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John Bowlby's Attachment Theory

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Discuss the contribution of attachment theory to the social and emotional development of a young child or adolescent. In John Bowlby’s (1969) theory of attachment he outlines the relationship between infant and mother. He believed that human we predisposed create a dyadic relationship. This was not merely a relationship determined by biological satisfaction of needs such as feeding rather an innate desire for comfort and support. This forms a sense of security that the infant uses to explore the work. The Internal Working Model- The infant uses the relationship as a secure base from which they can explore the world. First divised by Melanie Klein was at the centre of Bowlby’s theory. The Internal Working Model is a vital part of personality …show more content…

Considering attachment in this boardest sense attachment can be considered in most of our adult relationships and not merely as infant dependency. Lovers etc. However, Bowlby (1969) refers to attachment as the relationship between social figures, namely infant and caregiver. Freud also believed in attachment between mother and infant but believed this stemmed from oral satisfaction through feeding. However the work of Harlow and Zimmerman (1959) suggest that Freud was incorrect and that the bond between caregiver and infant was due to comfort. Demonstrated that feeding was not the crucial element. (Santrock 97) The maternal bond is neither a case of genetics or feeding patterns rather the influence of social role. The stereotypical mother is the care giver, feeding and caring. While the fathers role is to play and support. In cases where mother is not present the father can assume similar stature to mothers role, i.e. rilance and secure base. Lamb 1997 observed interaction through play with parents and child. No favorites until stranger featured. Mother was …show more content…

A large proportion of the research supports the importance of attachment in early childhood and the security formed can result in certain social and behaviour characteristics. As a child develops its independence the attachment behaviour become less prominate leading to a social mature relationship. Ainsworth (1989) suggest that it never disappears and that adolescences and young adult still rely on their parent in these roles. Bowlby (1979) it is a mistake to assume as some psychoanalysts do, that the presence of attachment behaviour in adult life is pathological, regressive or reflects ‘fixation’. To Bowlby this is a biological based behaviour and a considered choice. As attachment in early childhood is an introduction into how relationship work and react. It makes sense take people bring that learnt behaviour forward with them in life. Just like early childhood more than one attached relationship. Ainsworth (1991) expresses an interesting component regarding adult attached relationship, the concept that a secure base is applied to intimate adult relationship. ‘Evidence is accumulating that human beings of all ages are happisest and able to deploy their talents to best advantage… with a secure base from to operate’ (Bowlby,

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Bowlby, Harlow, and Ainsworth each had unique positions on infant attachment and adult relationships. All three researchers pointed out that children become attached or unattached depending on the amount and type of love and affection they receive from birth. Each had a different way of creating their study. Harlow used baby monkeys taken from their mothers and replacing mom with either a metal or a terry cloth covered mom.

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I can personally relate to this idea because my cognitive, emotional, and social development was influenced by the intimate attachments I had with my parents; the people who responded to my needs with love. When I was seven years old, I ran straight to my mother after I tripped over and broke my arm. My mother comforted me and took me to the doctors, positively responding to my needs. This meant that I felt protected when my parents were within close proximity and I could take risks and explore my environment, allowing me to learn how to relate to others in society (Drewery & Claiborne, 2014). The attachment theory is relevant to my life because the intimate attachments I had with my parents have meant that I have had little cognitive, emotional, and social developmental difficulties, turning me into a secure individual who can function positively into society (McLeod,

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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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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,

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The attachment theory of John Bowlby has had an enduring impact on our understanding of child development. This study of Bowlby’s attachment theory allows us to understand more thoroughly how society and culture in constructing child rearing practices have a profound impact not only on the child but on the entire learning life of that individual. Attachment theory provides us with a lifelong learning project that brings together deep psychological patterns. Knowing that Bowlby does not do justice to the social and cultural factors that impact on development. At the core of a critical adult learning theory it is necessary to imagine how the cultures and societies, in which we live, interact with and influence the ways in which people relate

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With research, it has become apparent that there is a correspondence between mothers and children on the basis that attachment. Attachment depends on the reaction from mothers to her child’s emotional cues. (Feldman, 2012, Chapter

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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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According to the PowerPoint and readings of (Bowlby) Attachment theory “comes from safety & security, development in early life, usually towards a specific individual, endures throughout a large a large part of the life cycle”. However it’s also stated in Bowlby theory young animals and children venture out away from the safety of their parents or persons whom they were attached to come back. Conversely in the case of my grandmother she will never come

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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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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

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attachment theory has helped many researchers to identify children who are exposed to adversity. It assists therapist to help not only infants and parents But, also adults who experience lack of attachment in their relationships. Attachment theory has been an important value to the child services and social workers today. It helps to identify if the child has a lack of attachment to their caregiver it also detect red flag if the child is not happy in their home environment.

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Styles of parenting investigated for many years and it is considered important predictors of the child and adolescents development (Weber, Selig, Bernardi, & Salvador, 2006). Those styles of parenting are the set of behaviors that parents used for the socialization process in different cultures (Kobarg, Vieira, & Vieira, 2010). John Bowlby was concerned with finding the nature, implication and utility of a child’s connection to his parent (Bowlby, 1982). The theory had clinical observations of childre who experienced compromise, disturbed or deprived caregiving activities. Attachment theory is concerned with the matters of well-being and protection in psychological terms.

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Attachment behavior in grownups towards the child includes reacting favorably, sympathetically and suitably to the child’s desires. Such behaviors are seen as worldwide across different cultures. Attachment theory explains how the parent-child relationship is formed and how it influences succeeding growth and development. John Bowlby has contributed a lot to the Attachment theory by his works and experiments. In the 1930’s John Bowlby performed an experiment in a clinic named child guidance.

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