Hormonal Synchrony in Mothers and Infants

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO LOW ENROLLMENT. PLEASE LOOK FOR IT TO BE RESCHEDULED IN SEVERAL WEEKS.

MSU Extension is pleased to offer professional development opportunities designed to assist youth development program staff and volunteer administrators in their efforts. Sessions are designed from the youth development perspective; however, all interested participants are welcome.

The development of infants’ abilities to organize their own biorhythms, and eventually to cope with the larger environment is thought to occur within the early mother-infant relationship. In a coordinated relationship, both members must adapt to other one's patterns of emotional involvement in order to establish a synchrony in behavior or biology. This kind of "match" of cortisol (important hormone for stress and coping) between mothers and their infants gives us a window into some of the important processes involved in developing secure emotional bonds. We will focus on breastfeeding, sensitivity, and warmth as maternal behaviors that might account for the synchrony we see between cortisol levels in mothers and infants. This webinar includes the topics of development of emotion regulation in young children, and the ways in which parents support young children's development of the skills they need to organize their own emotional responses.

Pre-registration for this event is encouraged but not required. To pre-register, please visit: http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=FacultyWebinar413

Presenter bio:

Dr. Kathy Stansbury is a developmental psychologist, trained at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Minnesota, who has taught courses and conducted research for more than 20 years. Her work has focused on the development of emotion regulation in young children, and the ways in which parents support young children's development of the skills they need to organize their own emotional responses. The physical stress responses associated with emotion and coping with emotion have also been a focus of her research.