In addition to meeting the child's basic needs for care, nutrition, safety and love, parents have another important task: to provide conditions for the normal mental development of the future personality.
Differences in the development of the psyche in humans and animals
In both animals and humans, the psyche is constantly developing. But there is a significant difference between us: genetics affects the psyche and character of the animal to a greater extent. The development of their psyche is, in fact, the transfer of biological experience: the mother-cat will show the kittens what to eat and what not, how to hunt, how high you can climb and jump, who should be feared. The rest will be completed by nature: it will polish the knowledge and skills received from the mother.
For the full development of the human psyche, biological experience is not enough - we live in a society, among many human things and relationships. That is why the children of "Mowgli", who were raised in early childhood by animals, are practically unable to become full-fledged members of our society.
Biological prerequisites for the development of the psyche
It is possible to speak about the normal development of the psyche only when a properly formed brain and nervous system is the basis. Changes in the anatomy of the brain can be congenital, due to diseases of the pregnant woman, her nutrition, stress, and so on. Can be acquired: for example, with an injury to the occipital-parietal region, the ability to count is lost.
Some children have innate abilities and inclinations for certain activities. They can master, for example, playing musical instruments faster and achieve better results than those who do not have these abilities. The task of adults is to recognize these inclinations in time and create conditions for their development.
Age-related changes also affect mental activity, for example, in old age, the ability to adapt to the environment decreases, so it is difficult for older people to understand modern music, fashion and customs of young people.
Socialization
The external environment has the greatest influence on the formation and development of the psyche: the relations and attitudes of parents, society, religion, culture, living conditions.
The need for communication is one of the main ones. Communication is not only the transfer of information, but also the knowledge of oneself. Over the course of life, the attitude towards communication changes: for a small child it is rather attention, and then the need for respect, understanding.
Stages of mental development
There are certain stages through which mental development goes. If some stage of development is not passed, then it will no longer be able to catch up, there will be a deviation in the psyche.
In the first year of life, the main task of a little person is to learn as much information as possible about the world around him, and to get enough attention from his mother. Then, gradually, the connection with the mother weakens, and by the age of three, the child increasingly says "I myself." From three to seven years old, the child plays role-playing games, his future social roles are laid. After eight years, intelligence is actively developing.
Mental retardation can be caused by overprotection, a shift in the gender roles of parents, and a lack of close communication.
