emotional development

• emotional development - the way an individual begins to feel about & value themselves & others. this forms the basis of emotional literacy & empathy.
• emotional development begins with attachments which an infant forms to their main caregiver. if a child forms a strong attachment to their main caregiver, it can help to ensure a positive self image & good self esteem
• emotional literacy - the ability to recognise, understand, & appropriately express emotional. it's essential for forming positive social relationships
• empathy - the ability to identify with/understand other's situation/feelings, 'walking a mile in someone else's shoes'
• attachment - a strong emotional connection between a child & a caregiver
• self image - the way an individual sees themselves, their mental image of themselves
• self esteem - how a person feels about themselves, self worth/pride
• key features of emotional development:

  infancy (0-2) - attachment: bowlby argued that infants have an inbuilt need to form an attachment with a carer. the quality of this attachment may affect emotional development for the rest of the child's life. ainsworth & marris argue that the quality of our early attachment influences the assumptions we make about ourself & others. if they're securely attached they grow up with emotional resources needed to cope with uncertainty in life. if insecurely attached may have a reduced ability to cope with stress & major life events
• attachment to caregivers:

  a secure attachment to a main caregiver means a child will feel secure, loved, & have a sense of belonging. caregivers are the secure base from which children explore the world around them. they're protectors & help the child to feel happy, secure, & confident. it's important that parents ensure that children have the physical, mental, & emotional nourishment to develop healthily
• attachment to caregivers:

  secure attachments in childhood lead to happier & healthier attachments with others in the future. if there's a lack of healthy attachment, then a mistrust of caregivers/adults in authority can develop

  insecure attachments can lead to behavioural issues, a lack of ability to receive affection/manipulative behaviour. children may not develop the secure base necessary to cope with life events