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Primary Caregiver Theory

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The relationship between infants and their primary caregiver according to psychological theory has a significant impact on the infants’ development. While parental sensitivity is not likely to be the sole proximal factor responsible for at the attachment security of infants, as many other proximal and distal factors both contribute and interact, and that these factors will differ for mothers and fathers, it may still be a significant factor. A consensus must be reached as well on the definition of sensitivity, and differing methods of determining sensitivity may cause different aspects of sensitivity to be captured that may not reflect the concept as a whole. Use of the original definition provided by Ainsworth, Blechar, Waters, and Wall (1978) …show more content…

(1978) as most studies have focused on the mother-infant dyad. While the psychopathology of the primary caregiver may be a distal factor to attachment security and type, it has a direct impact on the level of maternal sensitivity and is significant as mothers’ may experience such conditions as post-partum depression. According to CDC statistics, postpartum depression has a prevalence of 11.5% in the Unites States ( and it is estimated that 17% of mothers with young children experience an increase in symptoms associated with depression (Horwitz, Briggs-Gowan, Storfer-Isser, & Carter, 2007). As psychopathology may impact the degree of maternal sensitivity, it can be used to observe the effect of sensitivity as a proximal factor of attachment strength. Belsky and Jaffee (2006) found that parents with a history of conduct disorders were also more likely to display suboptimal parenting. A meta-analysis of 35 studies with 2064 mother-infants dyads, by Atkinson, Paglia, Coolbaer, NIccols, Parker, and Guger (2000) that depression had an effect size of r=.18, suggesting a small but significant effect. Though this was greater for clinical samples than community samples, these results indicate that the effect is still present in both high-risk and low-risk groups, contracting Lickenbrock (2015) who suggested that sensitivity may only be a predictor of attachment security in high-risk homes. This is significant as effects are usually compounded with high-risk families, and so the effect of maternal sensitivity may be amplified in high-risk groups. Therefore the small but significant effect size in community samples in Atkinson et al. (2000), which is a low-risk group, as opposed to clinical samples, supports maternal sensitivity as being a significant

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Attachment theory states that either secure or insecure bonds may form between infant and mother in the first several months of the infant’s life for the purposes of safety and security. The bond formed between infant and mother influences the quality of the relationships a child has throughout his or her life. One major reasoning of the attachment theory is that the parents are a sanctuary of safety throughout all of early childhood. Insecure attachments promote feelings of threat, rejection, and personal unworthiness. This can also be the explanation for the dream children stashing food away because of the possible threat that there,” will come a time when they will not be fed” (Smith 99).Unhealthy attachments not only lead to poor caregiver-child relationships, but can also cause a dysfunctional self-development, defective relationships, substance abuse problems, and educational difficulties.

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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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560 Words | 3 Pages

The purpose of this paper is to explore the causes of PPD, the impact of PPD on both parents, infant and children, the interventions available for postpartum depression, and how social determinants of health relates to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression negatively impacts a family in many levels. The mother feels feeling of incompetence, helplessness, fatigue, and worthlessness which increases the possibility of social isolation (Letourneau et al., 2012, p. 446). This can result in marital problems such as declining intimacy between partners, disagreement, and hostility. In the same way, men can also suffer from postpartum depression.

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604 Words | 3 Pages

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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657 Words | 3 Pages

Children who have created secure attachment with their mothers often initiate play activities, are generally sensitive to needs and feelings of other children, and are popular with peers as they grow (Shaffer & Kipp, 2010). As we can see, this was not the case with

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1231 Words | 5 Pages

The manifestation, prevalence and management approaches to these conditions vary. Previous studies have shown that postpartum depression affects the mother-child relationship, mother-spouse relationship, as well as the cognitive development and behavior of the child. Although giving birth to a newborn brings joy to a parent, the occurrence of stressors has the potential for affecting parents immensely. These stressors are responsible for postpartum stress/depression and include; fatigue, soreness, baby feeding, high

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339 Words | 2 Pages

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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1650 Words | 7 Pages

This test observed patterns in the infants’ experiences of separation and reunion with their mother, and their reaction to a stranger, in order to evaluate the type of attachment relationship the infant shared with their mother (Ainsworth, 1978). Ainsworth found a significant consistency between the mothers’ interactive styles and the reactions of the infants. The results of this test led Ainsworth to classify the behaviours into three main categories. She identified the infants to have secure attachment, or one of two forms of insecure attachment, avoidant or ambivalent (Music,

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1297 Words | 6 Pages

Context. Postnatal depression is one of the most frequent difficulties viewed as behavioral issues and mental sickness/problems in women about four to six weeks after giving birth. It’s a major public health issue given its prevalence and impact not only on mothers and babies but also to their households as well. However, untreated postnatal depression is well-known to suffer adverse results such as unfavorable parenting practices and impaired mother-baby bonding, which in return is known to affect rationale and emotional growth of the baby. The gravest, of course, is maternal suicide and infanticide.

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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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1805 Words | 8 Pages

Bell 1 During the Great Depression, the housing crisis forced the homeless to create encampments in shack towns known as Hooverville. The shacks were tiny and poorly built. Hoovervilles, named after President Herbert Hoover, were a visible symbol of poverty and the economic struggles faced by the American people during this time. People living in these communities lacked access to necessities such as running water, electricity, and sanitation facilities. As a result, they suffered from illnesses and diseases that were easily preventable.

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748 Words | 3 Pages

children). First of all, postpartum depression can adversely impact on new parents’ psychological health and their functioning. In addition, postpartum Depression contributes to negative effects on the family health, especially for child development. One study suggested that paternal depression can have a harmful impact on children’s behavioral and emotional development (Ramchandani, et al., 2005). Similarly, another research found that “PPD affects approximately 10%-15% of women and impairs mother-infant interactions that in turn are important for child development; depressed mothers often display less attachment, sensitivity and harsher or disrupted parenting behaviors.”

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785 Words | 4 Pages

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,

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1810 Words | 8 Pages

The experiment was done in a room with a one way glass to observe the infant. Different situations were given to the infant to determine the infant’s attachment style, the mother of the infant would leave the room and the infant would be left with the experimenter or the experimenter would leave the room and leave the mother and infant alone. How the infant reacts to the situation is used to determine the attachment style of the infant. Infants with secure attachment style would be distressed every time the mother would leave, the infant avoids the stranger when the mother leaves and when the mother returns the infant becomes happier. Infants with ambivalent attachment attachment style get distressed whenever the mother leaves, and avoids the stranger when left alone.

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1137 Words | 5 Pages

Attachment in early life is a fundamental aspect of child development and the establishment of intimate and reciprocal relationships with caregivers. Shaffer & Kipp (2007) define attachment as ‘a close emotional relationship between two persons, characterized by mutual affection and a desire to maintain proximity’. Contrary to the original view of infant attachment as a ‘secondary drive’ of the dependency on caregivers for physiological needs, such as hunger; Bowlby (1969, 1973) proposed that all infants are born with an innate bias to form an attachment to a primary attachment figure to whom they can seek comfort, or a ‘secure base’ during stressful circumstances. It is proposed by Ainsworth (1967) that parental sensitivity is crucial to shaping the security and development of the initial infant-parent attachment relationship, however the phenomenon of attachment requires both infants and caregivers to contribute in the formation of the attachment bond. Ultimately, the quality of attachment in early life shapes both the social and emotional

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