Emotional Development in Childhood and Attachment

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary related to emotional development in childhood and the concept of attachment.

Emotional Development

The process by which children learn to understand, express, and manage their emotions.

Attachment

A lasting emotional tie between two people who strive to maintain closeness.

Maternal Depression

A condition where a mother experiences depressive symptoms that can affect her relationship with her child.

Reciprocal Relationships

The mutual interactions between a caregiver's behavior and an infant's responses.

Signaling Behaviors

Behaviors such as crying, smiling, cooing, and clinging that indicate a child's need for attention or closeness.

Secure Base

A foundational relationship that allows an infant to feel safe enough to explore their environment.

Separation Anxiety/Protest

A stress response exhibited by infants when separated from their attachment figure.

Internal Working Model

A set of beliefs about oneself and one's relationships with others that affect social interactions.

Strange Situation Paradigm

A research method developed by Mary Ainsworth to assess the quality of attachment between infants and their caregivers.

Types of Attachment

Categories established by Ainsworth that describe how children respond to their caregivers; includes secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant, and insecure-disorganized.

Fostering Resilience

Encouraging positive outcomes in children despite challenges and adversity.