ABSTRACT
The notion of child development refers to predominantly irreversible transformations that occur over time as a result of intertwined physical growth, physiological maturation, and social adaptation. There are many different theories of development in contemporary psychology. The notion of social situation of development (SSD) was constructed by L. S. Vygotsky in conjunction with the dynamics of child’s development. SSD was a relational construct in which the current characteristics of a child interplayed with the interactions within his or her social structure to create a starting point for a new cycle of developmental changes. Connectedness is a state of being socially related to a significant degree to a person or a group, and being accepted and integrated into this bond is meaningful for the child’s relationship. A lack of or a distorted social connectedness is the major trauma-producing factor in internationally adopted, post-institutionalized children.
