Why does a child develop special attachment to their caregiver? From birth, babies have an innate need for social attachment. Humans need attachment that consists of love or comfort, not always food or nourishment from their caregiver for survival.

Lorenz’s Imprinting Theory Critical Period: an optimal period when certain events must take place to facilitate proper development. Konrad Lorenz (1935) An instinctual phenomenon that keeps a newborn close to their caregiver Imprinting process by which certain animals form strong attachments during an early life critical period Distinctly different from conditioned behaviors Animals learn these irreversible behavioral attachments to moving objects

Imprinting

Harlow’s Attachment theory Harry Harlow (1950’s) Research with monkeys that illustrate an infant’s preference for contact comfort over biological nourishment Contact comfort is a pleasant and reassuring feeling babies get from touching something warm and soft (i.e. caregiver) The key to secure attachment So let’s quickly walk through the physical development before moving into the real focus of this chapter, developmental psychology. At conception, that one cell quickly halves to become two, which halve to become four and so on until 9 months later a baby is born with approximately 100 trillion cells. Now to get from there to here, there are a few things I need to point out. The first stage in the prenatal developmental progress is that of the zygote. The highlights of this stage are the first cell divisions, the attaching of the zygote to the uterine wall and the transition into the embryo. The embryonic stage is marked by continued growth, organ formation, the heart begins to beat, the liver makes red blood cells, and gender is determined. The final stage is that of the fetal stage – which is the longest, lasting from 8 weeks to birth. At about the fourth month, mom will begin to feel movement. At about 5 months, doctors can usually determine the gender of the baby. By the end of the 6th month, the stomach and other vital organs are up and running (thus, a premature baby could at this point survive birth).

Theories of attachment Mary Ainsworth (1970s) The Strange Situation Attachment Attachment is a powerful survival impulse that keeps infants close to their parents and are shown to be predictive of later relationships Stranger anxiety Appears at 8 months Crying and signs of fear when a child is left alone or with a stranger So let’s quickly walk through the physical development before moving into the real focus of this chapter, developmental psychology. At conception, that one cell quickly halves to become two, which halve to become four and so on until 9 months later a baby is born with approximately 100 trillion cells. Now to get from there to here, there are a few things I need to point out. The first stage in the prenatal developmental progress is that of the zygote. The highlights of this stage are the first cell divisions, the attaching of the zygote to the uterine wall and the transition into the embryo. The embryonic stage is marked by continued growth, organ formation, the heart begins to beat, the liver makes red blood cells, and gender is determined. The final stage is that of the fetal stage – which is the longest, lasting from 8 weeks to birth. At about the fourth month, mom will begin to feel movement. At about 5 months, doctors can usually determine the gender of the baby. By the end of the 6th month, the stomach and other vital organs are up and running (thus, a premature baby could at this point survive birth). Basic Trust: a senses that the world is a predictable and trustworthy

Different Types of attachment Secure Attachment Child is upset but can be calmed. Suggests that child uses parent as a “safe base” to explore environment. May return to safe base if there is trouble. Insecure Attachment Child is unable to be comforted, or is violent. Distant, or indifferent upon return of mother. More difficulty trusting others later in life So let’s quickly walk through the physical development before moving into the real focus of this chapter, developmental psychology. At conception, that one cell quickly halves to become two, which halve to become four and so on until 9 months later a baby is born with approximately 100 trillion cells. Now to get from there to here, there are a few things I need to point out. The first stage in the prenatal developmental progress is that of the zygote. The highlights of this stage are the first cell divisions, the attaching of the zygote to the uterine wall and the transition into the embryo. The embryonic stage is marked by continued growth, organ formation, the heart begins to beat, the liver makes red blood cells, and gender is determined. The final stage is that of the fetal stage – which is the longest, lasting from 8 weeks to birth. At about the fourth month, mom will begin to feel movement. At about 5 months, doctors can usually determine the gender of the baby. By the end of the 6th month, the stomach and other vital organs are up and running (thus, a premature baby could at this point survive birth).

Types of Insecure attachment Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment Infants become upset when their mothers leave but resist contact when they return Avoidant Attachment Infants indifferent when mother leaves and avoid them when they return. No significant difference in the way these infants treated mother and the stranger. So let’s quickly walk through the physical development before moving into the real focus of this chapter, developmental psychology. At conception, that one cell quickly halves to become two, which halve to become four and so on until 9 months later a baby is born with approximately 100 trillion cells. Now to get from there to here, there are a few things I need to point out. The first stage in the prenatal developmental progress is that of the zygote. The highlights of this stage are the first cell divisions, the attaching of the zygote to the uterine wall and the transition into the embryo. The embryonic stage is marked by continued growth, organ formation, the heart begins to beat, the liver makes red blood cells, and gender is determined. The final stage is that of the fetal stage – which is the longest, lasting from 8 weeks to birth. At about the fourth month, mom will begin to feel movement. At about 5 months, doctors can usually determine the gender of the baby. By the end of the 6th month, the stomach and other vital organs are up and running (thus, a premature baby could at this point survive birth).

Ainsworth Conclusion Secure Attachment 70% Insecure-Ambivalent 10% Insecure- Avoidant 20% Caregiver who is emotionally available, sensitive, and supportive Caregiver who is inconsistent Caregiver who is rejecting or neglectful If parental or caregiving support is deprived for an extended period of time, children are at risk for physical, psychological, and social problems, including alterations in brain serotonin levels.

Experience and Brain Development Parents spend a lot of money sending children to preschool They just play with a lot of toys. Parents could use the money on a new car… Is it money well spent?

Brain cells is an impoverished environment.

Brain cells in an enriched environment.

What does this mean for humans? If children from impoverished environments given stimulating infant care, they score better on intelligence tests by age 12 than counterparts. Use it or lose it A Trained Brain A well-learned finger-tapping task activates more motor cortex neurons (right) than were active in the same brain before training (left)

Perhaps the biggest environmental influence, at least by your age may be…. Peer Influence Parents can’t get kids to clean up his toys, but when kids see friends clean up in school, they jump to it. “Selection effect” we seek out people with similar interests- that may explain why we seem to conform to our peers.