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Essay Instructions: "Sensitive mothering is essential to the social and emotional development of the child. Discuss this statement in the context of relevant developmental theory"


CONTENT GUIDELINES FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT
Explain what is meant by the term sensitive mothering. Explain why sensitive mothering is important in building a positive emotional base.
- Give a definition of sensitive mothering (also consider insensitive mothering).
- Link this to a positive or non-positive emotional base.

Link this explanation to Bowlby?s attachment theory and Ainsworth?s studies. You will need to show an understanding of the internal working model of attachment and how sensitive mothering impacts on the quality of attachment.
- Outline Bowlby?s theory of attachment, showing evidence of how the ethological studies of Harlow and Lorenz, and his own research with war orphans and evacuees and juvenile delinquents impacted his theory.
- Determine the phases of attachment and the development of the internal working model of attachment.
- Consider Ainsworth?s research and the types of secure and insecure attachments that resulted from the research.
- This needs to be linked back to mothering style and the internal working model of attachment that each infant is developing.

Links also need to be made to Erikson?s relevant psychological stages of personality development, emphasising the importance of a supportive social environment.
- Consider Erikson?s psychosocial theory of personality, especially the first stage, and link to mothering style and the internal working model of attachment that each infant is developing.


Consider research that determines how early attachment impacts on the social and emotional development of three to five year olds and adults.

- Look at research undertaken with 3-5 year olds and how early attachment impacts social interactions, and also the adult attachment interviews to determine the long term effect of early mothering styles.

Essay Instructions: SENSITIVE MOTHERING IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD. DISCUSS THIS STATEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY

Guidelines:
1.Explain why sensitive mothering is important in building a positive emotional base

a)Discuss how consistent and predictable care ,which enhances healthy emotional development, is vital for psychological health. Show an awareness of how early, formative years are crucial to the child? s basic concepts about self, others and the world. A solid emotional base ? or launching pad ? established in infancy and childhood supports the ability to relate to others in later life.

b)Discuss the types of mothering that a child needs , including aspects such as love, consistency in routine and persons, security, encouragement, comfort?

2.Link this explanation to John Bowlby' s attachment theory and Mary Ainsworth' s experiments and the mothering aspects that lead to secure attachment.

a)Define attachment as per bowlby?s theory and give a description of the basic premise of his theory in your own understanding.Mention and define monotropism and separation anxiety.

b)Ainsworth looked at the equality of attachments. Briefly describe the ?Strange Situation Test? and the four types of attachment Ainsworth identified. Discuss the mothering aspects that lead to ?secure attachment? (vs. ?insecure attachments?)

c)Consider the building of the internal working model; link with ainsworth and erik erikson in terms of influence on the older child and the adult

3.Links also need to be made to Erik Erikson' s relevant psychosocial stage of personality development,emphasizing the importance of a supportive social environment

a)Briefly overview the basic premise of Erikson? s theory (without going through all the stages) The most relevant stage is that of trust vs. mistrust with the important foundation of predictability and sensitive mothering. The outcome of the first (and subsequent) stages influences how well a child will cope with the next stage.

4.Consider research that determines how early attachment reflects on children' s later social and emotional development and their acceptance by others

Please include a bibliography

Essay Instructions: Link sensitive mothering to Bowlby's attachment theory and Aisworth's studies and show an understanding of the internal working model of attachment and how sensitve mothering impact the quality of attachment link this also to Erickson's relevant psychological stages of personality development, emphasising the importance of a supportive social environment.

PLEASE NOTE THIS ESSAY IS FOR MONTESSORI SCHOLL AND THEY ALWAYS WANT THE SOURCE TO BE 80% THEIR OWN MATERIALS