Reflexes in the Newb Some Major Reflexes in the Newbooooornrnrnrnrn cry or show distress. On being reunited with the parent or caregiver they reciprocate with smiles or hugs. The close emotional bond of affection that develop between infants and their parents (caregivers) is called attachment . In a classic study by Harlow and Harlow ( ), baby monkeys were separated from their mothers approximately hours after birth.
The baby monkeys were placed in experimental chambers and reared for months by surrogate (substitute) “mothers”, one made of wire and the other of cloth. Half the baby monkeys were fed by the wire mother, half by the cloth mother. Regardless of whether they were fed by the wire or the cloth mother the baby monkeys showed a preference for the cloth mother and spent a lot more time with her. This study clearly demonstrates that providing nourishment or feeding was not crucial for attachment and contact-comfort is important.
You too may have seen young children having a strong attachment to a favourite toy or blanket. There is nothing unusual in this, as the children know that the blanket or toy is not their mother. Yet it provides them comfort. As children grow and become more sure of themselves, they abandon these objects.
Human babies also form an attachment with their parents or car egivers who consistently and appropriately reciprocate to their signals of love and affection. According to Erik Erikson ( ), the first year of life is the key time for the development of attachment. It represents the stage of developing trust or mistrust . A sense of trust is built on a feeling of physical comfort which builds an expectation of the world as a secure and good place.
An infant’s sense of trust is developed by responsive and sensitive parenting. If the parents are sensitive, affectionate, and accepting, it provides the infant a strong base to explore the environment. Such infants are likely to develop a secure attachment. On the other hand, if parents are insensitive and show dissatisfaction and find fault with the child, it can lead