Presented By: Research Center for Group Dynamics (RCGD)
RCGD Fall Seminar Series on the Science of Social Relationships: Melissa Sturge-Apple
Parenting in Contexts: The Value of Function in the Caregiving System
Melissa Sturge-Apple of the University of Rochester joins the RCGD Seminar Series on the Science of Social Relationships.
Over decades, parenting researchers have successfully conceptualized and empirically documented the various forms of caregiving along with their etiological roots and implications for child development outcomes. However, much of this work has relied on top-down approaches that define and distinguish socialization and caregiving constructs based largely or solely on their physical form, and by extension, primarily categorizing parenting into ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ behavioral dichotomies. The result of this is a lack of precision or specificity in determinants and sequelae. As a field, we have still not successfully addressed limitations identified 20 years ago by Collins (2005): “Perhaps most important for future research, the present framework is a timely reminder of the importance of moving beyond global associations toward divergent predictions, thus avoiding the frequent, but only somewhat informative, conclusion that good things go together and bad things go together (p. 144).” Behavioral systems models can address this gap by more precisely identifying parental socialization goals and the behavioral strategies for achieving those goals within specific child-rearing contexts. This talk will present how “form (what it looks like)” and “function (what it is designed to do)” in behavioral systems conceptualizations of caregiving can provide greater specificity in parenting behaviors with children. Moreover, the talk will discuss observational approaches to assessing different caregiving domains, mothers' and fathers' caregiving, and the pitfalls and promises of this approach.
About the series:
Humans are social animals and from the earliest days of life, are dependent on the quality of social relationships with significant others: family, kin, friends, and a growing social network of online acquaintances. But, how do we conduct research and come to understand the social processes transpiring in these significant social connections with others? What are the consequences for individual development and mental health outcomes of having close intimate relationships in one’s life? There is also a darker side to some relationships in the form of violence, aggression, and conflict. How do we study these processes? Social media and artificial intelligence have opened up new ways of thinking about “what is a social relationship?” and how many of these “friends” can one truly have.
The speakers for this series will focus on different types of social relationships, spanning family and parent-child relationships, friendships, peer networks, romantic relationships, attachment relationships, and the use of online media to maintain social connections. Although several speakers are senior scholars with extensive research backgrounds in the field, many are junior scholars who are traversing new paths into the science of social relationships. Please join us Mondays to learn more about the exciting field of social relationships!
These events are held Mondays from 3:30 to 5.
In person: ISR Thompson 1430, unless otherwise specified.
Organized by Brenda Volling and Richard Gonzalez.
As permissions allow, seminars are later posted to our YouTube playlist.
Over decades, parenting researchers have successfully conceptualized and empirically documented the various forms of caregiving along with their etiological roots and implications for child development outcomes. However, much of this work has relied on top-down approaches that define and distinguish socialization and caregiving constructs based largely or solely on their physical form, and by extension, primarily categorizing parenting into ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ behavioral dichotomies. The result of this is a lack of precision or specificity in determinants and sequelae. As a field, we have still not successfully addressed limitations identified 20 years ago by Collins (2005): “Perhaps most important for future research, the present framework is a timely reminder of the importance of moving beyond global associations toward divergent predictions, thus avoiding the frequent, but only somewhat informative, conclusion that good things go together and bad things go together (p. 144).” Behavioral systems models can address this gap by more precisely identifying parental socialization goals and the behavioral strategies for achieving those goals within specific child-rearing contexts. This talk will present how “form (what it looks like)” and “function (what it is designed to do)” in behavioral systems conceptualizations of caregiving can provide greater specificity in parenting behaviors with children. Moreover, the talk will discuss observational approaches to assessing different caregiving domains, mothers' and fathers' caregiving, and the pitfalls and promises of this approach.
About the series:
Humans are social animals and from the earliest days of life, are dependent on the quality of social relationships with significant others: family, kin, friends, and a growing social network of online acquaintances. But, how do we conduct research and come to understand the social processes transpiring in these significant social connections with others? What are the consequences for individual development and mental health outcomes of having close intimate relationships in one’s life? There is also a darker side to some relationships in the form of violence, aggression, and conflict. How do we study these processes? Social media and artificial intelligence have opened up new ways of thinking about “what is a social relationship?” and how many of these “friends” can one truly have.
The speakers for this series will focus on different types of social relationships, spanning family and parent-child relationships, friendships, peer networks, romantic relationships, attachment relationships, and the use of online media to maintain social connections. Although several speakers are senior scholars with extensive research backgrounds in the field, many are junior scholars who are traversing new paths into the science of social relationships. Please join us Mondays to learn more about the exciting field of social relationships!
These events are held Mondays from 3:30 to 5.
In person: ISR Thompson 1430, unless otherwise specified.
Organized by Brenda Volling and Richard Gonzalez.
As permissions allow, seminars are later posted to our YouTube playlist.
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