Course Resources Archive

This module is designed for people working with young children and their families or carers in a professional or a para-professional role or for those planning to undertake this role. It explores the crucial impact of the quality of early relationships and the early environment for attachments, neurological development and mental health throughout childhood and adulthood. Methods of intervention and services to promote infant mental health and the developmental correlates of secure and traumatic attachment are explored.

This module will cover the following topics:

• The evolutionary background of attachment theory;
• Categories of attachment and their consequences for subsequent development;
• The plasticity of the brain and importance of social interaction to brain growth;
• The stress response and its neurological consequences;
• Windows of opportunity for skill development in relation to age;
• The effect of neglect and abuse, especially at times of developmental vulnerability;
• The relationship between infant and adult mental health;
• The sociological, psychological and biological risk factors for vulnerability to infant mental ill health;
• Services and interventions to promote infant mental health;
• The purpose of anger and the correlates of the failure to self manage;
• Correlates of traumatic attachment in adolescence and adult life.

i. Knowledge and understanding.
On successful completion of the module the student should be able to:
a) Critically evaluate the reasons why the quality of early relationships is so important to infant development;
b) Evaluate the consequences of traumatic attachment and stress to infant mental health and behaviour;
c) Analyse the correlation between infant and adult mental health and behaviour;
d) Evaluate services and methods for promoting positive attachment.

ii. Skills. 
On successful completion of the module the student should be able to:
a) Communicate orally and in writing with parents and children in relation to sensitive developmental issues;
b) Practice reflectively in order to support individuals in their relationships;
c) Evaluate service delivery.

Staff/student contact: 20%
Student directed learning: 80%

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.