Problem 1: Define the term attachment as it is used in psychology. Explain how attachment reflects a dynamic interplay between an infant and his/her caregiver. Finally, describe the behavior of securely attached infants in Ainsworth's strange situation.
Problem 2: A local community center asks you to give a presentation to parents-to-be on out-of-home care and its potential influence on child development. What points might you include in your presentation? Make explicit reference to the prevalence of out-of-home care and to the effects of the child's background, the quality of the care, and the amount of time spent in out-of-home care.
Problem 3: Select either (a) Baumrind's four parenting styles or (b) the first four Erikson stages of psychosocial development occurring during childhood. Name each style or stage and provide a brief vignette or "case study" of a child exhibiting each style or stage. You may have to look outside of the text to find the four parenting styles.
Problem 4: Briefly explain the (4) various stages of cognitive development put forward by Piaget.
Problem 5: How does the reality of late adulthood differ from the stereotypes of aging imparted by Western culture? Make reference to patterns of physical, cognitive, and social development in your answer.