Autonomy Versus Model Of Socioemotional Development

Socioemotional Development

During infancy, a baby acquires a sense of self as begin “other than” the people with whom he she can elicit responses. As toddler becomes a preschooler that self-recognition clarifies into cognitive representational self-understanding which becomes the basis of self-conception. For example, the preschool girl will, at some point, realize that she is different from other children in various ways. Some are boys, some are taller or shorter with different hair and eyes, and some even have different skin color. It is during early childhood that in inner curiosity to explore and experiment with the environment provides the drive for purposefulness (McAdams, 2006) through the successful resolution of the autonomy versus
This is an age of important milestones, beginning with taking the first steps. The delighted approval of parents and family members makes the child feel accepted and motivated for further accomplishments. Successive learned feats such as the first words and (most significantly) toilet training, builds a sense of mastery over motor skills, the ability to communicate, a sense of independence, and ultimately the essential autonomy for successfully resolving future Eriksonian conflicts. The child becomes self-confident with caretaker encouragement, less so with too much discouragement. Corrective discipline establishes boundaries, a sense of “right” and “wrong”, which provide the seeds of conscience and moral development. At this stage, a preschooler’s idea of rules and justice are heteronomous in nature, in that they are unchanging, inflexible, and removed from human control (Santrock, 2015). Excessive discouragement and chastisement, however, can have an inhibitory impact on self-esteem by nurturing an exaggerated sense of guilt and shame that can make it difficult to have healthy relationships
Autonomy can be thought of as independence tempered by self-confidence, emotional regulation, and an inner conscience. Self-confidence will be a foundational trait for learning how to exert control over the environment, how to be acceptable to others, unveil an identity, and how to love during early adulthood (McAdams, 2006). Emotional regulation is important for coping with conflicts that arise during interactions with others in order to remain socially acceptable. Conscience refers to an internalized set of rules that integrate moral thought, feeling, and behavior which provides a standard of morally correct and incorrect conduct. Parenting styles, usually have a direct impact on a child’s moral development and self-esteem. Baumrind (1971, 2012, cited by Santrock, 2015) recommends an authoritative style that is neither punitive nor aloof and teaches children to become independent through reasonable dialogue rather than punishment, neglect, or indulgence. With conscience comes a sense of guilt and shame, which are associated with self-esteem. Together, self-confidence and self-esteem have a major impact on a person’s ability to form social and romantic relationships. Indeed, forming intimate relationships is one of the most important components of self-actualization