Ainsworth's Attachment Theory Analysis
The attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth is an essential key that explains many child-parent relationships and the influence it has on development. Attachment is a process that begins during infancy in an individual’s life and can have long lasting effects. Bowlby’s theory concluded that the bonds formed between a caregiver and a child during the early years were the blueprints for future relationships. Ainsworth’s “strange situation” experiments and numerous studies tested Bowlby’s original theory and expanded on it. This paper will provide an overview on the research that has been conducted on the effects of attachment patterns on an individual’s early and later development.
Keywords: Attachment—Attachment theory—Attachment
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Insecure attachment is “characterized by fear, anxiety, anger, or indifference.” (Berger 2014, pg.193). An infant becomes insecurely attached to his caregiver when the child has learned that there are no positive effects to emotional expressions. For example, when a caregiver allows the child to “cry it out” and is unresponsive to the child’s needs, the child will learn that his needs will not be fulfilled by others. This results in the child not being able to develop any emotional awareness and might feel emotionally detached from his caregiver. Insecure attachment affects a child’s brain development which in turn impacts interactions with others, resilience, confidence and the ability to explore their environments. Insecure attachment contributes to “cognitive vulnerability to depression, specifically, dysfunctional attitudes.” (Lee & Hankin, 2009). Some characteristics of an insecurely attached child includes the inability to deal with stress, low self esteem, a lack of self control, and pseudo-independent behaviors. These children often behave as if they know that adults are inconsistently available. They do not seek an adult for help when in distress or dealing with a situation, or they avoid the caregiver
Ap Psychology Mary Ainsworth
610 Words | 3 PagesThe secure babies used their mothers as a base to explore and as a protective safe haven. They were upset when the caregivers left but when they returned, they brought safety to the baby. Babies who had an avoidant attachment, didn’t want their caregiver upon return to the room. The caregivers for these babies may have been unresponsive to their signals of distress. Some babies were also classified as having resistant attachments, and tried kicking or arching their backs when comforted by the caregiver.
Oliva's Counseling: A Case Study
744 Words | 3 PagesThe quality of one’s early attachments style as infants, determines the pathways of psychosocial development for the future as they develop in adults (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). The correlation between psychosocial functioning, self-confidence, independence, and social skills, maybe due to the result of infants whom experienced medical problems and or environmental influences. Some of these influences may have negative impact as it may have developed deficiencies in their lifespan development Presenting Issues-Description Oliva Crane is now 19, developing in young adulthood, returning into counseling during a term break home from college. Her mother Carol, is concerned about Oliva’s social development, as she appears more depressed than usual.
Attachment Theory In Hope Meadows Synopsis
1013 Words | 5 PagesAttachment theory states that either secure or insecure bonds may form between infant and mother in the first several months of the infant’s life for the purposes of safety and security. The bond formed between infant and mother influences the quality of the relationships a child has throughout his or her life. One major reasoning of the attachment theory is that the parents are a sanctuary of safety throughout all of early childhood. Insecure attachments promote feelings of threat, rejection, and personal unworthiness. This can also be the explanation for the dream children stashing food away because of the possible threat that there,” will come a time when they will not be fed” (Smith 99).Unhealthy attachments not only lead to poor caregiver-child relationships, but can also cause a dysfunctional self-development, defective relationships, substance abuse problems, and educational difficulties.
Young Children In Foster Care
1024 Words | 5 PagesAttachment is very important in a child’s life, but if a child is not attached to anyone it can make their future very hard. “Abused and neglected children (in or out of foster care) are at great risk for not forming healthy attachments to anyone. Having at least 1 adult who is devoted to and loves a child unconditionally, who is prepared to accept and value that child for a long time, is key to helping a child overcome the stress and trauma of abuse and neglect,” Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption and Dependent Care (2000). Developmental Issues for Young Children in Foster Care. AAP News & Journals Gateway.
Why Is Foster Care Bad
710 Words | 3 PagesAttachment issues can cause physical problems, such as failure to thrive, as well as emotional disorders like depression, failure to form attachments to caregivers, or mental-health disturbances. The more times a child is moved, the less likely he is to form secure attachments. Between 33 and 66 percent of foster-care arrangements are disrupted during the first two years, reports developmental psychologist, Brenda Jones Harden in "Safety and Stability for Foster Children," an article published in the winter 2004 issue of the journal The Future of Children. Kids with attachment issues might be distrustful and suspicious, unable to follow rules, or appear to have no sense of guilt over their behavior. Some attach too easily to any adult that try tries to care for them, but on a shallow level and to meet
The Attachment Theory In Frankenstein
2475 Words | 10 PagesAttachment 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
Reactive Attachment Thesis Statement
840 Words | 4 PagesSome children that have been grossly mistreated, neglected or abused fail to create secure attachments. Secure attachment is vital to the formation of the Childs sense of self and others that pave the way and sets up the course that guides the emotional and behavioral reactions that follow him through life (Hornor, 2008). It has been shown that failure to have positive experiences as well as abuse and neglect causes those memory systems to be filled with fear, mistrust and rejection (Mikic & Terradas, 2014). Since children with RAD learn at an early age not to trust their primary caregivers to attend to their needs, they learn how to fend for themselves which leads to many antisocial behaviors that continue into adulthood. Studies have shown that children with Reactive Attachment Disorder have neurological
Ainsworth Attachment Theory
554 Words | 3 PagesBowlby, Harlow, and Ainsworth each had unique positions on infant attachment and adult relationships. All three researchers pointed out that children become attached or unattached depending on the amount and type of love and affection they receive from birth. Each had a different way of creating their study. Harlow used baby monkeys taken from their mothers and replacing mom with either a metal or a terry cloth covered mom.
Erikson Attachment Theory
800 Words | 4 PagesThus, suggesting that caregiver relationships are crucial to children’s psychological and physical survival. As infants are unable to verbalize their thoughts, crying is used as a means of communication and interaction between the infant and caregiver. Caring for an Infant
Sigmund Freud's Theory Of Attachment
1810 Words | 8 PagesThe experiment was done in a room with a one way glass to observe the infant. Different situations were given to the infant to determine the infant’s attachment style, the mother of the infant would leave the room and the infant would be left with the experimenter or the experimenter would leave the room and leave the mother and infant alone. How the infant reacts to the situation is used to determine the attachment style of the infant. Infants with secure attachment style would be distressed every time the mother would leave, the infant avoids the stranger when the mother leaves and when the mother returns the infant becomes happier. Infants with ambivalent attachment attachment style get distressed whenever the mother leaves, and avoids the stranger when left alone.
Secure Attachment Theory In Social Work
429 Words | 2 PagesSocial workers must be familiar with attachment theory for several reasons. One example is how a person has developed attachment will greatly influence how they connect with and maintain relationships in their lives. Moreover, having a firm grasp of attachment theory provides a social worker with a starting point to assess their client and subsequently determine an appropriate course of action to help a client obtain healthier and fulfilling relationships. For social workers to identify the attachment styles of an individual they must be familiar with the patterns of attachment and the characteristics of each. The most common and desirable forms of the attachment patterns is secure attachment.
Essay On Attachment Theory
785 Words | 4 PagesSince the ‘50s, Bowlby worked alone and with distinguished colleagues such as psychoanalyst James Robertson, ethologist/zoologist Robert Hinde and psychologist Mary Ainsworth on several different studies. 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.
John Bowlby's Theory Of Socio-Emotional And Infant Development
1354 Words | 6 PagesIn addition, some infants are classified as disorganized/disoriented with regard to attachment as they are not able to settle in to a single, organized attachment pattern when in distress. Instead, they become disoriented or resort to conflicting behavioral strategies. Attachments are not characteristic of either the caregivers or infants. It is the relationship bonds overtime between emotion and behaviors as infant and caregiver interact, particularly when infant needs for comfort are of concern. Sense of trust develops when a baby’s needs are responded to.
The Attachment Theory
1374 Words | 6 PagesThe attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth is an essential key that explains many child-parent relationships and the influence it has on development. Attachment is a process that begins during infancy in an individual’s life and can have long lasting effects. Bowlby’s theory concluded that the bonds formed between a caregiver and a child during the early years were the blueprints for future relationships. Ainsworth’s “strange situation” experiments and numerous studies tested Bowlby’s original theory and expanded on it. This paper will provide an overview on the research that has been conducted on the effects of attachment patterns on an individual’s early and later development.
Essay On Attachment In Early Life
1137 Words | 5 PagesThrough factors such as cognitive development of the infant, attentive care and intimate interactions with a primary caregiver, the attachment relationship is created – shaping the infants- caregiver bond. By examining the interactions between an infant and their primary caregiver, we can identify secure, insecure and disorganized attachment (Ainsworth, 1978; Cassidy 1994); which can reveal a great deal about the relationship between the infant and attachment figure. Overall, the quality of attachment bonds formed in the early years can have long lasting effects on an infant’s emotional security and social competence; not only shaping their ability to form relationships, but laying the foundations for the social, emotional and mental development of the
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