Danny Devito's 'Matilda'

736 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Styles of parenting and child development

“Matilda” directed by Danny DeVito demonstrates how elaborating on both the psychological effect on the child and the various parenting methods and how it affects mental development of the infant. Warmth, shown through affection, touch or nurturing gestures, and responsiveness, or how sensitive a parent’s interaction is with the child, are key aspects for child attachment. However, infants only become attached to a few people, such as the mother and close relatives, derived from social interactions with the infant’s attachment figure. Through attachment, organizational changes occur in an infant’s behavior as brain function and cognitive awareness develops. There are several different phases of attachment, each representing the mental, social and cognitive abilities of infants. In phase 1, which is from birth to three months, for example, attachment is shown through social gestures, such as smiling, crying and babbling. The second and third phase, which is from three months to six months and six months to three years respectively, on the other hand, represents how infants develop key motor and sight abilities, as …show more content…

According to Daniel Siegel’s article “If I had bad parents, will I be a bad parent too?” children with non-secure attachments often have a “sense of uncertainty” with others. Her relationships with the other schoolchildren and with Mrs. Honey, demonstrates that Matilda, despite her age, not only is self-confident, but also does not show any sense of anxiety and insecurity. While reading books could have been a mental escape for her to get away from her familial issues, Matilda also doesn’t show signs of separation, as she prepared the adoption papers long before her acquaintance with Mrs. Honey. This supports the idea that a child’s personality and behavior is multifactorial, a combination of genetics, environmental and developmental

Show More
Related

  • Importance Of Neuroscience And Theories

    828 Words  | 2 Pages

    The attachment process plays a crucial role in a child’s development and their future impact on society According to Dr Suzanne Zeedyk. Children can’t feel relaxed and safe with the adults & children in the nursery until they get to know them. If there’s a lack of affection towards a child they may be reluctant to take advantage of all the learning opportunities because of their anxiety. We now know that relationships literally shape the neural connections in young children’s brains. This means everything that happens or doesn’t happen for the child will leaves a physiological trace in their growing brain. According to Dr Suzanne

    Read More

  • The Strange Situation as a Measure of Attachment Type

    470 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Strange Situation, in which infants are exposed to eight different episodes involving the mother and/or a stranger, is widely used to test attachments, although there are many different views regarding its validity and reliability. In order for the Strange Situation to be considered reliable, a child tested at different times should produce the same reaction every time; this was supported by Main, Kapland and Cassidy’s 1985 study which found that 100% of infants who had been securely attached before 18 months were still securely attached at 6 years, and 75% of those who had been anxious-avoidant remained so. One interpretation of attachment type (based on the Strange Situation) is that it is a fixed characteristic and therefore cannot be changed, but if there is a change in family circumstances this is often not the case. Attachments to mothers and fathers have been proven to be independent – Main and Weston (1981) found that children reacted differently depending on which parent they were with. This shows that the attachment types shown by the Strange Situation are based on qualities of distinct relationships as opposed to a child’s characteristics.

    Read More

  • Criticisms Of Attachment Theory

    1185 Words  | 3 Pages

    Criticisms of attachment theory have come mainly from the feminist schools of thought since the theory has been used to argue that no woman with a young child should work outside the home or spend time away from her baby (Goodsell and Meldrum, 2010). Children’s experience and development also depend on what happens after early years, whether bad or good later in life may change a child’s emotional development, e.g. lack of basic needs, diet, education, stimulation such as play might affect a child’s development (Rutter, 1981). Differences in cultures have to be taken into consideration as well. A study by Schaffer and Emmerson (1964) provided contradictory evidence for Bowlby’s attachment theory. They noted attachment was more prominent at eight months, and afterwards children became attached to more than one person.

    Read More

  • The Attachment Theory and Factors Damaging to Attachment

    1156 Words  | 3 Pages

    Relationships are the building block for personality and are significant in children’s ability to grow into substantial individuals who can thrive in an often harsh world. Constructing lasting and fulfilling relationships is an integral part to development as the interpersonal bonds forged are not only highly sought after but also set the ground work for all upcoming expressive interactions. Relationships and attachment go hand in hand as attachment is the strong and lasting linkage established between a child and his or her caregiver. Moreover, attachment significantly influences a large capacity of ones make up as it these first relationships that teaches morals, builds self-esteem, and develops a support system. The pioneers of Attachment Theory realized early on that human beings are not solely influenced by drives but that the earliest bonds formed by children with their caregivers greatly impact their ability to forge lasting relationships later in life. John Bowlby was first to introduce this theory to the masses in the 1950’s, and later Mary Ainsworth conducted further research to expand on Bowlby’s theory which proclaims that attachment is a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings” (Bowlby, 1969, p. 194). The attachment bond theory by both Bowlby and Ainsworth focuses on the significance of the relationship between babies and their caretakers which research has suggested is accountable for influencing impending interactions, firming or injuring our capabilities to concentrate, being aware of our emotional states, self-soothing capabilities, and the capacity to be resilient in the face of hardship. Additionally, this research has provided a framework for assisting in describing these att...

    Read More

  • John Bowlby's Attachment Theory

    2162 Words  | 5 Pages

    John Bowlby’s attachment theory established that an infant’s earliest relationship with their primary caregiver or mother shaped their later development and characterized their human life, “from the cradle to the grave” (Bowlby, 1979, p. 129). The attachment style that an infant develops with their parent later reflects on their self-esteem, well-being and the romantic relationships that they form. Bowlby’s attachment theory had extensive research done by Mary Ainsworth, who studied the mother-infant interactions specifically regarding the theme of an infant’s exploration of their surrounding and the separation from their mother in an experiment called the strange situation. Ainsworth defined the four attachment styles: secure, insecure/resistant, insecure/avoidant and disorganized/disoriented, later leading to research studies done to observe this behavior and how it affects a child in their adolescence and adulthood.

    Read More

  • Comparing John Erikson And Mary Ainsworth And John Bowlby

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    The attachment theory, presented by Mary Ainsworth in 1969 and emerged by John Bowlby suggests that the human infant has a need for a relationship with an adult caregiver, and without a subsequent, development can be negatively impacted (Hammonds 2012). Ainsworth proposes that the type of relationship and “attachment” an infant has with the caregiver, can impact the social development of the infant. As stated by Hammonds (2012), attachment between a mother and a child can have a great impact on the child 's future mental

    Read More

  • Infant Attachment

    1419 Words  | 3 Pages

    Infant attachment is the first relationship a child experiences and is crucial to the child’s survival (BOOK). A mother’s response to her child will yield either a secure bond or insecurity with the infant. Parents who respond “more sensitively and responsively to the child’s distress” establish a secure bond faster than “parents of insecure children”. (Attachment and Emotion, page 475) The quality of the attachment has “profound implications for the child’s feelings of security and capacity to form trusting relationships” (Book). Simply stated, a positive early attachment will likely yield positive physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development for the child. (BOOK)

    Read More

  • Bowlby on Attachment Behavior

    2157 Words  | 5 Pages

    Bowlby proposed that attachment behaviour between a mother and child happens when certain behavioural systems are actuated in the infant as a consequence of its interaction with its environment, primarily with the interaction of its mother. By encompassing earlier theories of ethology, development psychology and psychoanalysis (Bretherton, 1992), Bowlby developed his theory on ‘Attachment’. This essay looks at the development of ‘Attachment Theory’ since its introduction over four decades ago and how the research of Ainsworth and Main significantly supports Bowlby’s thesis. It also looks at Mahler’s theory of ‘Separation-Individuation’ and the importance of how positive attachment is necessary for the advancement of autonomy and identity. Finally, it will explore the shift in paradigms from cognitive psychology to neuropsychology and look at how attachment communication between primary caregiver and infant influences the imprinting of the orbitofrontal cortex.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Attachment for the Children's Development

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Psychologist, Mary Ainsworth expanded upon Bowlby's original work. She conducted a study labelled the ‘Strange Situation’. In the study, based upon the children’s reactions, Ainsworth described three major styles of attachment: secure attachment, ambivalent-insecure attachment, and avoidant-insecure attachment. Work by Stroufe and Waters in 1977, further supported Ainsworth's attachment styles and have indicated that attachment styles also have an impact on behaviours later in life (Birns, 1999, p. 13). Researchers have found strengths in attachment patterns established early in life can lead to a number of outcomes. For example, children who are securely attached as infants tend to develop stronger self-esteem and better self-reliance as they grow older. These children also tend to be more independent, perform better in school, have successful social relationships, and experience less depression and anxiety (Birns, 1999, p. 13).

    Read More

  • Reactive Attachment Disorder in Children

    1872 Words  | 4 Pages

    An infant’s initial contact with the world and their exploration of life is directly through the parent/ primary caregiver. As the child grows, learns, and develops, a certain attachment relationship forms between them and the principle adult present in this process. Moreover, this attachment holds huge implications concerning the child’s future relationships and social successes. Children trust that their parental figure will be there; as a result, children whom form proper attachments internalize an image of their world as stable, safe, and secure. These children will grow independent while at the same time maintaining a connection with their caregivers. (Day, 2006). However, when a child f...

    Read More

  • Early Daycare Essay

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    A substantial amount of research considers how children develop and form attachments from a few months old, as this period can have huge implications later in their life. Children’s experience of attachment will provide them with a schema about how attachments form so it’s critical they have a positive childhood and form close bonds, especially with a primary caregiver. This essay will attempt to assess the impact early daycare has on children’s ability to form attachments and to what extent it affects a child’s development.

    Read More

  • Bowlby’s Attachment Theory

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Ainsworth and Witting (1969) devised the strange situation to be able to test the nature of attachment systematically” Cardwell, M. et.al (2000). They found three attachment types, secure attachment, insecure-avoidant and insecure –resistant. They found that the different attachments had different effects on a child’s behaviour. Bowlby’s theory talks about having a secure base which allows a child to explore its environment.... ...

    Read More

  • Importance Of Attachment Theory

    1157 Words  | 3 Pages

    Attachment occurs in stages. The first stage is pre-attachment, which occurs from birth to 6 weeks. During this stage newborns get an adult’s attention through smiling, crying, babbling, and making eye (Divecha, 2017). Although, they are not attached to their mother yet, they feel soothed and calm when they are carried by her or feel her presence (Divecha 2017). The second stage occurs between 6 weeks and eight months. The infant begins to develop trust in his or her mother and relies on her all of the time. When the child is comforted by the mother, they begin to smile because they feel trust (Divecha, 2017). The infant loves the company of their parent or caregiver and gets distressed when attention is not given to them (McLeod,

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Erikson And Piaget's Theory Of Cognitive Development

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    Erikson believes that during this stage, children will seek approval from others by displaying skills that are valued by others. Additionally, he believes that if this initiative continues, the child will develop confidence in their ability to achieve their goals. During the first few stages of both theories, we see challenges in the development of the child and we also see challenges that a child might face during some, if not all, forms of attachment theory. For example, a parent ignoring the child and speaking to them in a negative manner during insecure-avoidant attachment can be challenging for a child and lead to insecurities and the feeling of not being loved and/or wanted.

    Read More

  • Matilda

    396 Words  | 1 Pages

    Matilda is a family comedy which takes place somewhere in the USA during the nineties.

    Read More

More about Danny Devito's 'Matilda'

Open Document