Development of Self (DP IB Psychology: HL): Exam Questions

Explain the role of enculturation with reference to one example of human behaviour.

Daniel is a 15-year-old boy who has lived in multiple foster homes since early childhood. During his first two years of life, he experienced inconsistent caregiving and long periods with little emotional interaction.

At school, Daniel struggles to form close friendships and often avoids trusting others. Teachers report that he has difficulty regulating his emotions, becomes easily frustrated, and shows little empathy toward peers. He also finds it hard to seek help from adults and prefers to deal with problems alone.

With reference to this scenario, explain how disrupted early attachment may affect Daniel’s social and emotional development.

You are working as a consultant for a local childcare centre. They want to ensure their staff understand how to form strong emotional bonds with infants to support their long-term social development.

Explain how Bowlby’s theory of attachment could be used to achieve this goal.