Emotional Development and Attachment in Infancy — Summary of Chapter 7 from The Developing Person Through the Life Span

What makes a baby smile or cry? How do infants form lasting emotional bonds? Chapter 7 of Kathleen Stassen Berger’s The Developing Person Through the Life Span explores the social and emotional growth that occurs during the first two years of life. From early emotional reactions to complex attachments and the influence of caregivers, this chapter uncovers how the foundations of personality and relationships are formed.

Watch the full podcast-style summary above or keep reading to understand how nature, nurture, and interaction shape emotional development and social bonds during infancy.

Early Emotional Development

From Reflexes to Feelings

Newborns express basic states such as distress and contentment. By six weeks, social smiles appear, followed by laughter around three months. By six months, emotions like anger (from frustration) and sadness (often signaling withdrawal) emerge. Between 9–14 months, fear responses develop, including separation anxiety and stranger wariness.

Complex Emotions and Temperament

By toddlerhood, children begin showing more complex emotions such as pride, shame, and empathy. Temper tantrums are common as toddlers develop self-awareness (typically between 15–24 months). These traits are influenced by temperament—inborn patterns of emotional reactivity—and shaped by brain maturation, particularly the interaction between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.

Forming Social Bonds

Synchrony and Attachment

Synchrony refers to the back-and-forth emotional exchange between caregiver and infant, which supports brain and emotional development. Infants form attachments—strong emotional connections that promote a sense of security.

• Secure attachment: Encourages exploration and comfort-seeking from caregivers
• Insecure-avoidant: Child avoids caregiver
• Insecure-resistant/ambivalent: Clingy and difficult to soothe
• Disorganized: Lacks consistent coping strategy

The Strange Situation experiment by Mary Ainsworth helped identify these patterns and their long-term effects on behavior and cognition.

Social Referencing and Father Roles

By the end of the first year, infants begin using social referencing, looking to caregivers for cues in unfamiliar situations. Fathers also play a unique role in development through play, stimulation, and emotional support.

Theories of Psychosocial Development

Freud and Erikson

Freud believed that the oral and anal stages shape personality. Erikson emphasized psychosocial crises of trust vs. mistrust and autonomy vs. shame and doubt as foundational for future social functioning.

Behaviorism

Focuses on learned behavior, reinforcement, and punishment. Emotions and personality are shaped by environmental responses.

Cognitive Theory

Highlights the influence of internal thoughts and early working models—mental frameworks infants develop based on caregiving experiences.

Evolutionary Theory

Suggests infant emotions and behaviors (such as crying, smiling, clinging) evolved to ensure survival. It also introduces the idea of allocare, or caregiving by non-parental figures.

Childcare and Cultural Considerations

Cultural Norms

Attitudes toward infant care vary worldwide. Some cultures prioritize maternal care, while others utilize extended family or professional daycare.

Quality of Childcare

High-quality daycare provides consistency, responsiveness, and stimulation. However, frequent caregiver turnover may negatively affect emotional stability.

Policy and Economics

Some countries offer paid parental leave and childcare subsidies, whereas others rely on private solutions, influencing both access and quality of care.

Conclusion: Building the Social Brain

Chapter 7 illustrates how emotional and social development in infancy shapes the person a child becomes. Through bonding, brain development, and consistent caregiving, infants gain the tools they need to understand themselves and others. These early experiences—grounded in trust, synchrony, and emotional expression—form the architecture of lifelong psychosocial health.

To hear all these insights in a concise and engaging format, watch the full chapter summary here.

Don’t miss future content—subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for chapter-by-chapter textbook breakdowns, psychology guides, and more academic support for students.

If you found this breakdown helpful, be sure to subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more chapter-by-chapter textbook summaries and academic study guides.