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Lifespan Development And Bowlby's Attachment Theory

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As children grow, they experience numerous changes to their moods and behaviours (Beckett and Taylor, 2010). Many of these changes are relatively predictable and, while they can be challenging, most are completely normal aspects of their development (Gibbs, Barrow, and Parker, 2015). Each child’s development does not progress at the same rate, and each stage is affected by the preceding developmental experiences (Gibbs, Barrow, and Parker, 2015). Developmental changes may occur as a result of genetically-controlled processes known as maturation, or as a result of environmental factors and learning, but most commonly involves an interaction between the two (Beckett and Taylor, 2010). There are numerous theories on development that conceptualise …show more content…

At home, Mary receives little support or affection from her mother, step-father and half-brother, Toby. Further, she has no contact with her biological father who now resides overseas. Mary has been referred to counselling by her teacher who has expressed concern about her social withdrawal and disengagement during class. The essay uses developmental theories such as; Erikson’s Theory of Lifespan Development and Bowlby’s Attachment Theory to understand the influence of relationships in Mary’s life, which have resulted in concerns about her mental health, and how this might impact on her future development if not addressed. The counselling approaches of Play Therapy and Family Therapy are discussed in relation to addressing Mary’s presenting concerns, and challenges for the role of the school counsellor and school setting are also examined in relation to those involved in the counselling …show more content…

During this stage a child begins to take an active role in their schooling environment where they receive the instruction, scaffolding and preparation they need to enter and navigate their future worlds (Moretti and Peled, 2004). A greater emphasis is placed on the child’s relationship with their peers, and academic performance becomes increasingly important as the underlying theme becomes “I am what I learn” (Karcher and Benne, 2008). The successful completion of this stage relies on the positive recognition from significant adults (such as parents and teachers) regarding the development and mastery of new skills, thus enabling the child to develop the virtue within this stage; competence (Moretti and Peled, 2004). When examining Mary’s significant relationships, it can be assumed that she has had limited opportunity to develop her sense of competence, thus resulting in avoidant behaviours and a low sense of self-efficacy (Karcher and Benne,

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Mary Ainsworth is known best for her elaboration work of John Bowlby and his attachment theory. She developed a procedure for the observation and assessing the quality of attachment in relationships between the child and a caregiver. The procedure was called the ‘Strange Situation’. In the experiment the child was observed playing for twenty minutes. Meanwhile the caregivers and strangers enter and leave the room.

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wafic Dabbous 201102323 Throughout their development, children are influenced by numerous experiences. As they are growing, their growth will include both physical and emotional development. Factors such as their family, education as well as their entourage will play a big role in that development. Other factors include the nature of the environment they are exposed to, whether it is facilitative or not.

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A child’s growth from childhood to adulthood can be measured in many different ways. One way a kid’s growth could be measured is through their change in emotions. As a kid grows up they may have stronger emotions for different people or things. Another way a child’s growth could be measured is the way they interact with their friends. Along with acting differently towards their friends, a kid may act differently towards their family.

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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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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.

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Attachment and how it relates to the development of a person is a highly studied area within psychology and human services, with a focus on the causes and impacts. Attachment can be both a positive and negative experience that differs from each person and phase of life. Both Bowlby and Ainsworth conducted studies to present the concept of ‘attachment theory’ and how this is demonstrated over a person’s lifespan. It gives professionals and carers the information to why people present the way they do and the insight in how to improve outcomes and support behaviour and emotions. Attachment theory is a term used to discuss the relationship between infants and their primary caregivers.

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First Theorist Question 1 – Name your theorist: Edward John Mostyn Bowlby (1907-1990) Attachment Theory References: Mcleod, S. A. (2007). Bowlby’s Attachment Theory, https://www.simplypsychology.org/bowlby.html https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologist/john-bowlby.html http://www.psychology.sunysb.edu/attachment/online/inge_origions.pdf Question 2 – Summarise the key ideas of the theory: Edward John Mostyn was born I London (1907-1990). John Bowlby was a psychoanalyst and created the attachment theory, as a joint team with Mary Ainsworth. John Bowlby created the basic beliefs of the theory and he developed our way of thinking about a child’s conection, with his or her mother and it’s interference through the separation, deprivation and bereavement. And Mary Ainsworth’s state of the art method, which has made it possible to be able to test some of Bowlby’s theory idea’s, by means of observation or experiences, Ainsworth also helped increase and develop the theory itself, and is now accountable for some of how the new course the theory is now taking.

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The bond that a child and a parent share is so indescribable that it can only be understood by a feeling. A child is the creation of both a male and a female that are bringing two souls into one. The child in that case, not only possesses their characteristics genetically, but also the behaviors that the parents illustrate physically. As a child is transitioning between preschool years and middle childhood years, the change is not significant. In fact, children at this age tend to stay stagnant.

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Bowlby, notably researched a set of abandoned orphans and the negative effect separation from their parents had on them (Bretherton, 1992; Senior, 2013). This led him to conclude attachment formed in these years influenced one from birth to death (Chopik, Edelstein, & Fraley, 2012; Drewery, 2011) For instance, he stated that people with early attachment insecurity, are more susceptible to psychological issues such as high anxiety and riskier health behaviour (Bretherton, 1992; Cooper, et al., 2008). Ainsworth, also believed in prominence on early experiences of attachment. This alludes to her study, the Strange Situation, which focuses on children’s responses to separation and reunion events with their parents (Bretherton, 1992; Main, 2000).

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The development and importance of attachment in early life Most people believe there is nothing more precious and fulfilling in life than having a family of their own. But what happens if the new parents are unable to form a healthy, loving attachment with their newborns? This essay will explore the development and importance of attachment, its theory, and the significance of a parent nurturing a loving attachment with their baby. Formation of attachment Although the British psychiatrist John Bowlby was not the first to study the psychological effects of having a kind and present caregiver in babies early developmental stages, he was revolutionary in his attachment theory (Goldberg, 2000).

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John Bowlby (1907-1990) was a psychanalyst (like Freud) and believed that mental health and behavioral problems could be attributed to early childhood. His whole focus was on children how their reaction was to everything; he observed their knowledge and found out what can he do next and how can be specifically. John 's research was really interesting however because he had the patience to learn how each child learned in their own way and the uniqueness of each one in their own ways. How did they grow up with it and what made them fall in them from the word Attachment. His main points are that a child has an innate need to attach to one main attachment figure, a child should receive the same amount of love that is giving to everyone else, if you don 't show a certain care to the child they may show consequences; aggressiveness and depression also Roberton and Bowlby believed that short term separation leads to distress stages are protest, despair and detachment.

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This essay will explore what attachment theory is and its implications for the social and emotional world of the child and also highlight one of the government policy that supports positive parent and child relationships. FORMATION OF ATTACHMENT John Bowlby (1907-1990) was a British Psychiatrist who originally highlighted the important of a a child’s attachment relationship. He was influenced by the theory of ethology and the study of imprinting by Lorenze (1935). Used ducklings to prove that attachment was innate and has survival value. Other theorist also emphasis on the reason children are attached to their caregivers.

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A major concern of Psychologists is whether our development is influenced by human genetics, the environment were born into, or interactions between our genetics (nature) and environment (nurture), or to put simply learning vs instinct. To find a possible answer, we must look at how we start to grow in our childhood. Before the times that we knew about genes, it was widely accepted our development was based on our environment, or the nurture element of the debate. In 1928, John B. Watson wrote Psychological Care of Infant and Child which is considered to be the ground works of behaviorism.

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Several theories exist to explain the process of human development. The following will discuss five individual, influential theories of development and how they relate to age-related milestones throughout the lifespan. Biology and Evolutionary Theories emphasize that the factors that motivate human behaviour are both genetic and biological process, and that they have gradually changed over time through a process of genetic mutation, natural selection, and evolution (Bee, Boyd, & Johnson, 2018). Associated with these theories are the study of genes, patterns of inheritance, behaviour genetics, ethology, evolutionary psychology, as well as the work of influential evolutionist Charles Darwin, who believed that the development of the human species could understood by studying child development (Bee, Boyd, & Johnson, 2018).

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