Childhood Attachment Theory

Words: 671
Pages: 3
Open Document
Attachment theory has evolved over the years, and is based on the effects of maternal or primary caregiver separation on a child’s development (Binger & Gerhardt, 2013). Attachment theory perspective is credited to John Bowlby, who was interested in better understanding cognitive and developmental psychology. He proposed that attachment would be significant throughout the lifespan and across many different relationships (Levy, 2013). Society largely encourages bonding between an infant and the primary caregiver. Redshaw and Martin (2013) maintain that while society and many health professionals use bonding and attachment interchangeably, they are not the same. “‘Bonding’ is not ‘attachment’ and attachment is not an instantaneous process.” (Redshaw …show more content…
There are a number of parent education programs and other resources available to families that are preparing for parenthood, and for those that are parents already. Forming a secure attachment is the foundation of many of these programs. Butcher and Gersh (2014) explore the parent-child relationship through the attachment theory lens in “Time Together” home visits with parents experiencing difficulty relating to their children. The program is designed to empower these parents, bringing them into harmony, and ultimately increasing their level of social engagement (Butcher & Gersch, 2014). At the Center for Babies, Toddlers, and Families, secure attachment is considered a hallmark of mental health. By assisting clients in exploring their own attachment style, they are able to help them become more effective parents (American Museum of Natural History, …show more content…
Encouraging healthy attachment gives parents insight on the strategies that are and are not working for them, allowing them to let go of those that are ineffective (EmpoweredToConnect, 2013). The focus is primarily on the parent, but will have a tremendous impact on the child. “This is because changes in the parent’s behavior and subjective experiences of the children directly effect changes in children’s and adolescent’s working models of self and others” (Kindsvatter & Desmond, 2013). As research on attachment theory continues, it is imperative that family professionals continue learning. It is also important to stay up-to-date on current resources available to families in
Show More

Related Documents: Childhood Attachment Theory

Daycare: Attachment Theory Essays

Outline and evaluate Bowlby’s theory of attachment John Bowlby observed a number of children who had experienced early separations from their families, and this led to his first theory, ‘the maternal deprivation hypothesis (1951), he suggested that a young child should experience a warm, intimate and continuous relationship with their mother (mother substitute) in which both find satisfaction and enjoyment, he proposed that children deprived of such a relationship might suffer permanent long-term…

Words 1322 - Pages 6

Sample Undergraduate Psychology Essay

Drawing on Freudian and Attachment Theories assess the Relationship between early year's experiences and criminality. Psychological theories have attempted to explain the reasons for and how criminality occurs. The psychoanalytic perspective involves two major theories - Freud's theory of the Sexual Stages of Development and the Theory of Attachment purposed by Bowlby (1947). These theories conclude that there is an association between the formation of personality in childhood and that of future criminal…

Words 1594 - Pages 7

Attachment Theory Compulsory

Attachment Theory Implications for infants with sensory-motor disabilities Katharine A. Greene Charter Oak State College Attachment Theory, originally created by renowned social scientists, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, is primarily interested in the relationships of infants and preschool aged children and their primary caregiver. Very much of the time, the caregiver happens to be the child’s mother. In this paper, I plan to provide the reader with an overview and definition of Attachment Theory…

Words 498 - Pages 2

Essay on Eevaluating Bowlby’s Theory

Attachment is innate Bowlby (1969) proposed that millions of years of evolution had produced a behaviour that is essential to the survival chances of human infants. Humans are born helpless and totally dependent on the actions of a caregiver for food, warmth, shelter and safety for their well being and survival. If babies did not behave in a way that made it more likely an adult would care for them, and if adults did not become attached to babies, then human infants would not survive to reproductive…

Words 986 - Pages 4

Early Attachment Theory

To conclude, based on the preceding discussion I would say that early attachments do impact on the state of adult-relationships in the future. The attachment theory helps us understand the psychological connectedness between different human beings. The early childhood relationships consciously and subconsciously deeply impact one’s perceptions and behaviours in the adult relationships. Attachments develop between a child and parents, caregivers etc. The nature of these bonds depends on the respective…

Words 145 - Pages 1

Shawl's Attachment Theory

partners' unmet attachment needs within their relationship" (Johnson, 2004), Shawel's interactions with his wife is always accompanied by distrust and anger. This anger is coming from, according to Johnson, the unmet need of Shawel. As a child, Shawel experienced unsecured bond because of the absence of the father and unmet needs from his mother. Shawel's childhood relationship attachment can be explained well by attachment theory. In view of that, Attachment theory explains how attachment with primary…

Words 625 - Pages 3

A Qualitative Study to Show How Other Affect Individual Development, Using Thematic Analysis. Essay

ways that adults construct their own attachment experiences and relationships along and how others influence these attachments and their development. The chosen method for data collection was interviews as they provide full and detailed data for thematic analysis. Other researchers studying within the social constructionist perspective with a main focus on attachment found that attachment relationships are a central part of our lives, which can stem from childhood experiences through to later adult…

Words 2607 - Pages 11

Basic Concepts in Attachment Theory Essay

Basic Concepts in Attachment Theory Attachment theory is the joint work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth (Ainsworth & Bowlby, 1991 ). Drawing on concepts from ethology, cybernetics, information processing, developmental psychology, and psychoanalysts, John Bowlby formulated the basic tenets of the theory. He thereby revolutionized our thinking about a child’s tie to the mother and its disruption through separation, deprivation, and bereavement. Mary Ainsworth’s innovative methodology not only…

Words 2821 - Pages 12

Theories of social development essay

Psychology – Development in Childhood and Adolescence Assignment Title: Theories of Social Development Essay Module Leader: Jan Teasdale Student Name: Coleen Marie Roberts (01302371) Submission Date: 05:05:2015 Word Count: 1650 Words Theories of Social Development McLeod (2012) suggests that the practice of developmental psychology only became a discipline after the industrial revolution (18th century). In the need to create an educated workforce, a person’s childhood was considered a prominent…

Words 1952 - Pages 8

Attachment Theory Essay

was a keen theorist in attachment research and believed all these behaviours have survival value and are there to encourage closeness to the caregiver. [ (Birch, 2005) ]Bowlby’s theory will be considered in more detail discussing his theory on attachment. Attachment is an emotional bond between child and caregiver; if this attachment is broke this is when the infant may encounter deprivation or privation. [ (Birch, 2005) ] Deprivation refers to a child that had an attachment to the caregiver and…

Words 1225 - Pages 5