PSYC 3450 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Fetal Position, 18 Months, Erik Erikson
Document Summary
1960, john bowlby published an article describing the behavior of 15- to 30-month-old toddlers who had been separated for long periods from their mothers while hospitalized for chronic illnesses. The progress of these sickly but otherwise normal children was anything but normal. This phase lasted from a few hours to more than a week: in a second phase of despair, children seemed to lose hope of ever being reunited with their mothers. They often became apathetic and unresponsive to toys and other people and seemed to be in a deep state of mourning: finally, many children progressed to what bowlby called the detachment phase. They appeared to have recovered in that they showed renewed interest in toys and substitute caregivers; but their relationships with their mothers had changed. When the mother visited, her child was often cool and indifferent, showing little if any protest when she left once again.