Blog 1-Infancy

Chapter six discussed the importance of attachment between an infant and their primary caregiver (mother). The chapter also revealed many risks that an infant may face later in life, if an attachment is not form with their primary caregiver.  Psychiatrist John Bowlby said attachment has a biological, evolutionary basis, meaning an infant forms a bond with their caregiver to ensure survival.  The interplay between the mothers and infants systems affects both other affective and other psychobiological states (Ashford and Lecroy pg. 267). If an infant does not form a bond with his or her mother, they are at high risk of developing negative relationships/attachments throughout their lives.  Depressed mothers who express they are stressed, may have an infant who develops insecure-avoidant attachment.  A baby tends to match the mothers mood even when other non-depressed adults (pg. 268).  Other parental risk factors that may affect attachment include alcoholism, childhood abuse, neglect, unplanned pregnancy, and mothers who are experiencing domestic violence and their own personal trauma may result less engagement with their infant.  Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development can/should be applied to the infancy population as well. The eight different stages are patterned sequences of stages encompassing appropriate physical, emotional, and cognitive tasks that the individual must master in the struggle to adjust to the demands of the social environment (pg. 99 & 100).  Erikson’s first stage of human development is Trust vs. mistrust (infancy). An infant must appropriately develop a healthy balance between trust and mistrust, but if the infant does not master the stage, Erikson’s theory says not mastering the stage can potentially bring up problems later in the individuals life.   In chapter six, learners became aware of how a negative relationship will have a lasting effect on their child and the importance of forming a healthy attachment with their infant.   

Ashford, J. B., LeCroy, C. W. (2013). Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A Multidimensional Perspective (5th ed.