Attachment Theory Of Attachment

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To understand the attachment theory, we must understand a clear definition of what attachment is. According to merriam-webster.com attachment is the physical connection by which one thing is attached to another. From my point of view, attachment is the lasting bond between child/children to their belonging primary caregiver. Attachment behavior in adults towards the child includes responding sensitively and appropriately to the child’s needs. Such behavior appears universal across cultures. Attachment theory explains how the primary caregiver and child relationship influences development between the two. Many psychologists have proposed theories that they believed were important in forming attachments. The behaviorist suggested that attachment …show more content…

The determined factor as other theorist would have suggested was not by feeding but by care and attentiveness. He observed that feedings did not decrease the fear the child felt when separated from their mother. An infant that creates an attachment with their mother/ primary caregiver would act like a base for a secure foundation in later encounters in life. In his theory a child should develop an attachment to their primary caregiver between the ages of 0-5. Disrupting the formation of the attachment or failing to form an attachment can cause severe consequences such as aggression and learning …show more content…

This response makes the mother continue providing the care and stimulation the child needs to ensure a healthy development. As the child gets older they begin to follow their mother, always being able to reach her always. Children who created a bond to their mother or primary caregiver were more likely to receive comfort and protection when needed, and therefore, more likely to survive to adulthood. Mary Ainsworth was a developmental psychologist who expanded on Bowlby work of the attachment theory. She created a study that is still relevant today called “The Strange Situation”. It was developed to better understand the different reactions children had when separated from their mother. She found that every interaction created a different response from the child. The way mothers responded to their child is the way children would interact to their mother. The procedure, known as the ‘Strange Situation’, was conducted by observing the behavior of the infant in a series of eight episodes lasting approximately 3 minutes each: (1) Mother, baby and experimenter (lasts less than one minute). (2) Mother and baby

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