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Developmental Psychology scientifically studies human development throughout a person's life. A significant part of its theories has focused on investigating development during childhood because the greatest changes occur during this period.
One of the main questions was whether the environment affects the development of the child, a question that received the answer that the environment is indeed particularly important (Chrysanthakopoulou, 2020).
But how is the development of the child connected to the environment and what is the role of their caregivers in it?
The definition of the child and his development in Psychology
In order to explore the connection, it is first necessary to define what a child is and what his development is. According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, a child is a young boy or girl who is in childhood - the period between the end of infancy (a developmental stage that begins at approximately 18 to 24 months) and the beginning of adolescence (a developmental stage that begins at approximately 11 to 14 years).
Child development is defined as the sequential physical, social, intellectual, and emotional changes as a child grows through the above developmental stages (n.d. Schacter et al., 2021).
The process of child development and the connection with its caregivers
From the womb, the fetus begins to connect with its mother. It hears the sounds of her heart and her speech and becomes familiar with them, capable of recognizing them. The infant, after being exposed to the world, is unable to survive without the care of other people and seeks warmth, food and security from them in order to discover the world. This is achieved by creating a secure attachment with its primary caregiver, which is a determining factor for the subsequent development of a healthy personality and is the driving force that pushes the individual to become independent and explore their environment (Schacter et al., 2021).
The attachment process begins with the infant seeking care. Unable to orient themselves towards a specific person or object (according to Piaget's theory of object permanence, they do not possess this concept of permanence), they mentally record during the first months who responds more often and faster. Very soon, the caregiver becomes their emotional center.
Then, over the course of the first seven months, he has the ability to recall the image of the caregiver -even in his absence-, to remain oriented, to show separation anxiety with his crying, as well as to be uncomfortable in the presence of strangers. In this way, the special emotional attachment relationship that develops is perceived, which lasts until the 18th-20th month and which becomes specific and irreplaceable.
The above relationship was studied by Bowlby, who presented the creation and the purposes served by attachment between caregiver and infant (Schacter et al., 2021; Stern, 2002; Vosniadou, 2001).
The caregiver's response was also studied by Mary Ainsworth. Responding immediately to the infant's needs helps build trust with the infant and makes the infant feel secure and confident.
Research has documented that caregivers who did not respond adequately to the infant's needs (psychologically unavailable and inconsistent) ended up feeling insecure, emotionally distant and ambivalent, as well as having low self-esteem and difficulty adjusting (Schaffer, 1995).
The above demonstrates the crucial importance of the caregiver in the child's development. This role is usually played by the mother and in some cases by the father or other relatives.
The role of the mother in the development of the child
The mother-child relationship evolves from conception to the end of childhood and the relevant changes will be presented below for each age period.
Prenatal Period
Especially by psychoanalytic psychologists, the infant-caregiver relationship is considered the cornerstone of human personality and social development (Tsiandis & Manopoulos, 1987). The mother's role as caregiver and the development of a strong bond begin very early. It is a reciprocal relationship that begins at birth and continues to evolve and change throughout childhood.
The fetus is physically connected to the mother through the placenta, which transfers everything and in any way it comes into contact with her (nutrients, oxygen, viruses, etc.). The fetus is influenced by the mother's emotions and lifestyle, e.g. when she relaxes the fetus in utero, it becomes more active and develops its senses, while the mother's diseases (diabetes, STDs, alcohol or drug use) can lead to serious abnormalities or even death (England & Waddell, 1996; Schacter et al., 2021).
Infancy
Infancy is a pivotal point in human development and subsequent evolution. It has been observed from research that infants who grew up in an institutional environment and with the absence of a family presented mental retardation and showed signs of improper socialization as a result of the absence of the mother, who in this period is the carrier of the infant's socialization and when she is not by his side, the infant reaches the limits of mental deficiency (Bert, 1989).
Breastfeeding plays an important role in the smooth development of the mother-child psychic bond. Freud states that the child has the mother as the initial object of love and breastfeeding is identical with the object of the oral voluptuous drive acquired recursively from her breast (1996). Also, the psychology of the infant depends on that of the mother, who must pay special attention to his reactions because within them are hidden messages that the infant does not have the ability to verbalize (Khourdaki, 2000). All of the above is proof of the importance of the mother in the development of the child.
Early and Middle Childhood
During this period, the child begins to explore the world, nature and his body. He begins to shape his character, to understand moral and cultural ideas as well as to socialize.
The role of the mother is decisive in the formation of the child's personality and must offer him exclusivity and devotion until the age of six, when this early developmental stage of childhood will have been completed. The child also learns the basic principles of behavior, e.g. daily cleaning actions, autonomy in using the toilet but also to feed himself. In addition, the mother tries through dialogue to reduce the child's spontaneous aggression and the obsessive stubbornness that he possesses at this age (Helmut, 1989).
The mother also plays an important role in the child's sexual education. The exploration of the body as well as the curiosity to discover, for example, how children are made gives rise to the first questions that are usually addressed to the mother, who must answer with honesty, simplicity, without hesitation and making him believe that anything related to this topic can be discussed (Rice, 2022).
In middle childhood, the child has completed the learning of moral principles. The mother's role is complementary to the last small improvements in the child's personality and the development and improvement of language and speech.
The mother also encourages the child to socialize and interact with peers and at the same time to eliminate any egocentric side of him (Soltz & Dreikurs, 1991).
The role of fathers in child development
Research on attachment has shown that the role of caregiver may not be exclusively the mother's, but rather the one who takes on the primary care of the child. Although the role and position of the father is not self-evident or given, paternal involvement is crucial for the development of the child as well as in supporting his wife in relation to her maternal role.
Men can equally, with effort and interest, be the ones who interact with the child and who help catalytically in his development. Although they do not have the biological predisposition and instinct to immediately perceive the needs of the child, with repetition and effort, biology adapts to the needs of the environment (***, 2011; Bowlby, 1988; Fonagy, 2018).
Summary
Childhood in human development is the period when the greatest changes occur and the role of the caregiver is the most important factor that influences it. The mother as the primary caregiver has the most important position because her bond with the child develops from the prenatal period and evolves until the end of childhood.
The role of the father is also important as an assistant to the mother to fulfill the duties of her role but also in cases where he is a caregiver although he is not biologically predisposed to this, with the appropriate effort he can also contribute to the development of the child.
However, the superiority of the mother cannot be compared and for this reason, discussions about child development are justified in focusing on this role.
References
1. American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Apa Dictionary of Psychology. American Psychological Association. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from dictionary.apa.org/child
2. American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Apa Dictionary of Psychology. American Psychological Association. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from dictionary.apa.org/child-development
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