Secure attachment between an infant and their primary caregiver is critical for healthy social and emotional development. During the first year of life, this attachment helps the infant develop feelings of security and autonomy. Infants who form secure attachments become more resilient, curious, and socially competent as they grow. Insecure attachment, which can occur if a mother's actions are inappropriate, insufficient, or rejecting, leads to children who lack security and are overly anxious or dependent. Early attachment patterns tend to remain fairly permanent and shape expectations in future relationships.

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