My Developmental Autobiography

By: Victor C. Dos Anjos
07-02-2015
Professor Richard Dehmer
PSY2012

At birth, I was emotionally attached to my mother. In addition to the obvious physical connection of the umbilical cord, I had a strong emotional connection to my mother. During infancy and early childhood, one form of attachment-socio-emotional-begins to replace the original physical attachment of the cord. As dependent as ever, I required constant attention and care from another human being in order to survive. Calories and a "bath" of physical sensations-sight, sounds, smells, touch, and taste-helped me survive and grow to meet my potential. This somatosensory bath from my mother-the rocking, hugs, coos, and smiles-were transformed by my sensory systems into patterned neuronal activity that influenced the development of my brain in positive ways. It is in this dependent relationship between my mother and I that this new form of attachment grew. This attachment-the emotional relationship-is not as easy to see or document, yet it is nonetheless as important for human development as the umbilical cord is in utero.
It is these experiences of infancy and early childhood that create the roots of attachment-the capacity to form and maintain healthy emotional relationships. Except in the most extreme cases we are all born with the genetic capability to form and maintain healthy emotional relationships. When the I had attentive, responsive, and loving care giving from my mother, this genetic potential was expressed. And as this I became a toddler and more people-family, friends, peers-entered my life, I continued to develop this capacity to have healthy and strong emotional relationships.
During adolescence puberty, I became increasingly conscious of my body image. I developed sexual, gender, and ethnic identities. Peer relationships became increasingly important