Lifespan Development: Attachment Theory
The research on Lifespan Development is ever growing. Nonetheless, it is evident that, whilst development does occur throughout the life, one’s early life experiences are what is most integral to this process. The following essay will display this through a psychodynamic lens of attachment theory. Firstly, an introduction to the lifespan approach as well as attachment theory will be delved into. Subsequently, looking at both strengths and limitations, attachment studies will be used to oppose aspects of the lifespan approach as well as display prominence on early life. Lastly, the applications of such theory will be analysed within the South African context.
To understand the emphasis of preliminary experiences against a lifespan approach,
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Bowlby, notably researched a set of abandoned orphans and the negative effect separation from their parents had on them (Bretherton, 1992; Senior, 2013). This led him to conclude attachment formed in these years influenced one from birth to death (Chopik, Edelstein, & Fraley, 2012; Drewery, 2011) For instance, he stated that people with early attachment insecurity, are more susceptible to psychological issues such as high anxiety and riskier health behaviour (Bretherton, 1992; Cooper, et al., 2008). Ainsworth, also believed in prominence on early experiences of attachment. This alludes to her study, the Strange Situation, which focuses on children’s responses to separation and reunion events with their parents (Bretherton, 1992; Main, 2000). She stated that based on the quality of parental care, a child would fall within three categories of attachment. A child whom received sufficient care, would develop secure attachment and, thus, be confident and steady individuals. Yet, a child receiving insufficient care, would either become insecurely anxious-ambivalent, thus, becoming clingy, distrustful and hypervigilant to the world; or alternatively would become insecurely avoidant, being rather dismissive to situations around them (Bretherton, 1992; Main, 2000). A fourth category of disorganised attachment was added, referring to children whom lacked attachment mechanisms completely (Main, 2000). Both these theorists wanted to display the importance of early life experiences in development and the following arguments will display how their theories proved
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205 Words | 1 PagesAlthough Bowen’s family systems theory, and Bowlby’s attachment theory are unique with their own thoughts and perceptions, both of the theories can also be taken as different viewpoints of the same human experience, specifically the development of relationship patterns and human attachment. Both theories touch upon the influence that unsolved problems in the parents may have on their children. Attachment theory focuses more on the infant’s first attachment, or primary attachment. This is usually between the mother and the infant. If the attachment is interrupted and the infant’s needs are not being met by the primary attachment, mother, this could adversely affect the infant’s cognitive and mental development as well as future attachments.
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307 Words | 2 PagesAlthough we are studying theories, some of them appear to explain human behavior and personality with certain accuracy. John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth theories of attachment can also explain what happens to people when attachment to their parents or caregivers is healthy or potential problems that could occur due to detachments. They suggest that individuals raised with secure attachments to their primary caregivers help them to feel secure; moreover, these children appear to be more socially skilled and less likely to experience major emotional disturbances. However, failure to form healthy attachments, especially mother-child, could serve as a descriptive mechanism for many negative psychological outcomes later in the life of an individual,
John Bowlby's Theory Of Attachment Essay
316 Words | 2 PagesAttachment is a basic concept that affects people’s mental health in various different ways, especially in the subject of psychology. Attachment is defined as building blocks which basically founded between infants and caregivers and also it is mutual, enduring tie between two people each of whom conduces to the quality of the relationship in human’s life span. If we look from evolutionary perspective, foundations of babiy’s attachment is include to guaranteeing to baby’s both psychosocial and physical needs by caregiver (Papalia & Feldman, 2011).One of the most used theory is ethological theory which was created by John Bowlby .Bowlby called the firstyear of child’sdevelop as "internal working models" (Fraley, 2002).Hesuggest that an internal working modelwas an emotional tie (attachment) to aprimary caregiver (generally mother), a bond which creates child’s perception and behavior by caregiver's behaviors (Bowlby, 1969).His two main factors of attachment includes; emotional support and protection supplied by the caregiver; andsecond, thechild's feelings of being loved.
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115 Words | 1 PagesMary Ainsworth is known best for her elaboration work of John Bowlby and his attachment theory. She developed a procedure for the observation and assessing the quality of attachment in relationships between the child and a caregiver. The procedure was called the ‘Strange Situation’. In the experiment the child was observed playing for twenty minutes. Meanwhile the caregivers and strangers enter and leave the room.
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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.
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1214 Words | 5 PagesAt the point when people have parental figures that are outspokenly responsive, they are prone to build up a secure attachment and a constructive inner working model of self as well as other people. Presently, the adult attachment could be portrayed as far as two measurements, adult attachment uneasiness, and adult attachment evasion (Ringer, et al., 2014). Furthermore, the adult attachment tension is conceptualised as the apprehension of interpersonal dismissal and deserting, unreasonable requirements for endorsement from others, antagonistic perspective of self, and hyper-enactment of influence regulation systems in which the individual over-responds to contrary emotions as an intend to pick up others' solace and backing. Then again, grown-up attachment evasion is portrayed by apprehension of closeness, intemperate requirement for confidence, hesitance for self-divulgence, pessimistic perspective of others+, and deactivation of influence regulation system in which the individual tries to dodge negative sentiments or pull back from personal connections (Berry, et al.,
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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.
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1137 Words | 5 PagesAttachment in early life is a fundamental aspect of child development and the establishment of intimate and reciprocal relationships with caregivers. Shaffer & Kipp (2007) define attachment as ‘a close emotional relationship between two persons, characterized by mutual affection and a desire to maintain proximity’. Contrary to the original view of infant attachment as a ‘secondary drive’ of the dependency on caregivers for physiological needs, such as hunger; Bowlby (1969, 1973) proposed that all infants are born with an innate bias to form an attachment to a primary attachment figure to whom they can seek comfort, or a ‘secure base’ during stressful circumstances. It is proposed by Ainsworth (1967) that parental sensitivity is crucial to shaping the security and development of the initial infant-parent attachment relationship, however the phenomenon of attachment requires both infants and caregivers to contribute in the formation of the attachment bond. Ultimately, the quality of attachment in early life shapes both the social and emotional
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1020 Words | 5 PagesBowlby '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. John Bowlby’s primary interest was in the relationship between child and mother or primary caregiver. Bowlby suspected that the earliest relationships formed by children and their primary parent or care giver, have huge impacts on the child’s later life. From this, Bowlby developed the attachment theory.
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