The Development of Attachment Essay - 1748 Words

One of the most important factors that affect child development is the relationship of the child with their primary caregiver. This is a tenet of developmental psychology known as attachment theory. John Bowlby, the creator of this theory, wanted to examine how early childhood experiences influence personality development. Attachment theory specifically examines infant’s reactions to being separated from their primary caregiver. Bowlby hypothesized that the differences in how children react to these situations demonstrates basic behavioral differences in infancy that will have consequences for later social and emotional development. To study attachment theory, Mary Ainsworth developed the Strange Situation Paradigm. This procedure†¦show more content†¦They also show high levels of stress during separation and remain distressed even after the reunion. Although these are the two main insecure attachment categories, current research suggests that there are countless forms of insecure attachment patterns besides the ones Ainsworth highlighted in her research (Barnett Vondra, 1999). The Strange Situation is meant to be a snapshot of the relationship between infant and caregiver, and provide insight into the dyadic patterns that define this bond. Securely attached children are thought to have a primary caregiver who is sensitive, available and receptive to their infants needs. Insecure-avoidant children have primary caregivers who are intrusive, controlling and hurtful. These caregivers may be present in the infant’s life but unable to understand their infants needs, and provide the correct response. Caregivers of insecure-ambivalent infants have been found to be unresponsive to the needs of the infant, and very often unavailable. The effect of this treatment is that the infant is starved for affection and attention. The infant also feels the need to amplify their needs in an effort to reach their caregiver (Barnett Vondra, 1999). There is not only psychological evidence of the importance of the attachment relationship, but also neurobiological evidence. Many important brain structures, including the amygdala, septal nuclei and hippocampus â€Å"require considerable social, emotional,Show MoreRelatedThe Development Of Attachment Theory1336 Words   |  6 PagesThis essay will look at the development of attachment theory since the time of Bowlby and the many theories proposed to determine which best describes attachment. The Attachment theory highlights the importance of attachment especially between mothers and infants in regards to the infants personal development, both physically and emotionally. Bowlby describes attachment as â€Å"lasting psychological connectedness between human beings†(Bowlby, 1969, p.194). Bowlby’s attachment theory suggested that mothersRead MoreThe Development Of Attachment Bonds973 Words   |  4 PagesThe development of attachment bonds to other biological figures plays an important role in emotional development. Throughout life, an individual will form several relationships, some of which will be sincere and intimate while others will be superficial. However, collectively these relationships provide the foundation of our communities, families, and friendships and become essential to our survival as a species. A secure attachment bond can be classified as the interactive emotional relationshipRead MoreThe Development of Attachment Essay793 Words   |  4 PagesThe Development of Attachment Psychological research can inform us about the development of attachments to a certain extent. Mary Ainsworth actually covered a definition explaining, how we know when an attachment has developed. This is; the infant tries to get close to and maintain that proximity with the caregiver, using a number of strategies to do so. E.g. clinging and signalling behaviours such as smiling, crying and calling. The fact she has outlined this definitionRead MoreThe Development of Attachment Essay1435 Words   |  6 PagesThe Development of Attachment 1. Outline the development of attachment According to Shaffer, the development of attachment can be divided into four main phases. Other researchers have then added two additional stages to this original theory.  · Pre Attachment Phase – from birth to 3 months. From 6 weeks the baby develops an attraction to other humans, especially adults in preference to other objects. This can be illustrated through social behavioursRead MoreDevelopment And Measurement Of Attachment2389 Words   |  10 PagesDevelopment and Measurement of Attachment in Early Childhood Attachment refers to the specific, strong, long-term binds in human interpersonal relationship. When getting along with whom one form attachment with, one would feel secure and comforted. Though some said that the attachment was firstly formed in pregnancy, the main formation of attachment is mostly developed in infancy and early childhood (less than 5 years old). In the second half of the first year, infant would start to recognizeRead More Development of Attachment Essay examples1556 Words   |  7 Pagescomprehensive being their temperaments and attachment styles. A child’s temperament is the way in which he reacts to the world, new situations, people, and experiences. Attachment is an infant’s enduring emotional bond to his parentsor primary caregivers. Both of these factors affect children not only in infancy, but throughout their lives. Temperament has been shown to be a consistent aspect of a  person’s behavior over time, and their style of attachment to their primary caregiver often shapes theRead MoreAttachment Theory And Emotional Development1347 Words   |  6 Pagesand of others† (p. 133). Attachment theory plays a large role in cognitive and emotional development because it sets a foundation for the child. A case study of Angela, a 17-year-old mother, and her 11 month-old son, will dive into the attachment relationship between the two and extenuating circumstances surrounding that attachment. Angela is attempting to raise her son under the roof of her mother; who doesn’t support a paternal rela tionship for Adam. Angela’s attachment relationship with her sonRead MoreTheory Of Development And Attachment Theory1168 Words   |  5 Pages Development/ Attachment Psychoanalyst, John Bowlby in the mid 19th hundreds, investigated attachment theory. Over the years, we have enhanced our understanding on how children attach to their primary caregiver earlier in life. Supported by attachment theory, infants have a window for the development of attachment to the primary caregiver, which, usually happens during the first months of life (Hardy, 2007). Given that Alexander’s parents’ left when he was only 3 months and was raised by hisRead MoreAttachment Theory And Child Development1635 Words   |  7 PagesAttachment Theory and Children Attachment theory led not only to increased attention to attachments as a psychosocial process, it also led to a new understanding of child development (Bowlby, 1969). Freudian theory suggested that as libidinal drives fixed on different objects, former attachments would be broken; failure to break an attachment effectively would constitute a sort of trauma that could lead to later mental illness (Bretherton (1992). Attachment theory, however, suggested that growingRead MoreEarly Infant Attachment And Subsequent Development1005 Words   |  5 PagesAnalyze the research on early infant attachment and subsequent development. The infant-caregiver relationship is vastly important to the proper and healthy development of an infant and throughout the duration of the infant’s life. However, the types of relationships attained through attachments as well as socialization goals vary across cultures (Gross, 2011).Secure infant attachments are however, extremely important to overall healthy psychosocial development and prosocial behavior and can be analyzed