ipl-logo

Essay On Attachment Theory

785 Words4 Pages

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,

Show More
Related
499 Words | 2 Pages

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

Read More
110 Words | 1 Pages

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.

Read More
539 Words | 3 Pages

The attachment theory is made up by two people, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Both, Freud, and other psychoanalytic theorists influenced John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. The question though is, “Is this important through child development?” The attachment theory proves that attachment is extremely necessary, through the development in a child because

Read More
1261 Words | 6 Pages

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

Read More
809 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
575 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More
972 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More
1542 Words | 7 Pages

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.

Read More
1117 Words | 5 Pages

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

Read More
1214 Words | 5 Pages

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

Read More
2039 Words | 9 Pages

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

Read More
1016 Words | 5 Pages

This relationship is explained through ‘attachment theory’ that came into being with the works of John Bowlby who

Read More
1810 Words | 8 Pages

Sigmund Freud (1982) also known as the “Father of Psychoanalysis” claimed that the mother-child connection is an unconscious bond between the infant and the primary caregiver which becomes the dominant force for a pattern of behaviors throughout the infant’s entire lifespan. However, John Bowlby, a British psychologist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst developed Freud’s claim further and introduced the attachment theory. According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health “Attachment is one specific aspect of the relationship between a child and a parent with its purpose being to make a child safe, secure and protected. Attachment is distinguished from other aspects of parenting, such as disciplining, entertaining and

Read More
1628 Words | 7 Pages

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

Read More
959 Words | 4 Pages

INTRO Attachment theory is the idea that a child needs to form a close relationship with at least one primary caregivers , this theory provided that attachment is necessary to ensure successful social emotional development of an infant. This is a very crucial stage in occurs in the early infant years this factors relationships with the child and the primary child care giver. In this case the parents and the educator can share the primary role. John Bowlby began researching after he graduated, he believed the attached processed involved the cognitive emotional and social features of attachment.

Read More

More about Essay On Attachment Theory

Open Document