John Bowlby Attachment Theory Paper

John Bowlby, born in 1907, was a psychoanalyst with a deep interest in child development and established the attachment theory (Newworldencyclopedia.org, 2018). He’s finding came from different sources of psychological study including his own life. During his childhood era, cuddling was believed lead to smothered and spoiled children. His mother would only spend an hour with him a day and didn’t form any attachment with him but left the responsibility to his nanny. His Nanny departure at the tender age of 4 years old was traumatic and devastating because she was his primary caregiver. The personal events in his life set the stage for the development of the attachment theory which consisted of a primary attachment figure and proximity-seeking

However, the proximity seeking behavior is actions to maintain close attachment to the primary figure. For babies, this primary attachment according to Bowlby is thought to originate from the evolutionary theory which consist of programmed response that emerge for survival. Furthermore, Bowlby theorized that survival actions are activated in two stages by either an internally or externally perceived threat (Belsky, 2013). Moreover, Bowlby divided the attachment theory by three phases: the preattachment phase, attachment in the making, and clear-cut attachment. During the preattachment phase the baby shows no signs of attachment, however, it ends sometime after the first smile. Next emerges the attachment in the making when the infant from 4 to 7 months begin to prefer their primary care giver and develops into clear-cut attachment phase. In clear-cut attachment occurring from 7 months to toddler is where behaviors corresponding to stranger anxiety, separation anxiety and needing to be close to the primary caregiver are

,2010). Ainsworth developed the test of attachment by the Strange Situation study where children had either a secure attachment or insecure attachment (Belsky, 2013). In a securely attached relationship when the mother would leave the children would either become or not get distressed, however, on the return of their primary care giver they are over joyed. In contrast, the insecurely attached child would act in one of three ways avoidant, anxious, or disorganized attachment. Firstly, the characteristics of avoidant attachment are a lack of emotion almost wooden-like attribute. Secondly, anxious-ambivalent attachment is observe when a child is too anxious and nervous to be reengaged with play on return of primary caregiver. Lastly, disorganized attachment is bizarre behavior on the return of the caregiver manifested by erratic running, freezing and displays of intense fear (Belsky, 2015).

The durability of the attachment theory can be seen across the lifespan in different sectors and individual choices. For instance, according to research the types of relationships either healthy or abusive are determined by an attachment bond or trauma bond replicating early childhood attachments (Schwartz, J.