DEP 4005‑Developmental Psychology Christine Ruva

VIDEO: The Case of Missy

This videotape begins with sections of an interview with a 10‑year‑old girl conducted at a 4‑week summer day camp program. The interview illustrates her remarkable social perceptiveness and sensitivity, self‑confidence, vitality, and engaging social style. The video explores what leads to this type of development; how early the roots of positive social adaptation can be seen.

Background: Missy's mother was a teenager when she was born. Missy experienced a network of warm, supportive relationships since infancy. Her parents support each other and they, in turn, maintain close relationships with their own families of origin. Missy is part of the longitudinal research being conducted by Alan Sroufe and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota.

How early can the roots of such a positive social adaptation like Missy's be seen? Missy's case offers a clear picture of developmental continuity and coherence, beginning with secure attachment in infancy. The different video segments include Missy in:

‑Ainsworth's Strange Situation attachment assessment procedure

‑a tool problem situation at age 2 (using the block to lift the box to get the candy)

‑the impossible‑to‑open box of attractive toys problem

‑a parent‑child teaching task at age 3 1/2 (putting away the toys on the shelves)

‑nursery school situations at age 4 1/2 (including her dealing with the little boy taking her crayon, and the various play situations with the little girl, both with and without conflict)

The video illustrates the coherence in her style of adaptation as well as the unique relationship she has with her mother. The film ends by returning to the child discussing her special friendship with another child.

Note the nature of continuity. Although Missy changes dramatically with age, certain things remain the same, including the following:

‑her sense of agency (the basic belief that she is effective)

‑her social orientation

‑her sense of pleasure and enjoyment

‑her general enthusiasm regarding life

Note also her comments about what makes up a special friendship.

Questions to think about

‑What accounts for developmental continuity over time? Similarities in the environment? In the child? Both?

‑How common is this degree of striking continuity in development across different children?

‑Could Missy become an introverted or neglected person now? Why or why not?