What Do You See?

CD 30

Chapter 5

Attachment

What do you see?

PRINCIPLE 9

Build Security by teaching trust. Don’t teach distrust by being undependable or often inconsistent.

Brain Research:

·  Neurons- basic building blocks of the brain are specialized nerve cells called neurons.

·  Axon- each neuron has an axon or output fiber that sends energy, or impulses, to other neurons.

·  Dendrites- which are input fibers that receive the impulses from other neurons.

·  Synapses- the dendrites grow and branch out forming “dendrite trees” that receive signals from other neurons. These connections or synapses are formed as an infant experiences the world. The brain prunes, or selectively eliminates, unnecessary synapses.

Erikson Psychosocial Stages of Personality: TRUST vs. MISTRUST See page 99-100

Attachment Behavior: Birth to Six Months- 99-100

Attachment Behavior: Seven to Eighteen Months

MILESTONES ATTACHMENT:

Pre-attachment: Indiscriminate Reactions (birth to approximately 12 weeks)

Early Behaviors- crying, gazing, grasping- are designed to bring adults close to infants and to provide nurturance and comfort. The infant is not yet attached, because this care can be provided by any adult.

Making the attachment: Focusing on Familiar people (10 weeks to 6-8 weeks)

Infants now begin to respond differently to different people. Social responses- cooing, smiling, babbling, are readily displayed with familiar caregivers. A stranger may receive a long stare and cause fear or distress. This stage is when trust begins to develop.

Clear Attachment: Active closeness is sought (8 months to 18-24 months)

Now attachment to familiar people is clear. Young children show separation anxiety, becoming distressed when familiar people they trust leave them. Now young children know they need someone (a go cognitive function) and send deliberate social signals, like clinging and resisting separation, to keep familiar people near them. The child is using her caregiver as secure base from which to gradually explore a new environment and then return for emotional support.

A Reciprocal Relationship: Partnership Behavior (24 months on)

Young children now begin to understand an adult’s coming and going. They are more able to let go can be more flexible. Language helps them to process the separation experience (for example, “I will be back after your nap”).

Measuring Attachments: Strange Situation (show video clip)

Attachment Issues: Neglect or Indifference page 104

JOURNAL: Describe a person of high regard? Special Person in your life…

Show a video clip: What attachment behaviors do you see in the child? How does the parent response?