[A new approach to the attachment process and the child functioning]

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Ethology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• John Bowlby's attachment theory significantly influenced developmental psychology and clinical practice.
• Advances in attachment theory have facilitated new conceptual frameworks and research directions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of core-competencies as an integration of individual development, attachment processes, and behavioral adjustments.
• To highlight how core-competencies facilitate information processing and adaptation in children from birth through infancy.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific sources influencing John Bowlby's attachment theory.
• Analysis of research on mother-child interactions and young children's interactions.
• Ethological observations of children in controlled conditions.

Main Results:

• Identified five core-competencies: sustained visual attention, desire for interaction, affiliative behavior, imitation, and structured gesture organization.
• Core-competencies are organizational nuclei enabling children to integrate information with their idiosyncrasies.
• Secure attachment and development of core-competencies foster affective security, emotional release, and cognitive development.

Conclusions:

• Core-competencies provide a new perspective for interpreting child development, integrating attachment, and behavioral adjustment.
• Secure attachment and the development of core-competencies are crucial for emotional and cognitive growth.
• These factors enable children to process emotions, master cognitive skills, and structure their imagination.