Extensive biological and developmental research shows significant neglect - the ongoing disruption or significant absence of caregiver responsiveness - can cause more lasting harm to a young child's development than overt physical abuse, including subsequent congnitive delays, impairments in executive functioning, and disruptions of the body's stress response. This edition of the InBrief series explains why significant deprivation is so harmful in the earliest years of life and why effective interventions are likely to pay significant dividends in better long-term outcomes in learning, health, and parenting of the next generation.

This six-minute video provides an overview of The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain, a Working Paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child.

You can watch the video above, or click on the links below to find out more.

Resources

YouTube: The Science of Neglect (external website)

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University: InBrief: The Science of Neglect (external website)