Sensitive Mothering Essay

2506 Words11 Pages
The following essay will attempt to define and discuss the concept of “sensitive mothering”. It will prove that sensitive mothering plays a vital role in the social and emotional development of a child by further discussing development theories and “attachment theories”. The theorists who analysed children and attachment were John Bowlby with his “Internal Working Model” , Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development as well as Mary Ainsworth’s continuation of Bowlby’s theory but working more with the types of mothering and their results which will also be discussed. “Sensitive mothering” is a term used to describe the way in which the primary care-giver, which would usually be the mother, responds emotionally and physically to the signals or cries of her child. When the care-giver responds with sensitivity and with a fast reaction, the child will form a sense of trust and security. This bond is formed in the first year of life because this is when an infant needs to be nurtured to ensure that they have a “secure base.” (Ainsworth 1969) It is important to have this foundation as it will help the child’s relationships in the future. By having a secure attachment to the care-giver, which does not necessarily have to be the child’s biological mother, they now have an experience of social and emotional behaviour of which they can use in future relationships or to use towards others. He/she also now has a “stable work model” (MCSA Module, 2013) to know how to work of deal with and to know for regards to themselves. This will also insure independency later in life. When the care-giver is reliable they will be attentive and provide mutual interactions to stimulate the child when they require a need for arousal. Humans are a species that need social interaction to develop further and survive. (MCSA Module, 2013) Therefore by giving the infant the basic foundation one will
Open Document