Posted: September 6th, 2023

Developmental Stages and Mental Health Vulnerabilities

Developmental stages
Knowledge and application of developmental theory constitutes a foundational component of the PMHNP role. You will need to expand your knowledge of theories for professional practice. This week you will choose an attachment, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, or biological developmental theory.

For this discussion forum, using your chosen theory, identify what happens as individuals move through developmental stages. Address the following in your initial post:

How can interruptions in the achievement of developmental stages affect an individual?
According to your theory, identify the developmental vulnerabilities that could precipitate mental health symptoms.

Developmental Stages and Mental Health Vulnerabilities
Introduction
Developmental theory provides a framework for understanding human growth and behavior across the lifespan. Interruptions or delays in achieving expected developmental milestones can negatively impact an individual’s mental health and psychosocial functioning. This paper will explore how disruptions in developmental stages may manifest as vulnerabilities based on Attachment Theory.
Attachment Theory and Developmental Stages
Originally proposed by John Bowlby and further developed by Mary Ainsworth, Attachment Theory posits that the bond formed between infant and caregiver in the early years shapes socioemotional development and interpersonal relationships (Ainsworth et al., 2015). Through interactions with available and responsive caregivers, infants develop internal working models or expectations about themselves and others that carry forward (Bretherton, 1992).
The primary stages in attachment development include pre-attachment (birth to 6 weeks), attachment-in-the-making (6 weeks to 6 months), clear-cut attachment (6-8 months), and goal-corrected partnership (3-4 years) (Cassidy & Shaver, 2016). Disruptions during these critical periods, such as inconsistent caregiving, neglect, abuse or separation, can interfere with the child’s ability to form a secure attachment style.
Developmental Vulnerabilities
According to Attachment Theory, interruptions in the early attachment relationship may manifest as vulnerabilities in three main areas:
Difficulties with Trust and Intimacy
Infants who do not develop a sense of trust in the availability and sensitivity of caregivers may struggle to form close relationships as adults (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2016). They may exhibit an anxious-ambivalent or avoidant attachment style characterized by fears of abandonment or emotional distance.
Problems with Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy

When basic needs for comfort, protection and nurturance are not reliably met, children do not internalize a model of themselves as worthy or competent (Bowlby, 1988). This can lead to low self-esteem, helplessness, and difficulty regulating emotions as developmental vulnerabilities.
Impaired Social Competence
The early parent-child relationship provides a template for social skills like cooperation, empathy and emotional regulation (Sroufe et al., 2005). Insecure attachments are linked to problems forming friendships, antisocial behavior, and mental health issues like depression later in life (Weinfield et al., 2008).
In summary, disruptions in achieving secure attachment during critical early periods may confer vulnerabilities affecting core domains of functioning across the lifespan. Early intervention is important to help mitigate these risks and promote healthy socioemotional development.
References
Ainsworth, M. D., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (2015). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Psychology Press.
Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. Basic books.
Bretherton, I. (1992). The origins of attachment theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Developmental psychology, 28(5), 759.
Cassidy, J., & Shaver, P. R. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications. Guilford Publications.
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2016). Mental representations of attachment security: Theoretical foundation for a positive social psychology. Interpersonal development, 233-266.
Sroufe, L. A., Egeland, B., Carlson, E. A., & Collins, W. A. (2005). Placing early attachment experiences in developmental context. Attachment from infancy to adulthood: The major longitudinal studies, 48-70.
Weinfield, N. S., Sroufe, L. A., Egeland, B., & Carlson, E. (2008). Individual differences in infant-caregiver attachment: Conceptual and empirical aspects of security. Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications, 78-101.