Erikson's Theory Of Attachment

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

Babies are born with an innate ability to learn and their brain to develop after birth. The neural pathways of a human’s brain are built based on their early experience in the world. A baby’s world is based on how they are treated by people in it therefore if the environment is scary then the baby will be reluctant to explore, as demonstrated n Bowlby’s and Ainsworth’s attachment theory. The brain and body become wired enough to understand what is safe and what should be feared.

According to Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, trust vs. mistrust, occurs in the first year of life. Erikson believed that the caregiver’s response to the infant’s cries help them develop a sense of trust, when the caregiver responds right away to the infant’s distress of crying or fussing (Mooney, 2000). Erikson believed that in the earliest years of life, mainly during infancy, patterns of trust or mistrust are formed that control, or at least influence, a person’s actions or interactions for the rest of life (Erikson, 1950).

Bowlby believed that infants are a product of evolutionary processes pre-coded with a survival instinct to form an attachment with an individual to provide it with comfort, guidance, safety and security (Bowlby 1958, cited in Lishman 2007) Generally attachments were formed with responsive persons who interacted and played with the child a lot, simple caregiving such as nappy changing was itself not an important factor. This strong attachment to the primary caregiver provides a strong base for exploration and reissuance when the child felt insecure (fox, 1977 pg 109). Bowlby believed that there are four main features of attachment. These are safe haven, he believed that the primary care giver would make the child feel safe, secure base, here

Attachment is a strong enduring reciprocal bond an infant shares with a significant individual, usually the mother, who knows and responds well to the needs of the infant. (Gillibrand et al. 2011 p. 242) The evolutionary theory of attachment according to Bowlby is based on the idea that children have an innate programming to form attachments but they must be made during a critical period or it would not be possible after this period. The continuity hypothesis of the evolutionary theory suggests that relationships with the primary care giver (monotropy) provides an internal working model, which the child will acquire and base future relationships on similarly to the one the monotropy displayed to the child. (Add citation) Despite the theory

While we talk of the middle child and their behavior perhaps Bowlby 's attachment theory could bring more insight as we look into life of the middle child earlier in their life. Bowlby believed that that mental health and behavioral problems could be attributed to early childhood. Bowlby’s evolutionary theory of attachment suggests that children come into the world biologically preprogrammed to form attachments with others, because this will help them to survive. This attachment is primarily done with the mother and that humans have been actually developed a biological need to stay attached to the mother.

The attachment theory was first suggested by John Bowlby in 1958. What led him to develop this theory was his work in a Child guidance clinic located in London. There he treated many emotionally unstable children . This led him to contemplate how important was a child’s relationship with their mother in terms of emotional, social and cognitive development. This raises a concern as “To what extent do attachment styles affect children’s social development?”

Mary Ainsworth’s study on attachment theory continues to be widely discussed today. If a child has been mistreated by a primary caregiver, how does that affect the child? When a child is raised in an abusive household, it has an impact on the child’s life. What do they do? Where do they turn? If their primary caregiver is proven untrustworthy, who can the child trust? Furthermore, how does the child cope? The environment children are raised in has an immense impact on their lives. According to Ainsworth, “attachment refers to an affectional tie that one person forms to another specific individual… attachment is thus discriminating and specific” (Salande & Hawkins, 2016). Without an attachment to an adult, a child has no guidance or direction in life. Therefore, if a child grows up in an unstable family structure, this child is more likely to develop an insecure attachment style in adulthood. Attachment theory confirms the importance of human relationships and their consequences for individual development (Schneider, 1991). As one continues to grow into an adult, it is important to have one to look up to for guidance, no matter what the situation may be.

John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth collaborated to develop Attachment theory (Ainsworth & Bowlby, 1991 cited in Bretherton 1992). Bowlby a psychoanalyst was instrumental in identifying an understanding of the ‘concepts of mental health and mental ill-health’ (Bowlby, 1951 cited in Blakely & Dziadosz 2015, p. 283). In addition, Bowlby asserted that psychopathology could be attributed to the lack of a mother–child relationship, although dependent on duration and method (Bowlby, 1951 cited in Blakely & Dziadosz 2015). Bretherton (1992), maintains that Bowlby formulated Attachment theory presupposing based on ethological hypothesis that separation from the mother or primary carer, the attachment figure, in the formative years resulted in attachment

The paper mainly focuses on the conceptual framework of Attachment theory as well as attachment style of a client with Self-esteem issues that helps in the case formulation and treatment plan in Cognitive Behavioural Theory (CBT). Attachment style can be explained as an emotional connection of one person with another. The aim of this research study is to evaluate an association between attachment theory and cognitive behavioural approaches, explicitly pointing out similarities as well as differences between both. For the research analysis, qualitative research methodology has been selected for which distinctive previous researches, books and journal article resources has been examined as the gathered evidences are based on attachment theory

Mistrust. Trust vs. Mistrust is a stage in infancy from birth- 2 years old, and its all about an infant “gaining trust in self and environment vs. feeling mistrust and wariness of others.” So, if an infant “develops a sense of trust as a result of being looked after, attended to when needed, and loved by its parents” then will grow up being happy and healthy, as well as possibly having a secure attachment with its parents. However, if the infant “develops a sense of mistrust as a result of being neglected or poorly treated, they will display a lack of interest in their surroundings causing them to become unhealthy and possibly have depression when older.” Also, as it feels neglected then it will possibly grow up as an insecure attached child. (Theories of Developmental Psychology

Two theories that will be discussed in this paper is Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development and John Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment. Erikson’s theory is considered psychosocial, emphasizing the importance of social and cultural factors within a lifespan, from infancy to later adulthood. Erikson’s theory is broken down into eight consecutive age-defined stages. During each stage, a person experiences a psychosocial crisis that contributes to their personality development. Erikson was highly influenced by Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytical Theory of Development. Although, at first Freud was limited to childhood based on the phallic stage, Erikson focused on developing a lifespan theory.

From the moment we are conceived, to the day we die, we are constantly changing and developing. While some of the changes we undergo are a result of chance incidents and personal choices, the vast majority of life changes and stages we pass through are due to biological, socioeconomic environmental, and psychological birth rights environments and shared by all people.

Attachment theory tries to describe the evolution of personality and behaviour in relationships and it gives a reason for the difference in a person’s emotional and relationship attitudes.

Both Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky believed that children build knowledge through experiences. Piaget believed this occurred through exploration with hands-on activities. Vygotsky, on the other hand, believed that children learn through social and cultural experiences. This process is mediated by the interactions that take place with peers and adults. While collaborating with others through interactions, children learn the traditions, values, beliefs, and language of their culture. For this reason, families and educators ought to supplement children with plenty of social interaction. Vygotsky believed language is an imperative device for thought and assumes a key part in cognitive development. He introduced the