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Attachment 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.
I understand now how the developmental theories can introduce a clear understanding about the case conceptualization not only for the children, but also for the adults and the children 's future as well. As Adler-Tapia, R. (2012) stated that “The studies included here are about the overwhelming evidence that the earliest relationship not only has significant impact on the child health and development, but even the quality of the individuals future relationship” (p.39). As a future therapist, I need to look carefully to the child 's parent attachment dynamic to understand the child suffers and gain more information about the child which it could lead me to choose the right intervention. As Adler-Tapia, R. (2012) stated that “In psychotherapy, it is important for the therapist to assess the quality of the child 's attachment with parent. The parent 's attachment and trauma history will provide a great deal of information about the relationship between parent and child”
When attachment is formed with a loving caregiver or parent who is able to provide support, love, and guidance along with the basic human needs, attachment can be reinforced and healthy (VBH). Educating children and parents-to-be of consequences of ineffective parenting might reduce the incidence of RAD in children (Lehman & Jegtvig, 2004). Children with RAD are not completely lost with their ability to form attachments, those who have been diagnosed and seek treatment early with hopeful learn to be able to recognize and manage their behaviors and feeling as well as creating healthy relationship in their future. It is important to first get the child in a safe house with caregivers who genuinely care about them and are willing to work on developing positive interactions with the child. By using treatment methods like dyadic developmental therapy, integrative play therapy, and parent skills training are all credible techniques to help build trust and attachment.
Although 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,
Some 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
Theories (Erikson & Attachment) 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 hypothesized that children are born with a predisposition to be attached to caregivers and that children will organize their behavior and thinking in order to maintain those relationships (Bettmann, 2006).
One risk parents face when adopting a child from an orphanage is Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Those with RAD are not able to give up or receive love. They are unable to gain the ability to form relationships, conscience, as well as accept responsibility for their actions. Until today, many parents of adopted kids believed that only children that were adopted when they were toddlers or older would have a risk for developing reactive attachment disorder. They also assumed that children under one year of age would overcome the lack of care once they were adopted into a loving, caring family.
This test observed patterns in the infants’ experiences of separation and reunion with their mother, and their reaction to a stranger, in order to evaluate the type of attachment relationship the infant shared with their mother (Ainsworth, 1978). Ainsworth found a significant consistency between the mothers’ interactive styles and the reactions of the infants. The results of this test led Ainsworth to classify the behaviours into three main categories. She identified the infants to have secure attachment, or one of two forms of insecure attachment, avoidant or ambivalent (Music,
One of the main theories in Developmental psychology is the attachment theory that was devised by Bowlby (1969) and was added to in 1973, by Mary Ainsworth. The attachment theory surrounds the bond between a primary care giver and a baby. They believe that attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space. In 1930 Bowlby worked as a psychiatrist in a children’s unit, where he treated many emotionally disturbed children, this lead him to consider the relationship between mother and child and the impact that could have on the child’s development. Bowlby believed that the attachment process was an all or nothing process and that you either were attached or were not attached.
Attachment 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.
In terms of emotions, the child may be on the “baseline of unease, intermediate states of anxiety or extreme panic, fury and despair” (108). This may be because of an unsteady attachment in childhood due to the fact that most child abuse happen in a family-like environment. Herman mentions that the emotional and behavioral impact of chronic child abuse go hand in hand. People who experience chronic child abuse or neglect believe that the only way to end the emotional state that they are in is through self injury (109). The earlier on in childhood the abuse or neglect was, the more repetitive and severe the self harm is (109).
Attachment 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
“Good Will Hunting” is a fantastic example of a psychological movie. The screenwriter has given the main character, Will, a reactive attachment disorder. The movie is set in Boston and follows a 20 year-old man named Will Hunting. He was abused by his foster father when he was just a child. A reactive attachment disorder is rare disease, it is when someone was either abandoned, Abused, or put through a foster program at a very young age.
Adolescents who lack a secure attachment relationship with their caregivers are at a greater risk for dysregulation of affect when experiencing trauma and the developing the symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Insecurely attached children and adolescents do not seek comfort in their caregivers so when exposed to trauma, their coping abilities are significantly hindered. When not able to seek protection and comfort in their caregivers, insecurely attached youth are more likely to be overwhelmed by stress; coping alone with limited resources may cause hyperarousal or disassociation (Perry, 2001). Likewise, an adolescent with a secure attachment can act as a layer of defense against the potential adverse effects of trauma (Finkelhor & Browne, 1984). A secure attachment also provides a safe a nurturing environment that enables the adolescent to process the traumatic events and become more equipped to return to a sense of safety and wellbeing- at least the same level experiences prior to the traumatic experience.
Introduction At the beginning of our lives we are born to create a relationship with our love ones, it depends on our parent to provide us with love and warmth to develop a positive bounding relationship. The purpose of the paper is to reflect which attachment style was utilized by my parents during my childhood and which type of attachment style I identify more during my adulthood. The four types of attachment styles that will be discussed are avoidant attachment, secure attachment, disorganized attachment, and ambivalent attachment. This reflection paper will help me as a social worker by applying my knowledge to identify the type of attachment each individual or family has and better understand how I can help them with their issues that
