Chapter 8: Emotional Development

Attachment Theory- Video John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth

Attachment- the emotional link that binds a person and a child together.

Closeness Looking Touching Smiling Listening Talking Bowlby (Video) Ainsworth

Video

A child becomes securely attached when the mother is available and able to meet the needs of the child in a responsive and appropriate manner.

The child learns that the caregiver will respond to vocalizations and will come to soothe and comfort the child.

The child explores freely in the presence of the mother. When the parent leaves the room the child cries and makes attempts to follow, when parent returns the child is soothed by being held by the parent

Infants benefit from secure attachment with a caregiver Attachment figures can be mother, father, other

family members, or substitute caregiver Attachment patterns are related to later

personal and interpersonal competencies Vitally important to normal development

Harlow’s Monkeys- Video 1 and Video 2 Romanian orphanage research

Deficits in social skills Poor motor development Rocking behaviors

Security Less shy Less inhibition in

relationships Achievement rates Improved social

relationships Long term

connections to adult relationships

Attachment to specific people begins by age 6 or 7 months

Multiple attachments can be formed Consistency of attachment figures is

important Emphasis is placed on the attachment

relationship How parent and child interact and respond

to one another

Have not formed attachment to any particular figure

Make no distinctions between parent and others

Reject the attention of parents and most people

When parents leave the room the children do not cry and there are no attempts to follow them

These children are so dependent on their parents they won’t let them out of their sight at all

Experience parenting that is Inconsistent Insensitive Rejecting

Needs are not met consistently by the caregiver

Anxious/ ambivalent The child is anxious in parental presence and upon

reunification may hit or push the mother A potential reflection of more inconsistent parenting Needs are met on the mother’s terms

Anxious/ avoidant The child shows little emotion when the mother is present

or gone. Upon reunification the child may run away or not cling to the parent’s embrace

Disengaged mother Needs are often not met by vocalizations

Disorganized/ disorientated The child will cry during separation, but will avoid mother

when she returns. The child may engage in self rocking or self hitting behavior

One study found that most of the mothers of these children had suffered major losses or other trauma shortly before or after the birth of the infant and had reacted by becoming severely depressed

The child is set up in a room with their caregiver and some toys to explore.

A stranger walks in the room and ultimately tries to interact with the child

The mother then leaves the room leaving child with stranger

The stranger makes attempts to soothe the child

The mother returns and makes attempts to console the child

Video 1 Video 2

Video Part 1 Video Part 2 Video Part 3 Video Part 4 Video Part 5 Video Part 6

Emotion a response of the

whole organism physiological arousal

blushing expressive behaviors

breaking things conscious

experience mental experience of

emotion

Infants’ naturally occurring emotions

Aggression Temperament Autonomy Separation-Individuation Self Reference Self Esteem