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Essay / Infant Attachment - 1419
IntroductionInfant attachment is the first relationship a child experiences and is crucial for survival (BOOK). A mother's response to her child will result in either a secure bond or insecurity with the infant. Parents who respond “with more sensitivity and responsiveness to the child's distress” establish a secure bond more quickly than “parents of insecure children.” (Attachment and Emotion, page 475) The quality of attachment has “profound implications for a child's sense of security and ability to form trusting relationships” (Book). Simply put, positive early attachment will likely result in positive physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development for the child. (BOOK) Correlation Between Infant Attachment and Development After birth, babies immediately begin to bond with their caregiver (BOOK). There are cases such as childbirth complications or illness; where infants are removed from the mother immediately after birth. In a sterile hospital setting, researchers determined that attachment activities, such as singing, “encourage the infant to strive to maintain homeostasis and internal balance.” (A). By promoting attachment, the hospital “contributes, ultimately, to the psychological and physical development of the infant” (A). The child is able to receive warmth and empathy from the mother, thereby increasing his survival and stimulating his physical development. (A) Social-emotional development As the child grows during the first two years of life, he creates a specific internal working model (BOOK). The self-work model is based on the expectations that the child develops from his experiences with the mother (BOOK). According to Bowlby (1979, p. 117), “the conceptual, emotional and cognitive development of the child. The warmth and empathy shown towards the child helps the child develop at a normative rate. Although attachment is important during early childhood, it is also important to maintain attachment throughout adolescence. Children who continue to share a secure attachment with the parent often have an easier time making friends and solving social problems (cite).Secure attachment is not limited to American children alone. Parents all over the world form an attachment to their child. The values and behaviors of the parent/child dyad may differ, but the ultimate goal of safety is always predominant. location, children must maintain continuity of care provided. If the child experiences a different response from his or her parent, attachment will ultimately be compromised..