Emotional neglect represents dysfunction of the protective parental relationship on which children depend while they learn the skills needed for safe independence. It affects key developmental foundations, including perceptions of self, which should be acquired through the mirror of attuned parenting, and can have lifelong consequences for stress regulation. In distorting children’s preconceptions of relationships, it has implications for everything that should be learnt through and modelled by others. It influences the development of skills needed to function effectively both independently and through relationships.
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