Psychology

1. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
 the development of self-awareness, attachment to
caregivers and relationships with other children and adults
ATTACHMENT
 social/emotional bond that develops between an infant and
its primary care-giver
1. There is a critical period, roughly the first year of life, during
which this must occur for healthy development. This is also
known as bonding – a special process of emotional
attachment that may occur between parents and babies in the
minutes and hours immediately after birth

2. 2. Attachment is considered a key developmental event that helps
an infant develop basic feelings about security
3. Securely attached infants then develop a sense of autonomy – a
sense of independence and trust in one’s own abilities and
powers; these infants show more resiliency, curiosity, problem-
solving ability, and social competency by the time they reach
preschool
4. Insecurely attachment leads to children who lack a sense of
security, are anxious and are overly dependent. This occurs
when a mothers action are inappropriate, insufficient or rejecting
 Once established, early attachment is fairly permanent. Brief
separations from parents, as in child-care centers, do not
adversely affect it.
 The Importance of Attachment – it satisfies the need for love,
support, etc. Primary relationships create expectations that are
brought into other relationships with peer and other adults.

3. Therefore, a caretaking atmosphere that is warm, consistent, and
governed by the infant’s needs is the key
READ ON OWN: EXPERIMENT ON MOTHERLESS MONKEYS
(HARRY HARLOW), THREE (3) TYPES OF
ATTACHMENT (AINSWORTH), SOCIAL
REFERENCING AND GENDER ROLE
DEVELOPMENT