Psychodynamic Perspectives on Childhood Development and Aging

Psychodynamic Theory: The developmental process influenced by internal drives and childhood experiences affecting behavior and personality.
Building a Brain: Brain development is contingent upon experiences with people. Each brain aligns with the environment and culture of the individual.
Social Baseline Theory: Suggests that human brains are wired to expect support in stressful situations. Absence of this support decreases an individual's sense of safety.
Epigenetic Age Acceleration: Linked to maladaptive social relationships earlier in life, causing stress from interpersonal difficulties.

Comparative Development: Human brains develop slower than those of other mammals.
Inborn Potential: Social capacity is potential at birth but not fully developed, which means new infants cannot respond appropriately to caregiver’s frustrations.
Brain Structure Development:
- At birth, parts of the brain like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are immature.
- The orbitofrontal cortex matures enough to manage emotions by age 2.
Effects of Neglect and Abuse: Conditions like those seen in Romanian orphans suggest brain areas can be underdeveloped due to neglect, particularly the orbitofrontal cortex.
Social Engagement: More positive interactions enhance brain networking, improving connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.
Mirror Neurons: Activate in response to observation of others leading to empathy and connection; misalignments can lead to mental health issues.

Progression from touch to vision to verbal skills during early development, leading up to the capacity to discuss feelings.
Social Intelligence: Highly sensitive to experiences between 6 and 18 months.
Cognitive Reflection: Involvement of the prefrontal cortex to retain and reflect on thoughts and feelings.- Personal Narrative Development: Essential for a secure sense of self; begins with capacity to narrate one’s experiences coherently.

Psychoanalytic Attachment Theory: Investigates the importance of caregiver relationships in early life.
John Bowlby’s Concept: Attachment develops through sensitive, timely caregiver responses, establishing a secure base for exploration.
Attachment Styles: Insecure attachment leads to difficulties in relationships later in life, while secure attachment fosters healthy connections.

Stages of Attachment:~
- Birth to 30 days: Initial responsiveness to caregivers.
- 30 days to 3 months: Increased interaction.
- 4 to 6 months: Preference for caregivers develops.
- 7 to 9 months: Increased anxiety about separation.
- 10 to 15 months: Imitative interaction begins.
- 16 months to 2 years: Object permanence develops.
Phases of Attachment (Bowlby):
- Pre-attachment, forming attachments, and clear-cut attachments with evolving relationships.

Bonding Definition: The biological instinct to maintain proximity between mothers and infants.
Secure vs. Insecure Attachment: Divergences impact later social interactions and mental health.

Sigmund Freud’s and Melanie Klein’s perspectives on psychosexual vs. object relations development.
Attention to how psychoanalytic views integrate with cognitive understanding in attachment styles and emotional development.

Kübler-Ross Stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. These stages are not strictly linear and can manifest differently based on individual experiences.
Disenfranchised Grief: Loss that is not socially acknowledged, leading to unresolved pain.
Complicated Grief: Extended distress obstructing normal functioning, often following significant losses.

Cultural Variations: Recognition that cultural contexts shape how grief is expressed and handled.
Modern Approaches: Attention to the importance of community, social support, and cultural practices in moderating grief processes.