Building emotional bonds of babies in differents contexts of out-of-home care.

• Grant number: 13/06012-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: April 22, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Human Development Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Katia de Souza Amorim
• Grantee: Gabriella Garcia Moura
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/25346-0 - Emotions and gestures in infants: theoretical and methodological resources in research on affective bond construction, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

In psychology, the affective bonds are considered as central for human development, particularly in the first years of life. As it is hypothesized that such affective binding ability is inherent and necessary either for the survival of the children or for human cultural share, regardless of the (a)d(i)verse conditions, the objective of this research is to investigate, in different contexts (Institutional and Foster Care), the process of affective bonds construction between infant and his/her caregivers. Thereunto, it is here proposed to carry on a longitudinal study regarding two babies in each context, in relation to their specific caregivers. The main methodological pathway consists of video recordings made along three months, observing relations since the baby's arrival to institutional or foster care. Also it will be conducted interviews with caregivers, fortnightly, in order to investigate their perceptions related to affective bonds, issues on the babies' greetings in general and specifically on the relationship established with the specific baby. For analysis, two procedures will be used: a quantitative systematic methodology, seeking to evaluate, through some categories, the occurrence of signs and expressions of affective bonds as "orientation of attention", "search/maintenance of proximity" and " social exchanges". After the identification of these signs, it will be conducted a qualitative microgenetic analysis, in order to follow up the processes and their eventual (trans)formations within relations The Network of meanings will the theoretical-methodological support, which will help at analyzing the interwoven relations, besides the multiple meanings present on the complex situation. Besides the theoretical relevance of the topic, this research can also contribute to give support to policies related to such social / institutional care, taking into account these aspects, in order to establish parameters for caregivers formation and creating strategies.