Sensitive Parenting
‘‘Sensitive parenting is the most important factor in a child’s psychological development.’ Discuss.
The role of a parent as discussed by Oates, Lewis & Lamb is seen to be the primary source providing children with structure and experience. Behaviourists see the reward system laid down by parents as ‘shaping’ their children’s behaviour whilst social behaviourists see the imitation of behaviours by children as the basis of new behaviours being learned. Social constructivists see parents as ‘scaffolding’ their children (Oates et al) whilst the psychodynamic theory gives accounts of internal working models being learnt from relationships with parents. All of the theories point to the importance of parenting and this lays down the foundation as to whether the child develops a healthy personality or develops disturbed or disturbing behavioural problems. Because of the importance of parenting the relationship has been at the centre of research and many aspects of parent/child relationships have been studied. This essay will look at some of the research that has been carried out and whether sensitive parenting is the most important factor in a child’s psychological development.
From early infancy a child becomes attached to specific objects that have a significant impact on their development. These objects which can be either human or items such as a comfort blanket become a source of comfort and support during times of stress and the absence of these objects may lead to anxiety and distress. Psychologists have been interested in how these attachments develop and the consequences on a child’s development in later life. Bowlby (1973) believed that children learn from these attachments and build up an internal working model (IWM) which he split into three groups (the self, the other and the relationships between these). A child who is looked after by an adult who is receptive to their needs will have an IWM that will be that of being self capable in that they will
The role of a parent as discussed by Oates, Lewis & Lamb is seen to be the primary source providing children with structure and experience. Behaviourists see the reward system laid down by parents as ‘shaping’ their children’s behaviour whilst social behaviourists see the imitation of behaviours by children as the basis of new behaviours being learned. Social constructivists see parents as ‘scaffolding’ their children (Oates et al) whilst the psychodynamic theory gives accounts of internal working models being learnt from relationships with parents. All of the theories point to the importance of parenting and this lays down the foundation as to whether the child develops a healthy personality or develops disturbed or disturbing behavioural problems. Because of the importance of parenting the relationship has been at the centre of research and many aspects of parent/child relationships have been studied. This essay will look at some of the research that has been carried out and whether sensitive parenting is the most important factor in a child’s psychological development.
From early infancy a child becomes attached to specific objects that have a significant impact on their development. These objects which can be either human or items such as a comfort blanket become a source of comfort and support during times of stress and the absence of these objects may lead to anxiety and distress. Psychologists have been interested in how these attachments develop and the consequences on a child’s development in later life. Bowlby (1973) believed that children learn from these attachments and build up an internal working model (IWM) which he split into three groups (the self, the other and the relationships between these). A child who is looked after by an adult who is receptive to their needs will have an IWM that will be that of being self capable in that they will
References: Ainsworth (1962) cited in ‘Parenting and Attachments’ , Oates, J., Lewis, C., Lamb, M. (eds) Psychological Development and Early Childhood, Oxford, Blackwell/ The Open University. Bowlby (1973) cited in ‘Parenting and Attachments’ , Oates, J., Lewis, C., Lamb, M. (eds) Psychological Development and Early Childhood, Oxford, Blackwell/ The Open University Crockenburg (1981) cited in ‘ Disturbed and disturbing behaviour’, Woodhead, M., Rhodes, S., Oates, J. (eds) Psychological Development and Early Childhood, Oxford, Blackwell/ The Open University. Flouri and Buchanan (2002) cited in ‘ Disturbed and disturbing behaviour’, Woodhead, M., Rhodes, S., Oates, J. (eds) Psychological Development and Early Childhood, Oxford, Blackwell/ The Open University. Lamb (1997) cited in ‘Parenting and Attachments’ , Oates, J., Lewis, C., Lamb, M. (eds) Psychological Development and Early Childhood, Oxford, Blackwell/ The Open University. Murray and Stein (1991) cited in ‘ Disturbed and disturbing behaviour’, Woodhead, M., Rhodes, S., Oates, J. (eds) Psychological Development and Early Childhood, Oxford, Blackwell/ The Open University The Open University ( 2013) ED209, Child Development, DVD Media Kit, Part 2, Band 3, ‘Finding a way Marni and Renee, Oxford, The Open University. Vondra (1995) cited in ‘Parenting and Attachments’ , Oates, J., Lewis, C., Lamb, M. (eds) Psychological Development and Early Childhood, Oxford, Blackwell/ The Open University.