The Attachment Theory in Child Psychology The term "attachment" describes "an infant's tendency to seek closeness to particular people and to feel more secure in their presence" (Atkinson et al, 2000, p90). This essay will attempt to provide a brief and up to date summary of attachment theory and research, show how it is linked to Child Abuse, the Family, and Children and Divorce, critically evaluating attachment's predictive value. One of the most influential theories in the history of attachment has been that of John Bowlby developed during a study of the mental health of homeless children for the World Health Organisation in 1951. This proposed a multidisciplinary stance in which psychoanalysis appears to be integrated with paradigms such as ethology's "imprinting" phenomenon and "critical period" (Lorenz (1935) cited in Durkin (2000) p83), cybernetic theory of control systems (Bowlby (1988) p3), social, (Hodges & Tizard (1989)), and cultural psychology (Gnaulati & Heine (2001)). Whereas it seems that Freud and virtually all subsequent analysts had worked from an end-product backwards, whilst agreeing with the importance of the relationship with the mother, Bowlby took the reverse position to understand the origin, function and development of the child's early socio-emotional relations. His early research concluded that the development of a "warm, intimate, and continuous relationship with his mother" Bowlby, (1953) cited in Gross (2000) p550, was crucial for the infant to achieve successful close and personal relationships as an adult. Highlighti... ... middle of paper ... ...this complexity of variables is indicative of the problems encountered with predictions in individual development and Dunn, (1993) p114, would argue that the use of the attachment framework for predicting relationships in later life is "both limited and limiting". Indeed, it is doubtful whether attachment categorisation would hold true for children with congenital abnormalities and special needs such as autism, which classification alone offers predictive potential in its own right. In retrospect, that attachment categorisation alone can accurately predict a child's circumstances or future appears to be a somewhat of a tenuous claim and raises the question as to whether an attachment construct has any value at all from logical and scientific point of view (Weinraub et al. (1977). Ainsworth, M.D.S.(1989). Attachments
Relationships are the building block for personality and are significant in children’s ability to grow into substantial individuals who can thrive in an often harsh world. Constructing lasting and fulfilling relationships is an integral part to development as the interpersonal bonds forged are not only highly sought after but also set the ground work for all upcoming expressive interactions. Relationships and attachment go hand in hand as attachment is the strong and lasting linkage established between a child and his or her caregiver. Moreover, attachment significantly influences a large capacity of ones make up as it these first relationships that teaches morals, builds self-esteem, and develops a support system. The pioneers of Attachment Theory realized early on that human beings are not solely influenced by drives but that the earliest bonds formed by children with their caregivers greatly impact their ability to forge lasting relationships later in life. John Bowlby was first to introduce this theory to the masses in the 1950’s, and later Mary Ainsworth conducted further research to expand on Bowlby’s theory which proclaims that attachment is a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings” (Bowlby, 1969, p. 194). The attachment bond theory by both Bowlby and Ainsworth focuses on the significance of the relationship between babies and their caretakers which research has suggested is accountable for influencing impending interactions, firming or injuring our capabilities to concentrate, being aware of our emotional states, self-soothing capabilities, and the capacity to be resilient in the face of hardship. Additionally, this research has provided a framework for assisting in describing these att...
Modern Attachment Theory is in integration of Bowlby’s attachment Theory and neurobiology. This theory not only focuses on the attachment the child has with the parents but how that attachment can impact the development of brain. According to this theory, attachment is crucial to the development of the right brain, which is described as the neurobiological core of human unconsciousness. The right brain also controls neurobiological symptoms such as the processing of emption and self-regulation (Schore & Schore, 2007). Attachment in early childhood determines how an individual will attach to others later in life (Berzoff, Flanagan, & Hertz, 2011).
Criticisms of attachment theory have come mainly from the feminist schools of thought since the theory has been used to argue that no woman with a young child should work outside the home or spend time away from her baby (Goodsell and Meldrum, 2010). Children’s experience and development also depend on what happens after early years, whether bad or good later in life may change a child’s emotional development, e.g. lack of basic needs, diet, education, stimulation such as play might affect a child’s development (Rutter, 1981) Difference in cultures have to be taken into consideration as well. A study by Schaffer and Emmerson (1964) provided contradictory evidence from Bowlby’s attachment theory. They noted attachment was more prominent at eight months, and afterwards children became attached to more than one person. By one year six months only 13%of infants had one attachment. This study by Schafer and Emmerson (1964) concluded care giver can be male or female and mothering can be a shared responsibility. Social workers should therefore understand that parents are not totally responsible for the way the children develop. They did give them their genes and therefore do have some influence. Attachment theory also fails to consider the fact that the father and siblings, and other close relatives can also
The therapeutic process is an opportunity for both healing and restoration as well as discovering new ways of being. Although exposed to a variety of psychological theories, I narrowed my theoretical orientation to a relational psychodynamic approach, drawing on attachment theory and Intersubjective Systems Theory (IST). IST describes how the subjective experiences, both embodied and affective, of an individual becomes the manner of organization, or way of being, in which the person operates in the world relationally. It is through this process of transference and countertransference, the unconscious ways of being can become explicit and through the collaborative effort of therapist and client, new ways of organizing the relational world can
...n infant will form attachments for more than purely the need for food and that they crave care, comfort and safety. These early attachment theories prove that an infant needs a loving and protective relationship with a parent or primary caregiver and this relationship will continue to develop into childhood and may possibly have an impact in later life.
There is much debate surrounding the subject of infant attachment styles and the resounding effect they have on adult relationships. Attachment theory highlights the influence of early experience on shaping children’s conceptualization of responsiveness and trustworthiness of a significant other (Frayley, Roisman Booth-LaForce, Owen & Holland, 2013). The theory also suggests that an individual that is cared for consistently and responsively will assume that others will be supportive and available when necessary (Ainsworth Blehar, Waters & Wall, 1978). This assumption is influential of the way individuals control attachment behaviour and can consequently effect social development and interpersonal relations (Frayley et al., 2013). A prevalent
According to Rothbaum, Rosen, Ujiie, and Uchida (2002), attachment and systems theories have similarities but remarkable differences: Attachment is between individual family relationships and systems affect the entire family, dyad attachments provide protection, care, and security, while the system of the family provides dynamics, structures, roles, communication patterns, boundaries and power differentials. Although attachment theory typically refers to a child-adult relationship and the systems theory focuses on family functioning, the latter is affected by attachment patterns within the family (Rothbaum et al., 2002).
The Development of Attachment Psychological research can inform us about the development of attachments to a certain extent. Mary Ainsworth actually covered a definition explaining, how we know when an attachment has developed. This is; 'the infant tries to get close to and maintain that proximity with the caregiver, using a number of strategies to do so. E.g. clinging and signalling behaviours such as smiling, crying and calling.' The fact she has outlined this definition obviously shows she must have evidence to back her definition up.
It has been shown that the relationships infants develop early on in life have lasting effects on their identity and behavior. Extensive research has indicated that the relationship between an infant and its caregivers is particularly important.
Attachment is one of the most important aspects of the relationship between one person and another in ensuring secure and trusting bond. It is very important in all stages of life for it greatly impacts on relationship formation, self-identity and confidence. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to outline those impacts in infants, childhood and adulthood.
Attachment is an important aspect through the developmental stages of a child. It is the process through which an individual develops specific bonds with others (). John Bowlby theorized Attachment Theory, which focuses on a behavioral system that demonstrates the response of an adult when a child signals which can lead to a strong trusting relationship (). Through attachment infants develop strong emotional bonds with others, which can result in a more positive outcome later in life.
Attachment is described as the close emotional bond between two people and Attachment Theory (AT) generally concentrates on the early bonds in a person’s development as well as the effects that these bonds have on later socio-emotional development. While emphasis on attachment as an antecedent for future behavior and personality has decreased somewhat in recent years, it is interesting to note that the DSM IV-TR includes a “reactive attachment disorder” which it states is caused when extreme circumstances prevent proper attachment development.
Attachment is an emotional bond that is from one person to another. The attachment theory is a psychological, an evolutionary and an ethological theory that is concerned with relationships between humans, specifically between mother and infant. A young infant has to develop a relationship with at least one of their primary caregivers for them to develop socially and emotionally. Social competence is the condition that possesses the social, emotional and intellectual skills and behaviours, the infant needs these to success as a member of society. Many studies have been focused on the Western society, but there are many arguments to whether or not this can be applicable to other cultures, such as the poorer countries.
In understanding others, one must first understand our own family background and how it affects our understanding of the world. Conversely, family systems draw on the view of the family as an emotional unit. Under system thinking, one evaluates the parts of the systems in relation to the whole meaning behavior becomes informed by and inseparable from the functioning of one’s family of origin. These ideas show that individuals have a hard time separating from the family and the network of relationships. With a deeper comprehension of the family of origin helps with the challenges and awareness of normalized human behaviors. When interviewing and analyzing the family of origin, allow one to look at their own family of origin
Attachment theory is the idea that a child needs to form a close relationship with at least one primary caregiver. The theory proved that attachment is necessary to ensure successful social and emotional development in an infant. It is critical for this to occur in the child’s early infant years. However, failed to prove that this nurturing can only be given by a mother (Birns, 1999, p. 13). Many aspects of this theory grew out of psychoanalyst, John Bowlby’s research. There are several other factors that needed to be taken into account before the social worker reached a conclusion; such as issues surrounding poverty, social class and temperament. These factors, as well as an explanation of insecure attachment will be further explored in this paper.