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What Is John Bowlby's Explanation Of Attachment

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Perhaps the most influential explanation of attachment was presented by John Bowlby who began developing his ideas in the 1940s. Bowlby presented two key theories, namely the maternal deprivation hypothesis and his theory of attachment, which we shall consider here. The ideas behind these theories are closely linked. Rather than locating the child's formation of attachment within the environment as learning theories do, Bowlby argued that attachment was an evolved mechanism that ensured the survival of the child. He drew on a variety of different influences to develop his theory. The underlying basis of Bowlby's theory was the innate or instinctive nature of attachment. He argued that attachment behaviours in both babies and their caregivers have evolved through natural selection to ensure the baby survives to reach maturity and to reproduce. Babies possess instincts such as crying and smiling, which encourage the caregiver to look after them. Parents, especially mothers according to Bowlby, possess instincts designed to protect their baby from harm and to nurture them to ensure survival to maturity. Those babies and …show more content…

Schaffer (1996) distinguishes between vertical relationships the child has with those who are older and more powerful such as parents and teachers; and horizontal relationships, which are attachments to someone with a similar level of power, usually a sibling or peer. Relationships with siblings are very long lasting and often very important in our lives, Bee (1995) has noted the different kinds of attachment between siblings such as ''buddies', often pairs of sisters, who try to be like each other and enjoy each other's company and 'caregivers' where an older sibling takes care of the younger, often behaving in a quasi-parental way. Bowlby's emphasis on the relationship between mother and baby led to those important attachments being

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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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After reading the book “Ghosts from the nursery: Tracing the roots of violence” infants, let alone the fetus are not exempt from outside environments. John Bowl theorized that attachment theory is bondings with caregivers, particularly with mothers are very essential. The inquiry shows time alone with the baby immediately after birth has lasting consequences of interactions between.

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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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Children are completely reliant on the adults in their early lives. Whether it is their biological parents, foster parents, or other family members, children need to be able to build upon healthy relationships in order to achieve normal development (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2004). In John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth’s “strange theory” there are four different kinds of attachment between the parent and child: secure attachment, anxious-ambivalent attachment, anxious-avoidant attachment, and disorganized attachment (Fraley, 2010). Not having a secure attachment in infancy can cause a multitude of problems. There are many aspects in a child’s life that can have an effect on whether or not the child is able to develop healthy relationships with adults

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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.

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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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1503 Words | 7 Pages

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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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This thesis studies the role of attachment theory on child development by evaluating attachment types and experiments due to its crucial role in influencing a child's growth. The objective is to exemplify attachment theory and explain its role in a child's development. Experiments by Harry Harlow and Mary Ainsworth, as well as external research by John Bowlby, are employed in this study. The results retain diverse attachment types, their effects on parenting, and how early attachment affects adult relationships. To conclude, attachment theory is a vital developmental milestone in a child's life and remains an essential subject throughout their lifetime.

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1020 Words | 5 Pages

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