Overview of Attachment Theory 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. In the beginning, it looked at the mechanics of relationships between children and their parents but it has since been expanded to cover the entire life of the human being (Howe, 2000). Attachment theory includes insights learned from evolutionary theory, ethology, systems theory and developmental psychology (Howe, 2001). Attachment theory is often described as a psychosocial theory as it explores the human experience which is formed by the interaction between the psychology of the individual and the social environment (Howe, …show more content…
Since 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. A human baby is born with poorly developed sight and is unable to move. As a consequence to this he is vulnerable and is completely dependent on a carer for survival (Winston, 2003). To improve the chances of survival, the baby is born with pre-programmed and automatic behaviour which are prompted by environmental factors (Bergen, 2008). Bowlby theorised that when a young child feels distressed, frightened or confused, attachment behaviour is triggered and this serves to bring the child closer to their mother* who provides the desired comfort, care and protection (Bowlby,
Ainsworth’s descriptions of attachment were found to be related to relationship development. Specifically, adults with avoidant tendencies tend to be relatively uninterested in romantic relationships, have a higher breakup rate than secure adults (Shaver & Brennan, 1992), and grieve less after a breakup (Simpson, 1990). Anxious adults are obsessed with their romantic partners and form extreme jealousy (Collins, 1996; Hazan & Shaver, 1987). Relationships with a partner who has an anxious attachment have a higher rate for breakups as well.
There are four styles of attachment that have been identified in adults: dismissive-avoidant, fearful-avoidant, secure, and anxious-preoccupied. These all respond to the infant’s classifications which are secure, insecure-ambivalent, insecure-avoidant, and disorganized/disoriented. The two main outcomes that happen because of the infant’s relationship between the mother are secure attachment and insecure attachment. Secure attachment happens right at the beginning of a child’s birth. A child who will have secure relationships and be able to trust people, will receive an enormous amount of love from their mother.
Theories from Psychology social work draws on most ‘lecture explained that attachment Theory was developed by Bowlby as a framework for explaining the way humans interact with each other and the importance of relationships with a sense of ‘secure attachment’ particularly when the individual is exposed to stressful situations or where they feel threatened and seek a secure base. A very direct connection between attachment theory and Australia’s treatment of refugees comes in the treatment of
Attachment theory describes the strong emotional and physical ties that infants have with their mothers by helping to keep at least one parent in close proximity. The attachment is an invisible tie that infants have with their mothers and it assists to protect the child and help it in its development. That bond is influenced by, but is not dependent on the attachment behaviors of crying, smiling, and closeness. In order for a child to attach securely, the child needs to feel they are secure and can rely on at least one parent for assistance. For proper growth and development, from birth to death, human beings need intimate and caring relationships.
Its evident through research and studies that attachment is important for the caregiver and most importantly the infant . ( McLead ,
John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory says, “Attachment is the psychological bond between any two people.” Bowlby’s theory theorizes that children are born with the ability to construct attachments. If an attachment is unable to be created or is disrupted, then there may be worrisome consequences for the child, including negative emotional, intellectual, and social development. If the child has no
There are many theories about the significance of positive attachment and how this affects child development. Two important figures in establishing theories of attachment are Harry Harlow and John Bowlby and by looking into their findings more deeply, we can see why attachments are so important to children and configure ways to promote more positive relationships amongst children and parents. Harlow is known for his psychological experiments involving infant monkeys to research the importance of caregiving and companionship. Harlow decided to investigate the mother-infant bond after observing monkeys taken into a nursery-replicated setting without a mother behaved differently to others remaining with their mothers. These monkeys held in
However, the things that occur with the presence of an attachment are really difficult to understand, and this is the reason why attachment theorists emerged. Perhaps the most prominent of this group of theorists, John Bowlby was the first psychologist who started an extensive study on attachment. According to Bowlby's Attachment Theory, attachment is a psychological connectedness that occurs between humans and lasts for a long period of time. To Bowlby, attachment is what keeps a baby connected to his mother, considering the needs of the child that can only be satisfied by his
The 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.
Further research revealed that more than half of the mothers with a child who fell into this category had suffered a trauma immediately before the birth of the child and had developed depression because of that trauma. 1.2 Attachment is the emotional bond between the parent and the child, it builds a child’s trust and self-esteem if they feel loved and wanted, that’s why it’s important to have a secure attachment with the child so that in the future they won’t have a negative impact on the child’s mental, physical, social, and emotional health. There are 2 type of attachment that is secure and insecure; the secure attachment ensure that the child will feel secure, gain confident, develop secure relationship and the child will also feel more safe to explore the world around them. The insecure attachment is when the child don’t get the right love they need and that makes them feel unsafe, struggling to manage their emotions and may have difficulty developing healthy
Describe and evaluate two approaches/ theories in Development Psychology Edward Bowlby was a British psychologist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst born in London in 1907. His work was largely based around child development. He founded The Attachment Theory. Bowlby defined attachment as a ‘lasting psychological connectedness between human beings’ –( 1969, p 194). According to Bowlby (1958) attachment can be understood within an evolutionary context in that the caregiver provides safety and security for an infant.
This relationship is explained through ‘attachment theory’ that came into being with the works of John Bowlby who
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
It is based on the attachment theory that considers early relationships between children and their caregivers provide a template or internal working models for external relationships. Children who experienced moderately secure attachments during their childhood are more likely to live adult relationships with trust and sense of worth than those with insecure attachments (p. 5). Children's experience of a secure relationship during their childhood reinforces their belief that they are loveable, they understand their worth and that they are valuable. With this understanding, they are capable of extending themselves to relationships that are external to the home
Attachment Theory. Attachment theory was developed by John Bowlby in the 1940s into the 1950s and then was then developed by Mary Ainsworth that worked closely with Bowlby when he was developing upon the attachment theory; they both looked at children in homes and then assessed there behaviour and compared them with their backgrounds. When Mary Ainsworth developed upon Bowlby 's assessment she came up with four categories that each child could be in, by looking at the children that were in the homes Mary Ainsworth came up with the sections and what sections mean what, by looking at the attachment theory the first category is Secure; Secure is a category that around 65% of children have, this section is when the caregiver give the child consisting parenting by interacting with the child and being there for them physically and emotionally when they need the support or rensurace by being in this