Attachment Vs Temperament Essay

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Attachment vs. Temperament The debate between the two schools of thought, attachment versus temperament, has been an ongoing battle. Reasoning behind both attachment and temperament make it difficult at times to confidently support one way or another. While the adaptation between child and caregiver can be hard to quantify, there are valid theories that support how crucial this relationship can be in the child’s development later in life. On the other hand, nothing is ever set in stone or permanent. That is the beauty of evolution, growth and free will that can greatly impact our outcomes. Given the opportunity to state my case, my personal beliefs align more with Sroufe’s attachment theories. Guided by who is known as the “Father of Attachment Theory” John Bowlby, suggests that early inter-personal experience determines the quality of attachment to the caregiver (cite paper). Bowlby’s theory simply outlines that the single most influential part of human development comes from the …show more content…

Kagan suggested that a serious limitation of attachment theory is its failure to recognize the profound influences of social class, gender, ethnicity, and culture on personality development (CITE: B-up-B article). The child’s temperament, added to specific life conditions, may well affect the caregiver’s attitudes, which in turn influence the quality of the child’s attachment (CITE – paper – behavioral problems). This supports that it’s not just the child’s attachment and ability to connect with their caregiver but also how the caregiver responds, their behavior towards the child and understanding the child’s needs. It’s the experience that a child has not only in their early stages of life but throughout many different developmental stages, that shapes their ability to become adapt and provide social competency in their

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