Maternal Separation Anxiety And Depression

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Attachment is considered to be a critical indicator for social and cognitive development in humans and nonhuman primates. Therefore, early maternal separation can increase anxiety and depression (Seay, Hansen, & Harlow, 1962), reduce infant playing (Schlottmann & Seay, 1972), and decrease environmental exploration (Byrne & Suomi, 1999). According to Bowlby (1961), the phases of protest, despair, and detachment are theoretical foundations that explain separation anxiety and distress. To elaborate, protest arises with separation anxiety; as the result, infants cry, scream, and protest aggressively when their mothers are absent. Next, despair induces grief and mourning, and infants refuse others’ attempts to comfort them. Lastly, detachment occurs

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