The Signal Newsletter of the World Association for Infant Mental Health
Vol. 20, No. 1 | January–March 2012 THE SIGNAL Newsletter of the World Association for Infant Mental Health The father-child activation relationship: a new theory to understand the development of infant mental health By Daniel Paquette, Ph. D. exploration system that fosters the child’s the world (Paquette et al., 2009). According School of psychoeducation, knowledge acquisition and adaptation to Le Camus (2000), paternal roles can be University of Montreal to unfamiliar environments. Children grouped together under the function of regularly seek comfort through contact opening children to the outside world. The activation relationship theory is a with attachment figures when tired, Fathers act as catalysts for risk-taking, complement to the attachment theory. hungry, sick or afraid or when feeling inciting children to use initiative in According to John Bowlby (1969), insecure in the presence of novelty, and unfamiliar situations, to explore, take attachment consists of two opposing, this comfort provides them with the chances, overcome obstacles, be braver complementary behaviour systems: 1) necessary confidence to explore their in the presence of strangers, and stand up the proximity behaviour system that environment further. The Strange Situation for themselves (Paquette, 2004a, 2004b; ensures the child’s protection and 2) the Procedure (SSP) developed by Mary Paquette, Eugène, Dubeau & Gagnon, Ainsworth and colleagues (1978) has made 2009). This function of opening children it possible to assess the quality of the to the world is also mediated by language. Contents attachment relationship in children ages Studies have shown that fathers play the Paquette: The father-child activation 12-18 months by focusing more on the role of a linguistic bridge to the outside relationship: a new theory to understand the secure base than on the parent’s response world by using more complex forms of development of infant mental health ............1 to the baby’s need for stimulation in language (by referring to past events, exploratory contexts.
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