestyle change, or even a mindset shift), but achieving it is often a process. We all tend to resist starting a new process- whether it’s for a lack of time, motivation, or courage- so how can you help people act on your content? The simple answer: Make it ridiculously simple to do so. The actual process of achieving the outcome your content was created to produce might take a while (say, losing weight), so break the process down and identify one, tiny step your audience can take in that direction. For our â€Å"losing weight† example, maybe this small step is identifying one thing they could do today to eat just a little bit healthier or get in an extra 10 minutes of exercise. Choose something very small that your audience can do for an easy win. It will build momentum toward that goal. This transforms your content from something abstract into something actionable.