1804NRS: Psychosocial Development - Secure Attachment (0-6 Years)

This essay delves into the establishment of secure attachment during the 0-6 year age range, examining its impact on psychosocial development, both during this critical period and in later life. Grounded in Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the essay discusses the stages of trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame and doubt, and initiative versus guilt, highlighting how experiences within these stages shape an individual's sense of self, relationships, and overall well-being. It further explores how healthcare professionals, particularly registered nurses, can promote well-being and minimize harm by fostering secure attachments, providing education to parents and caregivers, and addressing the challenges that arise during each developmental stage. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding these developmental stages for effective healthcare and improved patient outcomes, with practical examples of interventions and strategies that nurses can employ to support healthy psychosocial development.

Running head: ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE ATTACHMENT 1
Establishment of Secure Attachment
Author
Institution

ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE ATTACHMENT 2
Establishment of secure attachment
Introduction
Psychosocial development was development by Erick Erikson. He maintained that
personality develops through eight stages. These stages run from infancy to adulthood. In each
stage, the person experiences a psychosocial crisis. The crisis has a negative and positive
outcome for personality development. According to the psychosocial development theory,
successful completion of one stage leads to a healthy personality (Chung, 2018). Also, it helps
the person in acquiring basic virtues. However, failure to complete a stage successfully makes
the person's ability reduced. This involves a lack of ability to complete further stages and thus
resulting in an unhealthy personality and reduced. However, the professional interventions can
help promote successful wellbeing of a person. The assignment will focus on the establishment
of secure attachment from 0-6 years. Next, the assignment will examine how experience impacts
psychosocial development at this stage and in the future. Moreover, it will illustrate how health
professionals can promote wellbeing and minimize harm to individuals impacted by the
experience.
Content
Psychosocial development exists when children interact with others, form relationships,
and manage and understand their feelings. In emotional and social development, having secure
and healthy is of much significance to the person. It acts as a major social milestone of infancy.
Attachment refers to the emotional bond between the child and the parent (Courtney. 2018).
There are different types of bonds. Each bond has its significance. Attachment develops
differently and each impact on childhood development.

ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE ATTACHMENT 3
Establishment of a secure environment occurs when the parental presence gives a child a
sense of safety while exploring the surrounding. According to Bowlby, there are two things that
are required for secure attachment. The child’s social, emotional and physical needs should be
adhered to responsively by the caregivers (Kendra, 2019). Secondly, the child and caregiver must
engage in mutually enjoyable interactions. Secure attachments establishment occurs in various
ways according to Bowlby. It occurs when the children see others as helpful and supportive.
Also, the children see themselves as competent and worthy of respect. The children have positive
relations with others and they show resilience and engage in complex plays. Moreover, children
succeed in the classroom and form healthy interactions with others. Finally, the children are
better at regarding other people’s perspectives and have more trust in others.
Impacts of experience on the psychosocial development from 0-6 years of the
lifespan
At the age of 0-6 years, the children undergo through three stages of psychosocial
development. The children are forming an attachment with their caregivers and parents. These
experiences in psychosocial developmental stages have an impact on individual. The experiences
have a current and future impact on a person. According to Erickson theory of psychosocial
development, each stage is concerned in becoming competent in life. When a stage is handled
well, a person feels a sense of mastery, which is regarded as ego strength (Karen-jo Wills, 2014).
If the stage is poorly managed a person will develop a sense of inadequacy in the development
aspect.
Trust vs. Mistrust

ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE ATTACHMENT 4
The first stage of Erik Eriksson theory of psychosocial development is Trust vs. Mistrust. This
stage in the baby is described as the first social engagement and trust. When the caregiver and
the parents give consistent responsive to the child's needs, the child experiences predictability,
comfort and the feeling of inner security (Kendy, 2017). The responsive interactions keep the
child in a general stage of feeling trust. The infants develop a feeling of trust when their basic
needs are met by their caregivers.
The basic and crucial social interactions are with the mother or caregivers. Through these
interactions, the child learns both mistrust and trust. However, this occurs in the right
proportions. However, failure in providing consistent care to the child leads to a sense of
mistrust. The children feel and might grow insecure. They learn and understand that they cannot
rely on other people. Hence, this makes them feel unsafe. Moreover, the child can develop a
sense of mistrust if they are overindulged. It is essential to state that the establishment of trust is
based upon the care responsiveness the child gets (Lilliengren, et al 2015).
Autonomy vs shame and doubt
At this stage of psychosocial development, the child struggles to acquire a sense of
control or autonomy of bodily functions. Small and large motor skills are quite obvious at the
stage. The children learn the art of talking, walking and later feeding or dressing oneself and
bowel control. Increasingly, as the child learns motor skills, they want to do them without adult
help. However, the adult may realize that the child is not capable and the patient can wear thin.
The child can develop a feeling of frustration if they cannot be able to do their own. Moreover,
the child develops a sense of lack of control. A parent may risk increasing the child's shame
either unintentionally and intentionally.

ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE ATTACHMENT 5
In establishing a secure attachment with the child, the parent must be patient with the
child. They should encourage the child to perform motor skills. When the child finds out that
they are capable of performing the task, they develop a sense of autonomy and independence.
Meanwhile, when a parent shows them they are not capable, they develop a sense of shame.
They are left with the sense of self-doubt and inadequacy
Initiative vs Guilt
At this stage, Erickson stated that children like to explore and do things on their own.
They are able to initiate activities. Also, they assert control over their world through play and
social interaction. Initiative refers to a sense of responsibility and ambition. It occurs when the
parents allow their children to explore their limits and offer support to them. According to
Erickson, children at this stage must resolve the task of initiative vs guilt. Learning to plan and
achieve goals while interacting with their tasks. At this stage, the children develop a sense of
purpose and self-confidence. There are those that are unsuccessful at this stage. Their initiative is
stifled and misfiring due to over controlling parents may lead to children developing a feeling of
guilt.
Impacts of experience on future psychosocial development
The experience from the first three stages has an impact on the individual in later stages.
Each stage has conflicts. How these conflicts are resolved determines future psychosocial
development. A child must overcome the psychological conflicts successfully in order to
develop into healthy and well-adjusted adults.
Trust and mistrust stage is a crucial stage in future psychosocial stages. When a child
learns how to trust others develop a sense of hope. Its expectations of the challenges that life

ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE ATTACHMENT 6
presents in life will result in a positive outcome in the future. The sense of hope is required to
meet the challenges presented at the later stages of future development (Stephen & Elizabeth
2006). Meanwhile, a child may not solve the conflict of mistrust. This refers to withdrawal or
lack of hope. The person develops a strong component of self-directedness and self-esteem.
In the autonomy vs shame and doubt stage, solving the conflict is of much significance.
Autonomy leads to a person developing a sense of control and self-confidence. When the
autonomy is compromised at the childhood it results in unhealthy adults. For older adults
maintaining moral autonomy and respecting individual rights is imperative. It occurs even when
physical independence declines. The external control at later stages is met with reassurance and
firmness. A child may be overindulged at this stage. This leads to a person becoming obsessive
with control and power. Meanwhile, a person can lose the capacity for power.
The initiative and guilt stage has a major significance in the later stages of psychosocial
development. When the child is allowed to initiate activities, it leads to a person developing a
sense of self-control. Hence, leads to the virtue of purpose. The person is able to explore their
capabilities in later life. This results in people maximizing their full potential in life. Meanwhile,
a child may be made to feel incapable. It happens when the parents treat the child as
embarrassing or nuisance or their behavior as threatening. Thus, a child develops a sense of
guilt. Too much guilt instills fear to a person. At later stages, this inhibits their creativity and
interaction with others. Hence, a person lacks a sense of purpose and direction.
How health professionals can promote wellbeing and/or minimize harm
Nurses play a major role in promoting public health. Nurses help people to overcome disabilities
or illnesses. Promoting wellbeing involves facilitating and promoting the overall wellbeing and

ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE ATTACHMENT 7
health (Donoso, et.al 2015). A registered nurse is of much significance in minimizing harm.
They strive to reduce the negative outcome associated with determinants of health. This is done
by increasing knowledge to people through education. Their major responsibilities are related to
enabling, advocating and meditating activities to reduce or minimize harm. They assess the
individual needs of health and provide patients with the information required to promote self-
care and health. They tackle the burden of health determinants. Hence, nurses proactively
confront challenges within social and individual contexts. They assess effective activities of
health promotion. Thus, while assessing activities nurses effectively planning and
implementation process. They can direct the local resources and give out wellness and health
information. Accessing health information to people can help them stay healthy. Moreover, the
nurses are proficient in competencies and skills required to promote health-related policy and
empower the communities to take action toward health improvement (Virpi, Kerttu & Hannele,
2012).
Conclusion
It is essential to understand the stage of psychosocial stages of developing. Knowledge in
the development of a human is crucial to effective healthcare. Thus, the knowledge of
establishing secure attachment will help improve the wellbeing of the person. It facilitates to
understand how the attachment occurs and their significance in-person development. This will
facilitate health practitioners to understand how they can deal with a person at a particular stage.
Moreover, they can offer education to the parents and caregivers on how to handle the stages
effectively.

ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE ATTACHMENT 8
References
Chung, D. (2018). The Eight Stages of Psychosocial Protective Development: Developmental
Psychology. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 8(06), 369.
Courtney A. ( 2018).What is Attachment Theory? Bowlby’s 4 Stages Explained. Retrieved from:
https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/attachment-theory/
Donoso, L. M. B., Demerouti, E., Hernandez, E. G., Moreno-Jimenez, B., & Cobo, I. C. (2015).
Positive benefits of caring on nurses’ motivation and well-being: A diary study about the
role of emotional regulation abilities at work. International journal of nursing
studies, 52(4), 804-816.
Karen-jo Wills. (2014). Psychosocial development and life events in adulthood:: a 22-year
sequential study. Retrieved from: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=3343&context=theses
Kendra, C. (2017). Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. Retrieved from:
https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-
2795740
Kendra, C. (2019). The Different Types of Attachment Styles. Retrieved from:
https://www.verywellmind.com/attachment-styles-2795344
Leigh, G., Ching, T. Y., Crowe, K., Cupples, L., Marnane, V., & Seeto, M. (2015). Factors
affecting psychosocial and motor development in 3-year-old children who are deaf or
hard of hearing. Journal of deaf studies and deaf education, 20(4), 331-342.

ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE ATTACHMENT 9
Lilliengren, P., Falkenström, F., Sandell, R., Mothander, P. R., & Werbart, A. (2015). Secure
attachment to therapist, alliance, and outcome in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with
young adults. Journal of counseling psychology, 62(1), 1.
Stephen B. Graves Ph.D. & Elizabeth Larkin. (2006). Lessons from Erikson, Journal of
Intergenerational Relationships. Retrieved from:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1300/J194v04n02_05
Virpi K, Kerttu T & Hannele T.(2012).Nurses' roles in health promotion practice: an integrative
review: Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article/28/4/490/556908