The aim of this case study is to use a knowledge of human growth and development to critically assess some of the theories a social worker might employ to understand a child and family. These theories will be applied to two members of the family, Sarah (single parent, 21years old) and Hannah (child 5 years old). Within this essay these theories will be critiqued in terms of how a social worker would assess and justify a form of intervention and if there are any limitations to these theories. In addition as to why it is so important for a social worker to have psycho-social stance when
Louise Harms multi-dimensional approach is a vital framework that will be used while exploring the inner and outer worlds of both theories. The attachment theory was first and originally formed from the work of a psychologist named John Bowlby and explored by another source named Mary Ainsworth, a developmental psychologist. According to John (2005, pg. 30) he explains that by understanding the inner world of a child’s needs which is based on their biological, psychological and spiritual aspect, the child will be able to maintain a stable and healthy
Upon the completion of My Virtual Child, I have changed part of my opinions on how parenting can influence developmental outcomes, behaviors, and potentially the future of a child. My Virtual Child enabled me to truly understand on how basic parenting decisions truly have long-term effects on child and potentially their futures. When I say long-term effects I mean a wide variations; the most surprising one of a all is not always the “best” decision is always the “right” decision and making all the “right” choices doesn’t guarantee your child will be successful. Being a parent, even in a virtual one requires a lot of time physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Robertson. The theory of attachment initiated as Bowlby started contemplating the type of bond between a mother her and child. Harlow’s experiments on attachment query whether the provision of food or comfort is more vital in the creation of infant-mother attachment.
Attachment theory established an infant 's earliest relationship with their primary caregiver shaped their development and reflects on their self-esteem (Bowlby, 129), according to Bowlby, the development of attachment affected by the relationship with the caregiver in early age (birth to age 6 weeks), and then the child grows older and begin to understand his parent 's feelings. Also, he needs to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for the child 's successful social, psychological, and emotional development. In insecure or avoidant attachment the infant is "indifferent and seems to avoid the mother or the primary caregiver, they are as
The Attachment Theory was observed by John Bowlby (1969). Bowlby’s theory consisted of three major findings (pp. #-#). In the first finding, Rene Spitz (1946) found that infants that were raised in a foundation such as an orphanage suffered in physical and emotional development even if
Bowlby suggested that due to the attachment between children and their carers, children suffer loss when they are separated. Bowlby’s study with the ethologist Robert Hinde, inspired the idea that certain attachment behaviours have evolved as a survival mechanism (Bergen, 2008). The core of the theory today is that the quality of close relationships affects personality, emotional and social development not only in childhood but throughout the life of the individual (Howe, 2001). This suggests that attachment theory is effectively a biological, psychological and social theory of human development.
The theory of attachment that was first proposed by John Bowlby (1970) described it as a ‘lasting psychological connectedness between human beings’. He notion that children as young as infant need to develop a secure attachment with their main caregiver. Bowlby’s attachment theories are both psychopathology and normal socio-emotional development. It is based on the idea that the early relationship that develops between the infant and caregiver provides the foundation for later development. Bowlby’s
Secured attachment is extremely important in the developmental stages of an infant. Secure attachment is when an infant feels distressed when they are separated from their caregivers and feels happy when their caregiver returns. Research from this article suggests that, when an infant does not receive the comfort they need from their caregiver for secure attachments, it can have a negative impact on their behaviour later on in their childhood and throughout life. Infants who have secured attachments tend to develop stronger self-esteem as they grow older, they also tend to be more independent and successful in socialising. Those children are also less likely to experience less depression and anxiety.
Attachment allows the children to have a secure base which is essential to explore, learn and uses the primary caregiver as a source of comfort (Benoit 2004).The way different children behave enables the parents to response in many different ways which are influenced by their attachment pattern (Rees 2007). Bowlby believed that an infant attachment behaviours are natural and will be activated by any condition which may threaten their proximity such as separation. The attachment relationship between the child and the caregiver prepares them for future relationships (Gantt et al 1995). Bowlby (1990) developed the attachment theory as a way of understanding how specific infants bond to others, he noticed infants engaging in certain behaviours such as smiling which led to a close and secure bond and relationship with their caregiver which portrayed a secure attachment towards their mother.
Attachment is a crucial part of a babies first year of life, Mary Ainsworth investigated weather the quality of attachment matters to a child's well being and also if some attachments are better than others. Ainsworth carried out her experiment which is known as "strange situation" The aim of this was to test how strong attachments were. During the experiment Ainsworth focused on the babies reactions during each part these included Parent and baby in a room, baby free to explore room whilst parent remains inactive, stranger joins parent and baby, Parent leaves room, Parent returns settles baby and stranger leaves, Baby is alone in the room, Stranger returns and interacts with the baby, Parent returns to the room and stranger leaves. During
Attachment theory is the combined work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth (Ainsworth & Bowlby, 1991). John Bowlby formulated the basic principles of this theory to explain the emotional bond between infants and their caregivers (Fraley & Shaver, 2000). Bowlby explains that a motivational system, called the attachment behavioural system, I based on an evolutionary model which states that “genetic selection” preferred attachment behaviours, because they increased the likelihood of protection and provided survival gains, such as feeding, social interaction, and learning about the environment, while in close proximity to the attachment figure (Cassidy & Shaver, 2008). Further, Bowlby (1969) developed the idea of attachment to highlight the role
Both Robert Karen’s Becoming Attached and Robert LeVine and Karin Norman’s The Infant 's Acquisition of Culture: Early Attachment Re-Examined in Anthropological Perspective delve into the complicated relation between toddlers and their caregivers, and just how uncertain it is whether or not a certain form attachment is truly the best for children. Toddlerhood is centered on the sudden recognition of autonomy as well as exploring their world with the help of their caregiver. Thus this goes into the idea of attachment, and the various forms that come along with it. Robert Karen explores these attachment relationships using the results of experiments such as the Strange Situation done by Mary Ainsworth and Harry Harlow’s research with monkeys. In LeVine and Norman’s article, they break down the assumptions that Karen makes off of American studies and instead investigate the analyses made by Klaus and Karin Grossmann, who study a group of German children using the same model with the Strange Situation. What arises from both of these texts is that there is not necessarily one attachment that is
The Ainsworth Strange Situation is staged episodes that show the strength of attachment between a child and their mother. The situation follows an eight-step pattern: 1. The mother and child enter an unfamiliar place, 2. The mother lets the baby explore, 3. A stranger enters the room and talks to them, 4. The mother leaves the child alone with the stranger, 5. The mother comes back and the stranger leaves, 6. The mother leaves the child alone, 7. The stranger comes back, 8. The mother comes back and the stranger leaves. Ainsworth found 3 patterns of attachment: secure, avoidant, and ambivalent. Secure attachment is when the mother is a safe place for the child. Avoidant attachment is when the child avoids the mother, as if they are upset
One of the most important factors that affect a child 's development is the relationship and attachment of the child with their primary caregiver. John Bowlby studied the development of the child; he was interested in how childhood relationships affected kids as they grew older and became adults. He was also concerned with the relationship of the child and primary caregiver and how they interacted, and the effect this had on later life. Bowlby 's theory established that children’s earliest relationships shaped their later development and characterized their human life, "from the cradle to the grave"(Bowlby, 1998). The attachment style that an infant develops with their parent later reflects on their overall person. Bowlby 's attachment theory had vast investigation done by Mary Ainsworth, who studied the interactions between mother and child, specifically, the theme of an infant’s investigation of their surroundings and the separation from their mother. This essay will focus on Bowlby’s attachment theory and Mary Ainsworth’s experiments and findings, discussing their views on the development and importance of attachment in early life.