Suzanne Zeedyk
Research Scientist, Speaker, Trainer, Inspirer
Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk is a research scientist fascinated by babies’ innate capacity to connect. Based at the University of Dundee (Scotland), within the School of Psychology since 1993. Her academic career began when she completed her PhD at Yale University, USA.
In 2011, Suzanne stepped away from a full-time academic post to establish an independent training enterprise. Its aim to help the public understand science discoveries about the importance of emotional connection for human health and happiness.
Over 40,000 people have attended her speaking events, and she reaches over 50,000 people a week on social media. She works internationally with organisations keen to think more deeply about fostering connection, compassion and resilience.
In 2014, Suzanne broadened her reach by founding the organization connected baby working to help parents and professionals use of the science of connection. Relationships matter – as much for human brains as for human hearts. Suzanne’s core aspiration continues to be strengthening awareness of the decisions we take about caring for our children — because those choices are integrally connected to our vision for the kind of society we wish to build.
Key takeaways:
- Suzanne’s Background: Suzanne, a research scientist at the University of Dundee’s School of Psychology, founded Connected Baby to promote the science of emotional connection, drawing from her 20-year academic career and fascination with babies’ connections.
- Focus on Connection: She emphasizes that babies are born connected, and these early relationships shape brain and body development, impacting health, happiness, and societal outcomes across the lifespan.
- Behavior as Communication: Suzanne advocates viewing all behavior as communication, reflecting underlying biological states (stress or calm) and needs, rather than defaulting to seeing it as misbehavior requiring punishment.
- Biological Framework: Using the metaphor of “saber-tooth tigers” (stress/fight-or-flight) and “teddy bears” (calm/oxytocin-driven comfort), she explains how children’s behavior is driven by their biological state, urging curiosity over control.
- Critique of Punishment: Referencing Michael Carson’s work, Suzanne argues that punishment produces short-term compliance, not long-term moral development, and may stem from adults’ anger, potentially causing harm without addressing underlying needs.
- Practical Applications: Examples like Lullaby Lane Nursery (prioritizing cuddles), Patuka East Primary School (using “distressed” instead of “challenging” behavior), and a school with teddy bear policies show how settings apply connection-focused practices to support children’s self-regulation.
- Systemic Change: Suzanne calls for rethinking education by centering relationships in policies, challenging traditional behavior management, and addressing systemic issues like underfunded early years support, which impacts long-term mental health and societal outcomes.
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