Dependency need
Encyclopedia
A dependency need is characterized by two components: (1) It is a real need of the organism, something that must be present for the human
being to thrive, (2) It is something that individuals cannot provide for themselves. An infant
has very many dependency needs. Some are obvious, and some have only come to the attention of researchers as the result of epidemiological studies. It is very well known that infants must be adequately fed, provided with adequate water, kept within a narrow range of temperature, cleaned, etc. It was not well known until the middle of the 20th century that infants also need the presence of warmth and the texture of skin
or fur
. In other words, infants need something that is usually called "maternal warmth" even though males and even members of other species can provide it. The phenomenon was first noticed when researchers learned of the higher mortality rates for infants maintained in orphanage
s. When the obvious factors such as inadequate nutrition
, contagious disease
s, etc., were ruled out, researchers discovered that mortality rates could be greatly ameliorated by having the nurses in charge of these infants cuddle them in a way that approximated the amount of cuddling infants would normally receive from their own parent
s. One classic study involved groups of monkey
s that were removed from their mothers during early infancy. The members of one group were maintained in warmed sterile
cages and fed from a rubber nipple that was readily available to them. A second group was provided with a maternal figure made of wire mesh, with the nipple in the appropriate position on the figure's body. A third group was provided with a similar mock-up of a mother monkey, but the model was covered with manmade fur. The survival rates and eventual adult levels of social competency varied according to how well the experimental devices provided for the dependency needs of the infant monkeys.
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
being to thrive, (2) It is something that individuals cannot provide for themselves. An infant
Infant
A newborn or baby is the very young offspring of a human or other mammal. A newborn is an infant who is within hours, days, or up to a few weeks from birth. In medical contexts, newborn or neonate refers to an infant in the first 28 days after birth...
has very many dependency needs. Some are obvious, and some have only come to the attention of researchers as the result of epidemiological studies. It is very well known that infants must be adequately fed, provided with adequate water, kept within a narrow range of temperature, cleaned, etc. It was not well known until the middle of the 20th century that infants also need the presence of warmth and the texture of skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
or fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
. In other words, infants need something that is usually called "maternal warmth" even though males and even members of other species can provide it. The phenomenon was first noticed when researchers learned of the higher mortality rates for infants maintained in orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
s. When the obvious factors such as inadequate nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, contagious disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
s, etc., were ruled out, researchers discovered that mortality rates could be greatly ameliorated by having the nurses in charge of these infants cuddle them in a way that approximated the amount of cuddling infants would normally receive from their own parent
Parent
A parent is a caretaker of the offspring in their own species. In humans, a parent is of a child . Children can have one or more parents, but they must have two biological parents. Biological parents consist of the male who sired the child and the female who gave birth to the child...
s. One classic study involved groups of monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
s that were removed from their mothers during early infancy. The members of one group were maintained in warmed sterile
Sterilization (microbiology)
Sterilization is a term referring to any process that eliminates or kills all forms of microbial life, including transmissible agents present on a surface, contained in a fluid, in medication, or in a compound such as biological culture media...
cages and fed from a rubber nipple that was readily available to them. A second group was provided with a maternal figure made of wire mesh, with the nipple in the appropriate position on the figure's body. A third group was provided with a similar mock-up of a mother monkey, but the model was covered with manmade fur. The survival rates and eventual adult levels of social competency varied according to how well the experimental devices provided for the dependency needs of the infant monkeys.