Why Babies Lack Object Permanence?

What is the definition of attachment? If you look it up in a dictionary it explains that it is ‘an emotional bond between an infant or toddler and primary caregiver, a strong bond being vital for the child’s normal behavioural and social development’. That strong bond between infant and caregiver is believed to happen between the ages of 6-8 months although Bowlby (1958) suggests that the infants are born into this world pre-programmed to form attachments, they have innate behaviours in the way of crying, smiling, crawling and cooing which will stimulate attention and comforting responses from the caregivers. These behaviours are called social releasers. Kagan et al (1978)

permanence, the awareness that things exist even when not visible, is part of a childs early years and that it's an important

Within one month after the investigation, 29% formed multiple attachments and 78% formed multiple attachments within six months of the first specific attachment. In 39% of the cases, infants did not show their first specific attachment to the person who fed or bathed them. Responsiveness appears to be the key to attachment. Intensely attached infants had mothers who responded quickly to their demands and who offered the infant the most interaction. Infants who were weakly attached have mothers who failed to interact.

Mary Ainsworth is known for her ‘Strange Situation’ (Custance 2010) studies with children. Her theory was that the quality of an infant’s attachment depends largely on the kind of attention the infant has received. She observed the attachment styles of children, mostly aged between 12 and 24 months, by placing them in an environment and recording their reactions to their mothers (or primary caregivers) leaving the room and then returning. Based on these observations Ainsworth concluded that there are different types of attachment. Three types of attachment are: ‘anxious-avoidant’, where the child shows little upset with the stranger, but will avoid contact with the parent on their return. The ‘securely attached’ child is one that will show moderate levels of proximity seeking towards the parents and is upset by their departure but deals with the parents return positively, often returning to play. The third type is the ‘anxious-resistant’ child; greatly upset by the parent’s departure and on reunion seems angry and will not be comforted or picked up (Custance 2010).

Attachment is described as an "affectionate reciprocal relationship between an individual and another individual." Much psychological research has been carried out into the types of attachments that infants form with their caregivers, and the results gained from these studies show how early attachments can affect children whether positively or negatively.

Attachment starts at the first ever relationship between the infant and caregiver. This relationship may be one of trust, love, security etc or the contrary, Inconsistent, uncertain, aggressive etc. This relationship will create an expectation if which all relationships will be like. Overtime an infant will develop a model about emotional relationships. This model will include concepts about relationships and expectations from others. Bowlby called this model the internal working model.

Object permanence is a concept that was proposed by Jean Piaget, a highly influential infancy researcher (Piaget & Cook, 1954). Object permanence is the ability to perceive that an object still exists even when the object is no longer observed (Keen, Berthier, Sylvia, et al., 2008; Krøjgaard, 2005; Shinskey, 2008; Piaget & Cook, 1954). The concept of object permanence develops during infancy, specifically within the first two years of life (Keen, et al., 2008). Piaget theorized that infants were not fully able to achieve object permanence until eighteen to twenty-four months of age, but that the development of object permanence was proposed to begin at eight to nine months (Keen, et al., 2008; Carey, & Xu, 2001; Streri, de Hevia, Izard, & Coubart, 2013; Piaget & Cook, 1954). Recent studies have demonstrated that infants as young as two and a half months are capable of object permeance (Streri, et al., 2013).

Secure attachment: Secure attachment occurs when a child will freely explore when the caregiver is present, and may exhibit distress when the caregiver parts with them, and displays happiness when the caregiver returns (Schacter, 2009). Parents who frequently respond to their children’s needs create securely attached children. In turn, children will be confident that their parents will respond to them (Schacter, 2009). Children who are securely attached to their caregivers are able to

There are two kinds of attachment: secure attachment and insecure attachment. Secure attachment can be developed when there is a healthy reciprocal relationship between child and caregiver.

Young children need to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver in order for their social and emotional development to occur normally. Without this attachment, they will suffer serious psychological and social impairment. During the first two years, how the parents or caregivers respond to their infants, particularly during times of distress, establishes the types of patterns of attachment their children form. These patterns will go on to guide the child’s feelings, thoughts and expectations as an adult in future

Secure attachment is commonly considered the healthiest style of attachment. This bond results when a caregiver responds to the child’s needs in an appropriate manner. The child will learn that the caregiver will be responsive and available (Romero). When parents provide a safe and secure environment, a child can build a nurturing relationship. Most of all, a child will simply feel valued and loved (Greenberg; Romero).

Produced from Ainswroth 's Strange Situation study, were four attachment types. Most children displayed traits of the securely attached type; the ability to play freely with their mother present, show some distress when their mother leaves and appears happy when she reappears. Insecure avoidant types paid little or no attention to their mother and seemed unaffected by her absence and arrival. In contrast to this, insecure ambivalent/resistant types were clinging

In 1990 Mary Main and Judith Solomon invented a 4th type of attachment called Type D disorganized attachment which is when the child is afraid

As humans, building relationships between others is a form of connecting and communicating. It is a social situation that is experienced every day through the course of a lifetime. The initial relationship that is made is between the mother and the child. This bond that connects two people is known to be called attachment. The theory of attachment begins at birth, and from that, continuing on to other relationships in family, friends, and romance. Attachment is taught through social experiences, however the relationship with the mother and her temperament are the key factors in shaping the infants attachment type, which

Attachment is the foundation for a strong relationship between caregivers and children. Children usually become attached to the person who cares for them most often during their first year of life. There is secure and insecure attachment which can affect a child and their future.