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Characterstics of attachment theory
Strengths of attachment theory
Strengths of attachment theory
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Paper 2 – Behavorist vs. Attachment Theorist in Daycares
Childcare programs for six to twelve month infants would be structured differently from a behaviorist and an attachment theorist. Based on each theory and its ideas their programs would be shaped with the child’s best interest in mind but fitted to suit their beliefs and principles. Attachment theorists have a negative view on childcare programs. Their program would encourage that of main caregivers found at home and look to grow other attachments and relationships with others. Behaviorists have a neutral stance when it comes to placing children in childcare. Their program would develop reinforcement theories and practices for children so their behavior can become classically conditioned for future events that may rise. Each program would be designated differently and would vary on the hours spent in daycare, the peer-to-peer interactions, and the developmental skills the theorist would implement.
Behaviorists are more impartial when it comes to daycare. They believe that it can either benefit or harm the child; it depends upon parental and daycare practices. Behaviorists would find it valuable to start to educate and train infants at a very young age. Behaviorists are looking to make learned associations between stimuli and behaviors. The external environment will be used to make associations to teach infants through biological predispositions such as a cry, and what it will indicate to caregivers. Infants can begin to make links between their basic needs and desires and how to have them satisfied. Attachment theorists have a negative view about childcare programs. They believe the most delicate age for infants and their growth begin at six months. It is a crucial age for...
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...s and is not damaging to the infant’s development. Infants will find secure bases in other relationships as long as they surround themselves consistently and for long durations of time.
Overall both theorists want to establish the influence they believe will help these infants later as they progress over time. Either it is helping children create learned behaviors or instill protective factors through secure attachments with their primary caregivers. Although most general views are conflicting it is important to notice the main motivation is on the infant and their development. Both theorists attempt to compensate through the techniques of daycare they execute to ensure the child is receiving satisfactory care and developing appropriately. The views on how caregivers should react and interact contrast but both theories still look to protect and care for the child.
The controversy in the relationship of infancies’ temperaments and maternal attachments are still debatable between temperament and attachment theorists down to our present day (De Wolff & Ijzendoorn, 1997). Temperament is termed as early projections of stable individual variations involving self regulation and reactivity that encompasses behaviors, emotions and attention (Boom, 1994). Attachment, on the other hand, is commonly known as having a bond that allows us to be comfortable with special people in our lives (Berk, 2006). According to Alexander Thomas and Stella Chess (1977), their research showed that the infant’s temperament is of intrinsic nature and how the process in developing of the child-adult interactions ultimately affects their attachment status (Coffman, Levitt, & Guacci-Franco, 1995). In addition, attachment theorists like Mary Ainsworth (1978) and John Bowlby (1969), however, suggested that maternal sensitivity and responsiveness from the caregiver mantles the infant’s temperament that is the determinant of attachment (Coffman et al., 1995). In this essay, considering the above mentioned, the essay will explore whether the antecedents on attachment are based on goodness of fit that consist of the infant’s in-born temperament and maternal perception caused by parenting style, or that it lies mainly from maternal sensitivity to the infant, and lastly, the association between infant’s temperament and maternal sensitivity and responsiveness.
The attachment theory, presented by Mary Ainsworth in 1969 and emerged by John Bowlby suggests that the human infant has a need for a relationship with an adult caregiver, and without a subsequent, development can be negatively impacted (Hammonds 2012). Ainsworth proposes that the type of relationship and “attachment” an infant has with the caregiver, can impact the social development of the infant. As stated by Hammonds (2012), attachment between a mother and a child can have a great impact on the child 's future mental
Bowlby’s theory is good because in his research is clear and by reading up on his theory I have realized that is work influences every day practice. But researched showed that a child’s first attachment is usually formed with the mother. Although this idea was very influential it has also been taken further as Bowlby with Robertson found that any “disruption of attachments can be minimized by responsive substitute care”. This means that pre-school care settings need to consider this when recruiting staff. It is the quality and low turnover of staff which is important. An alternative view to Bowlby was from Schaffer and Emerson (1964) who found in their study that babies can manage multiple
Attachment theory focuses on the bond between a caregiver and a child and how these fragile bonds, if not attended to properly have psychological and social effects on the child’s future. The attachment process itself responds to the developing identity of the child, which is very dependent on the sensitivity and guidance of the caregiver. John Bowlby takes attachment theory in a more biological/ evolutionary perspective, in which he views these formations of bonds as a survival mechanism in which the infant ensures its survival by attaching themselves to an adult (caregiver) who can meet their needs. This take on the attachment theory suggests that parents and infants may be biologically programmed to form an attachment and that every interaction and behavior thereafter facilitates the creation of this bond (Ashford 2013, 266). On a bio-social level children look for this attachment because they are biologically wired to be related to others and be social creatures. Regardless if the attachment theory is taken through a biological,
The avoidant attachment style is also known as the hardened heart. Individuals with this attachment style tend to believe that they are worthy of being loved, because of what they accomplish in life. They believe that their worth is found in achievement. While they think that they are able to be loved they inwardly believe that they should be depend solely on their abilities. They believe that others are not able to love them, or are not capable of being loved by other people. The avoidant style has a deep belief that they should not trust others, nor will they deliver when in need.
An infant’s initial contact with the world and their exploration of life is directly through the parent/ primary caregiver. As the child grows, learns, and develops, a certain attachment relationship forms between them and the principle adult present in this process. Moreover, this attachment holds huge implications concerning the child’s future relationships and social successes. Children trust that their parental figure will be there; as a result, children whom form proper attachments internalize an image of their world as stable, safe, and secure. These children will grow independent while at the same time maintaining a connection with their caregivers. (Day, 2006). However, when a child f...
Give a description of how the nursery should respect the children’s need for attachment and bonding and justify your ideas by referencing current theory. Pioneers such as Bowlby, Ainsworth, and Schaffer and Emerson and contemporary theorists such as Rutter should be
The behaviorist and constructivist theories pose a significant debate in early childhood education that questions if curriculum should be based on the children’s natural childlike dispositions or should adults determine and decide every aspect of curriculum. The distinction between the two theories determine what and how young children learn. The behaviorist theory believes that people of all ages learn the same and that behavior is controlled by outside influences and rewards. Whereas, the constructivist theory believes young children develop cognitive structure based on interactions with other people and the environment. Most early childhood programs follow the constructivist theory and are child-centered. According to Freeney, Galper, and
(Early infant attachment is an important phenomena to study as it is connected to later child development). Early infant attachment is linked to cognitive, social, and emotional development (Pallini, Baiocco, Schneider, Madigan, & Atkinson, 2014). These three developmental aspects are significant in one’s later mental process capabilities, the relationships formed later in life, as well as their psychological stability. The attachments formed with caregivers in infancy are vital. Bowlby stated, “It is our first relationship, usually with our mother, that much of our future well-being is determined” (O’Gorman, 2012). It’s crucial for a child’s development to look at parenting styles and early infant attachment classifications which are made to caregivers. Most research focuses around mother-infant attachment making little known about the relationships made with fathers.
For example, Magai & Passman (1997) discovered a strong relationship between secure attachments and emotional well-being of middle aged adults, which extends to individuals later in life. Understanding the role of attachment and its psychosocial impact during later life is an important area that needs further research. In regards to TMT, close relationships offer security, protection, and give meaning to life (Mikulincer, Florian, & Hirschberger, 2003).
When selecting childcare for your child the foundation of early learning has offered some tips that they believe will be helpful in the process. The foundation says that parents have always known that good early experience was important for their child. Now scientist and researchers are confirming how critical these first years of life are to your child’s healthy development (Selecting child care, 2002). Because the brain matures in the world rather than in the womb, the brain growth and development of infants and young children is deeply affected by their earliest experiences. In a childcare environment the relationship your child has with the caregiver will also affect how that child feels about himself and the world around him and as he grows up (Selecting child care, 2002). I ...
Attachment patterns of a child are developed by the use of strange situation protocol where the attachment of a child is assessed between 12 months and 20 months of the child development. This procedure is not clinical and is used only to supplement the clinical diagnosis procedure called Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), which will be discussed at a later stage of this essay. In the strange situation protocol, a child, and the caregiver are put in an environment with varying conditions and the attachment behaviour of the child is observed. Through this protocol there are there organized attachment categories, which are observed in a child, which include secure attachment, avoidant/attachment and resistant/
It is common knowledge that a parent is considered the most efficient caregiver for their children. It’s also known that with daily responsibilities of caring for a child financially, parents partake in full-time and/or part-time employment. While needing to do so, many children attend daycare/preschool facilities. Granted, it is the parent’s responsibility to cautiously select where they decide to take their children. This is because parents know that while they are away for numerous hours of the day, their children are in the hands of another care provider and that their care would have an enormous impact on their children. At a young age, a child’s social and cognitive skills are continuing to take shape and the amount of time spent in these facilities has a resilient impact on a child’s development. With proper and superior care no matter the time spent, such positive effects on a child’s development should endure in a child’s cognitive and social development. In other words, there is a great benefit of childcare/daycare attendance on a child’s development.
In addition to the above, it is worth noticing that children in day-care tend to be better adjusted people, due to spending time with people outside their own families. This teaches them how to interact with others. It is the interactions between the parents and other caregivers that actually affect the way a baby’s brain is wired for later learning, as has been sug...
A number of studies focused on the mother- infant relationship and the effect of child care on the development of such relationship (Belsky, 1989; Lamb, Sternberg, & Prodromidis, 1992). Attachment theory indicates that a secure relation formation between child and caregiver is important for the child to develop flexible behavioural system and adapt easily to new situations. Bowlby (quoted by Lamb, Sternberg, & Prodromidis) summarised that attachments form around middle of the first year and are strengthened later in the year. It comes as no surprise that studies done by Barglow, Vaughn, & Molitor (1987); Belsky & Rovine (1988); Vaughn, Gove, & Egeland, (1980) , as quoted by Egeland & Heister (1995), reported that entry of infants before 12 months of age to child day care is linked to increased risk of insecure-avoidant attachment. Assessments were based on Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (Ainswoth, Blehar, Water, & Wall, 1978) to measure the infant-mother attachment. While these children might not reject attention from parents, they also did not seek comfort, showing no preference between a parent and a complete stranger.