Attachment. According to Kristopher's whereabouts and conduct's throughout the case vignette, Kristopher's is a resistantly attached kid, also seen as a disruptive and difficult child. The textbook study guild, word document, states that attachment is a "strong, affectionate tie we have with special people in our lives that lead us to feel pleasure when we interact with them and to be comforted by their nearness in times of stress" (Chapter 6: Emotional & social development in infancy and toddlerhood [Word Document], n.d.). These actions include "infants have becoming attached to familiar …show more content…
Erikson's Psychosocial Theory, which is referenced in chapter 1 & 6, may be applied to this case vignette. Psychoanalytic theory is said to "capturing the essence of personality during each developmental period" (Chapter 6: Emotional & social development in infancy and toddlerhood [Word Document], n.d.). Basic-trust vs. mistrust is a psychological conflict that occurs over the 1st year of life (Berk, 2007). The basic-trust vs. mistrust accounts for Kristopher's delays and problematic behaviors. According to the textbook (2007), Erikson mentions that a later healthy development depends on a parent or guardian quality of caregiving. A "balance of care" baby will "expect the world to be good and gratifying, and will feel more confident about venturing out and exploring it;" compared to a mistrust baby, the baby will "protect itself by withdrawing from other people and things in the environment" (Chapter 6: Emotional & social development in infancy and toddlerhood [Word Document], n.d.). Baby Kristopher ability to communicate is limited, "so crying carries an important message." When a baby cries, the baby is signaling the parent to adhere to their needs, such as food, safety, a fresh diaper, or a comforting cuddle (Chapter 6: Emotional & social development in infancy and toddlerhood [Word Document], n.d.). A quick response will establish a trust between the parent and baby. Baby Kristopher didn't have a quick response from his mother when she was around. Mr. Ramirez reminisces that drug binges accounted for Kristopher's mother's lost days and according to Kristopher, "She left me for drugs" (Case Vignette: Kristopher, [Course Handout], n.d.). The abandonment that Kristopher got from his mother caused him to lose trust from other people, which is why he had always had a difficulty following rules and respecting adult authority figures. His mother, a parental caregiver, never got to show him kindness and compassion for