Reference no: EM132467464

Assignment: Role of Attachment and Empathy

Attachment starts from the moment of birth as an infant begins to recognize her mother's smell, voice, and face. Children with insecure attachment due to a parent with unresolved emotional issues or an inconsistent parenting style show an inability to consistently show emotions. Children who have a secure attachment to at least one adult have higher self-esteem, social skills, and empathy. Empathy can be shown by children as young as 2 years of age and continues to develop into adolescence. Empathy is critical to the formation of healthy, reciprocal relationships. It allows individuals to understand how someone else may feel. If empathy is lacking, an individual may not hold back from physically or emotionally harming others because he does not have the capacity to understand how the impact of such harm. The relationship between the lack of empathy and antisocial behavior can be evident in children in early to middle elementary school years. This lack of empathy is one of the primary contributors to violent behavior.

In this Assignment, you analyze the role that attachment plays in the development of empathy and how empathy is a protective factor against violent behavior. You also explore the expression "neurons that fire together wire together" and how it relates to violent behavior.

To prepare for this Assignment:

• Review the Learning Resources related to attachment and empathy.

In a 3- to 5- page paper:

• Explain the role of attachment in empathy.

• Explain how and why the presence of empathy may be a protective factor against causing harm.

• Provide an example of a violent crime and how attachment and empathy may play a role.

• Explain whether or not empathy may be hard-wired. If so, how? Provide an example.

• Explain the expression "neurons that fire together wire together." Provide an example.