13. Real life implications of Developmental Psychology

Question 1

Practical applications

Answer 1

• Caregiver infant interactions: encourage spending valuable time w infants in pleasurable interaction to aid attachment formation
• Role of the father: seen as important so decreased social stereotypes, improved paternal care. government policy for increased paternal leave, help develop secure att with father and aid healthy development.
• animal studies (Harlow) contact comfort, skin to skin comfort encouraged from birth to aid attachment, influenced Bowlby
• Ainsworths attachment types: investigate what causes insecure attachment (eg indifference or oversensitivity to child’s needs) and prevent it
• Bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation: ensure mothers are present enough during sensitive period to prevent damage
• Bowlbys internal working model: develop strategies to improve people’s success in later relationships, eg parenting training to encourage a secure attachment develops, family therapy to break the cycle of abuse
• Romanian orphan studies/effects if institutionalisation: improved care in children’s homes/nurserys/ orphanages to have key workers to develop an attachment relationship and prevent disinhibition attachments, can be used in other settings eg classrooms/carr homes to reduce overcrowding/ allow building relationships

Question 2

Economic implications: Positive

Answer 2

• Role of father: paid paternity leave, mother can return to work, contribute to economy as father takes traditional maternal role
• Multiple attachments (Schaffer): grandparents, siblings, etc could provide care while parents return to work.

Question 3

Economic implications: Negative

Answer 3

• Bowlbys Maternal Deprivation: mothers may fear going back to work due to effects of lack of maternal care in the critical period, cant contribute to the economy

• Role of father: seen as playmate so mother is expected to stay home/care for child, may be disencouraged to return to work

• Role of Father: see fathers role as critical so pressure on gov to increase paid paternity leave which incurs costs from the employer/tax payer.