The research on the impact of temperament on development
Summarize the research on the impact of temperament on development. This should include how it might shape our interactions with parents, peers, and in the school environment.
Summarize the research concerning the impact of parents. This should include the formation of secure/insecure attachments during infancy and the impact this may have on later development.
Summarize the impact of parenting styles and ongoing monitoring during middle childhood and adolescence on development.
Summarize the research on the impact of peers, including early play, friendships, and the negative side of peer interactions (e.g., rejection and bullying) on development.
Consider the arguments of Harris in Gladwell’s blog post, “Do Parents Matter?”
Consider the relative influence of all these factors in the prompt as you state your educated opinion of whether or not parents “matter.”
Sample Solution
The research on the impact of temperament on development
Temperament refers to individual characteristics that are assumed to have a biological basis and that determine the individual`s affective, attentional and motor responses in various situations. For example, temperament can affect young children`s mood and emotions, how they approach and react to situations, sadness and discomfort, etc. A child with a short attention span and who is very impulsive is likely to experience difficulties in learning situations either at home or at pre-school groups (Tizard and Hughes, 1984). Temperamental variation influences the parent`s response to the child. The goodness of fit between a child`s temperament and parental style can have an impact on the child`s attachment and long-term social adjustment. Temperament can influence a child`s vulnerability to the adverse effects of life events.
