DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Developmental Psychology: Lifespan and Individual Differences

The levels of proximity, love, and care experienced during infancy years have been proposed to show positive behaviors such as high self-esteem in adulthood. The degree of attachment is strongly rooted in the source of security during the nave years of a child's life, who shows several degrees of attachment corresponding to the level of attachment he gains from his caregivers. This paper aims to explore the association of early attachment problems affecting the variation of self-esteem in later life stages.

Research

According to attachment theory presented by John Bowlby, the differences in the mother's treatment of both the parents contribute to a detailed specification of how infants would exhibit their attachment patterns (Cassidy, Jones & Shaver, 2013). Also, if the caregivers show love and security, the infant is more likely to develop stronger emotional security, leading to his later life stages. Children show greater signs of positivity in their behavior and actions when they are close to their loved ones. They feel nurtured and secured in the presence of bonds that they find a source of encouragement, giving them opportunities for responsive interaction. The brain of an infant is not mature enough to understand the complexities of relations; hence, whatever is given to him in pure emotional form, he accepts it as a true depicter of relation whoever that is close to him as a caregiver. His brain processes the early experiences in the purest encounter and takes them as learning throughout his life. His early childhood experiences substantially affected him all his life, and he remembers and cherishes as treasured memories in later years. He feels loved and cared for whenever he is reminded of that time in adulthood, catering to an influence on his mental wellbeing.

Research has indicated three different types of attachments experienced by an infant: secure, anxious-resistant, and avoidant (Shevlin et al., 2014). When an infant experiences secure attachment, he feels comfortable seeing the care providers after going through a detachment from him for some time. When an infant is anxious-resistant, he shows resistance to going to him with convenience after a detachment period. Also, when an infant is avoidant, he avoids the caregiver at the reunion stage and is reluctant towards his proximity.

It is an inherited self-developed notion that a child would go to his mother to receive comfort. For example, if he gets hurt, he would go to his mother to find solace. The mother will give him love when he is hurt, probably a kiss, which creates a soothing effect and an unseen healing effect on the child. A "secure base script" between the child and the caregiver demonstrates that an attachment is created to seek security from one person from another (Cassidy, Jones & Shaver, 2013). It gives rise to the internal working model (IWM) that forms an intricate web of relations, associations, and attachments in the caregiving environment. The cognitive working of the infant's brain comprehends these IWMs to explain the child's attachment experiences.

For this reason, during the first, second, or third year of a child, the causal-temporal bonding unfolds the attachment-related events, providing the establishment of building blocks of IWMs. Such connection is not evident in insecure children that grow into insecure adults as a secure base script is missing. There is a gap in the complete story of their childhood that creates a vacant space that gradually leads to fear of social isolation and finding it hard to create social relations, hence, low self-esteem.

The above evidence shows that early life bonds provide a source of better growth and development of a child into adulthood. However, children living in foster care who have seen early life difficulties leading to early life stressors show major risks in emotional and behavioral institutions (Suzuki & Tomoda, 2015). Problems arising in their early days, such as child abuse or neglect, instill fear, even towards their close ones, which might have inflicted pain. This demonstrates serious psychiatric and physical health issues...

…crucial factors that help fight such insecurities during adolescence are investigated: self-regulation skills, competent and caring parents, good psychological functioning, and having a positive image of self (AlShawi & Lafta, 2014). Family, especially primary caregivers (the parents), are considered the chief role players in giving the security that directly impacts self-esteem and saves the child from falling into a dark hole of disruptive behavior, depression, and self-distancing from people.

The introductory thoughts of uselessness, less pride in oneself, not feeling good at all, unsatisfied with oneself, worthlessness, not contended with own identity, and less respect for oneself is the introductory thoughts causing a massive difference in compatibility, suggesting low self-esteem in adulthood.

It is deduced that a dyfunctional environment of less care, support, and comfort evident in a disturbed household, such as in abusive environments, does not provide the security that a child demands. Similarly, the child's control over himself and regulation of positive thoughts in his mind would come from a secure foundation coming from his caring parents and loving household environment for his participation in future relationships. The bonding styles certainly define the consistency and endurance in behavior over time, becoming stronger till adulthood, conducive to upgraded self-esteem.

Conclusion

In contrast to neglectful parenting, secure attachment and parenting styles are favorable for less depressive symptoms in early childhood days and elevated levels of self-esteem. In households with parental aggression, violence, and alcoholic parents who do not care about their children, the children of such houses face extreme pressures from their environment, displaying psychological maltreatment and greater life stressors. The cumulative effects of such stressors result in depression and anxiety that have a major consequence on self-esteem.

The trauma in delicate early years causes functional impairment, transforming psychological disorders in later life years. The feeling about themselves and how people perceive them is the main ideology of self-esteem that deteriorates with age once the psychological resilience is lost. The social and emotional outcomes are not promising for adult health and even prevent a country from moving…