After reading chapter 3 in our textbook, Introduction to Psychology from a Christian
Worldview by Shawn George, Brian Kelley and Rachel Piferi, I choose to write about the infancy
stage along with the emotional domain. When talking about the infancy stage in terms of
psychology, it means “The critical stage of human development from conception to roughly age
2.” i Whereas the emotional domain means “Children’s ability to develop positive relationships
and ideas about themselves and their abilities, regulate their emotions, behavior, impulses and
express emotions.”ii In this paper, we will go into the primary needs of that infancy stage along
with activities that will help foster good development in this stage. We also will touch on how
the emotional domain helps this stage tremulously.
Babies are born with certain reflexes that help them survive in the world and allow them
to keep growing. Some of them include the moro, grasp and sucking reflex.iii As the babies grow
and change those reflexes will integrate and no longer be needed. These certain reflexes allow
for growth development along with physical development. While they are learning physically,
they are also being met with emotional support, such as interacting in a calm, happy tone. They
also need social development of parents playing with them, reading books to them, and showing
them bright colorful patterns. While babies are fun and enjoyable, they do have the most
important primary needs which include, food, clothing, shelter, calm and happy emotional
interactions, and parents to interact with them with certain bright, crazy patterns.
To meet these primary needs, there are some ways to make sure that they happen.
One example would be, when it comes to feeding a baby, at first, they require either formula or
breastmilk, once they get older in the infancy stage, they will require fruits, veggies, carbs, and
protein. When infants are first starting out, they do need a parent’s attention almost 24/7. As a
second example they need a parent who is willing to be calm when the baby is unable to
communicate its needs, able to play silly games like peek a boo or patty cake, and able to read
them the “B book” or “Goodnight moon”. Another example of parents being able to meet their
developmental needs would showing their child a bright and colorful book or toys along with
black and white pictures and books. iv
When it comes to an infant’s emotional domain, it will change rather quickly. Most
infants can express certain feelings like happiness, anger or joy. As they grow older, they can
smile, express emotions verbally or show emotions with their face and be able to respond
emotionally correctly. For these emotional domains to happen, it is important for a parent to be
able to respond to situations calmly, to the point tone with their child. The parent also needs to be
able to express their emotions and handle receiving emotions that are not regulated. Lastly, they
need to be able to discuss what is going on, help their child learn what went wrong and be able to
explain different outcomes.
The newborn to infant stage is one of my favorite stages. Things are happening so
quickly, they seem to be changing every day and learning something new from physical tricks to
new emotional needs, to speaking new sentences. At this stage, there are only a few needs that a
infant would need which would include shelter, food, clothing, and good examples of emotional
needs along with certain social and developmental needs. Many of these needs can be easily
fulfilled by their parents by providing food, clothing and play time. Their emotional domain is
also changing quite quickly and frequently. The infant stage is one of the hardest but sweetest
stages of a child’s life.
i George, S., Kelley, B., & Piferi, R. (2023). Introduction to psychology from a Christian worldview
(2nd Edition). Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
ii Social & Emotional Development - Colorado Early Learning & Development Guidelines. (2020,
February 24). Colorado Early Learning & Development Guidelines.
https://earlylearningco.org/guidelines/ages-3-5/social-emotional-development/#:~:text=Social
%20%26%20Emotional%20Development-,The%20Social%20%26%20Emotional%20domain
%20describes%20children's%20ability%20to%20develop%20positive,and%20impulses%2C
%20and%20express%20emotions.
iii George, S., Kelley, B., & Piferi, R. (2023). Introduction to psychology from a Christian worldview
(2nd Edition). Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
iv Regali, V. (2021, April 22). What is Infant Developmental Psychology? All Psychology Careers.
https://www.allpsychologycareers.com/psychology/infant-developmental-psychology/#:~:text=Infant%20developmental
%20psychology%20addresses%20the,stage%20of%20a%20person's%20life
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