Mary Ainsworth Attachment Theory

She began to shows signs of reluctance during drop offs at day care, as well as grow fearful of unfamiliar people. Over the course of the next four months, Ramona began to try new things with me nearby. After multiple interactions with people, she was able to interact with them. When Ramona began to grow fearful of people and separation from myself, I made sure to provide an appropriate level of response. In our text, it states that mothers who give this type of attention to have secure children. With research, it has become apparent that there is a correspondence between mothers and children on the basis that attachment. Attachment depends on the reaction from mothers to her child’s emotional cues. (Feldman, 2012, Chapter

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

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

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

Most sexual offenders are male, and nearly all known serial killers are also male. Aileen Wuornos is one of history’s highest-profile female serial murderers. She was imprisoned and sentenced to death for the murder of six men. During her childhood, Wuornos was exposed to abandonment by her biological parents, seclusion and physical and emotional abuse from her grandparents. The conspicuous lack of attention and communication from her caregivers along with the violent and toxic environment she endured forged a pattern for Aileen’s early-on criminal nature and violent behavior. This would be the path that would ultimately drive her towards the murder of at least six truck drivers along Florida's highway. Wuornos confessed to having committed

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

Attachment is organised into four different styles, secure attachment, insecure avoidant attachment, insecure resistant attachment and insecure disorganised attachment, all which are identified by Ainsworth (1970). In secure attachment situations the infants feel confident that their care-giver will be able to meet their needs. The infants use their caregivers for times of distress and as a safe base to explore the environment around them. (Main, & Cassidy, 1988). In times of separation the infants will want to be reunited with their care-givers usually by physical contact or interaction. After the physical contact or interaction, the infants feel soothed and are ready to return to their play. (Ainsworth et al., 1978). Mothers are generally

Mary Ainsworth was a very influential figure in the field of psychology. Not only did she focus on the scientific study of love, but she also looked at how this theory developed. Mary’s lifelong process looked at the origins and nature of attachments between the interactions of infants and their primary caregivers. Going off of Harry Harlow’s research with Rhesus monkeys, it was discovered that attachments were formed with the primary caregiver because of the comfort that is provided, and not just nourishment as previously thought.

The attachment theory specifies that an infants and young child requires consistent relationships with people to thrive and develop. Attachment is described as a essential need with a biological basis where infants or young children need to maintain a sense of security with a specific person. Developing a secure attachment between the infant and their parents or guardian is an important part of early childhood development, due to the many things that can interfere with the development of a healthy attachment. Without a secure attachment, an infant may develop problems that can continue throughout their lives and affect the relationships with others.

Attachment theory is based on a emotional and physical attachment that is important to the personal development of a child. The attachment is shown by some behaviors in infants, such as needing closeness with the attachment figure when upset or threatened, the infant uses the figure as secure base that the child can use when in need of security and comfort (Bowlby, 1969). Any caregiver is the attachment figure who provides most care for the infant and is their primary social communication.This can be biological parents or anyone who the infant feels the attachment with. According to Bowlby there are 4 stages in attachment formation: Pre-attachment, attachment-in-the-making, clear-cut

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

The term attachment is used widely when focusing on children’s early relationships. An attachment can be thought of as a unique emotional tie or bond between a child and another person which usually is an adult. Research shows that the quality of these bonds or attachments will shape a child’s ability to form other relationships later on in life. In the 1950’s a theorist John Bowlby identified that children and young people’s mental health and behaviour could be linked to separation from a child’s primary carer. He also identified that young children can show separation anxiety if their primary carer is not there for them.

Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space (Ainsworth, 1973; Bowlby, 1969). Certain behaviours often define the kind of attachment one shares with the other person although there is no necessary condition regarding the mutuality of the feelings and emotions. With respect to children, attachment is often noticed in situations where in the child looks for some sort of closeness when vulnerable. The same can be observed when adults respond to the needs and requirements of the child. The levels of attachment differ from person to person and the kind of bonding they have. This relationship is explained through ‘attachment theory’ that came into being with the works of John Bowlby who

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.

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.