EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

In these session, attachment is a psychological bond between an infant and her or his primary care giver, usually the mother. Crying and smiling bring infants in contact with care givers and are called attachment behaviors.

Attachment provides a secure emotional base from which mature relationships develop. Research shows that inadequate attachment impedes social and emotional development throughout life. For example, when an infant is subjected to maternal deprivation, and thus does not form a secure attachment, subsequent development is often severely atypical.

Traumatic events such as physical abuse or malnutrition that occur during infancy will affect development and behavior, usually in a negative way. Less extreme experiences are also influential, but their effects may be temporary and less apparent. All early experiences are known to influence attitudes toward the learning process, the self-concept, and the ability to form and maintain social and emotional relationships in later life.