Question

What is infant attachment, and what factors influence it??

Answer 1

Infant attachment refers to the deep emotional bond that the infant and the caregiver of the child share. The caregiver is usually the mother. However, it can be a father, guardian etcetera. The caregiver caters to the needs of the child which makes the child feel secure. If the caregiver does not attend to the needs of the child, the child would not develop a positive attachment with his caregiver. A positive attachment is of utmost importance in childhood to be a fully functional adult. Childhood experiences play a very important role in one's adult personality. A child who has not had any attachments in childhood firstly, is unable to comprehend emotions. They do not understand other's emotions. They are un-empathetic towards others. They are also incapable of expressing themselves to others. They lack emotional bond with others. They would be less trusting. It would also take a major hit on their self-esteem. They would see themselves as useless and undeserving. No attachments in one’s childhood has emotional as well as cognitive effects.