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Evolution Of Attachment Theory

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In observing the timeline, the events depicted shows the development of Attachment Theory from its early influence until the collaboration by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth (nee Salter). This theory was formulated by John Bowlby and then with further input it was elaborated by Mary Ainsworth. It seems as if this theory has originated from a base on ethological theories, the study of animal and human as they evolved; psychoanalytic perspective where the mother-child relationship was analyzed and; cognitive where the self and others are examined.
Mary Main an American who is a psychologist and a professor, has taken attachment theory into a new direction by applying it to adults. She was a student of Mary Ainsworth, and whilst working with her …show more content…

He wanted to prove that the monkey responded to tactile comfort instead of the need for food, and protection. He took baby monkey and some was isolated, whilst the other was with a surrogate mother either with a wire mesh mother or clothed mother. The results of the isolated monkey was, they develop psychological disorders; those who were with the surrogate mothers, cling more to the clothed one than the mesh. His experiment showed the evolutionary theory of attachment, and importance of that attachment in the critical period, and if they are deprived they can suffer profound damage, not only in their childhood but also in their …show more content…

He was of the opinion that a person has a time frame to pass through a specific stage; the oral, anal, phallic, latency, and the genital stage. If they do not overcome each stage, they become fixated to that stage, resulting in unresolved issues in their adult life. His theory has paved the way for other theory such as attachment, and according to Bowlby this attachment is a strong affectional tie that binds a person to an intimate companion (Sigelman & Rider, 2012). Charles Darwin contributed to the development of attachment theory. He was a naturalist and during his many voyage he came to his theory of evolution. Species has a common ancestor, and as the environment changed either the species adapt or the become extinct-survival of the fittest. His theory help us to understand the biological changed where there is a struggle for existence and how it influence instinct in the animal kingdom, it also applies to human where natural selection has evolved as seen in their social behaviour, reasoning and physical characteristics (Crain,

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His studies showed that the babies sought the comfort of the terry cloth mom monkey no matter which mom fed them. This study to me, would have been better, had he added one more element, such as a real live female monkey, the baby monkey would have most likely preferred the touch, feel and communication she provided,

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Cindy Hazan and Philip Shaver in 1980 were able to move the theory of attachment and children into developed theories of attachment on adulthood relationships. They found that even in cases of adults a strong attachment is still very important, Hazan and Shaver (1980) concluded that a balance intimacy with independence within a relationship is best, if the attachment was too strong both parties would be over dependent, and if the attachment was weak there would be a lack of intimacy with feeing of inadequacy (Hazan and Shaver, 1980). Many past findings have suggested that secure attachment is related to high levels of self-esteem; such is found evident in Wilkinson (2004) research about the role of parental and peer attachment in the psychological

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Theories, Key Concepts, Principles, and Assumptions Two theories that will be discussed in this paper is Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development and John Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment. Erikson’s theory is considered psychosocial, emphasizing the importance of social and cultural factors within a lifespan, from infancy to later adulthood. Erikson’s theory is broken down into eight consecutive age-defined stages. During each stage, a person experiences a psychosocial crisis that contributes to their personality development.

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In 1969, John Bowlby made the connection that formed relationships and attachments to caregivers contributes to future development and growth. The attachment theory focuses on relationship association between caregivers and their children. Children who established a foundation with a caregiver despite their biological relation, gain much needed support. Establishing support, encourages a child’s development. The comfort of safety, allows children to feel secure in taking risks (Groman, 2012).

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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.

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Introduction The purpose of this discussion paper is to discuss a specific issue of the client, Laura, and the intervention model of Attachment Theory. Key features of the intervention model will be addressed, as well as the manner in which the model will be applied to a specific issue experienced by the client. Each of these aspects will be discussed in regards to their helpfulness in the intervention. Issue Statement

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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

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It is undeniable that the foundation of Wilhelm Wundt’s Institute of Experimental Psychology and the introduction of Darwin’s new theory of evolution as descried in Origin of Species has had a huge impact on the development of the modern discipline of Psychology and on society today. In this essay I will examine Wilhelm Wundt’s Institute of Experimental Psychology and Darwin’s theory of evolution from Origin of Species. I will look at what they included and the effect they had on Psychology and society at the time they were published and their influence years after. Firstly I will assess the impact of the new theory of evolution as described in Darwin’s Origin of Species.

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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. 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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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.

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It was an experiment used to observe the different attachment styles shown by mothers and infants. Adults do not need a test because they can easily be interviewed, they are able to say what they feel or what they experienced. Infants are not able to do this, thus an experiment was conducted. 100 middle class American families were part of the experiment. The infants in the experiment were 12 to 18 months old.

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The 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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Influenced by Darwin’s evolutionary theory-stressed the

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His theories contribute several areas of psychology such as cognitive psychology, social psychology and developmental psychology. However his major influence the development of psychology and comparative psychology is originate from this theory of mental continuity of animals and human beings. Darwin’s theory of evolution speeded up animal studies in psychology. Before Darwin published his theories, there is no reason for scientist to study animals. Opposite to Darwin’s founding, there is clear distinction between animal and human being.

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