The Development of Attachment Essay

Children`s attachment is mostly based on the children`s sensitivity and understanding of the mother`s honesty in providing comfort, support and security. In addition, behaviours of the child that build up attachment and give the opportunity for showing contact between mother and child can include breastfeeding, which means relaxing the baby and independent, co-sleeping, kangaroo care, smelly mother, talking, and smiling to baby, physical touching and hugging, and playing with baby. (Simply Psychology)

This report discusses and evaluates the experiment conducted by Mary Ainsworth (1970) on several types of attachments one year-olds form and can form with their parents, specifically mothers. It discusses how these attachments are formed and further explains the function of the attachments for future development. Supported ideas are included to support agreement with Ainsworth’s theories. Suggested interventions to help children develop healthy attachments concludes the report.

This essay will look at the development of attachment theory since the time of Bowlby and the many theories proposed to determine which best describes attachment. The Attachment theory highlights the importance of attachment especially between mothers and infants in regards to the infants personal development, both physically and emotionally. Bowlby describes attachment as “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings”(Bowlby, 1969, p.194). Bowlby’s attachment theory suggested that mothers and infants have a biological need to be in contact with one another and there would only be one main attachment made with the infant (Bowlby, 1968, 1988).

Researchers have replicated Ainworths and Wittig’s (1969) Strange Situation experiment, using the results for further research. Kochanski (2001) investigated development in children with differing attachments through a longitudinal study. During ages 9 to 33 months, the bond between infant and caregiver clearly impacted on the infants’ emotional development. 54% of infants were initially found to have a secure attachment with their primary caregiver, and were very distressed during separation. However, at 33 months emotions were calmer, and became less angry. Conversely, 46% of the infants were described as insecurely attached. Both resistant and avoidant were most fearful and least joyful. Further, negative emotions increased by age 33 months. 2% of infants where unclassifiable as they became increasingly angry as more negative emotions developed.

· Pre Attachment Phase – from birth to 3 months. From 6 weeks the baby

The key insight in interpreting the attachment behaviours that Bowlby described is to see the attached infant or child as using their caregiver as a secure base from which to explore. In my observation X ran to her teacher each time she was involved in a tussle with other children [observation notes 06/11/12 at 09:25] Attachment theory attempts to set out descriptions of a set of observable behaviours related to social and emotional attachment in humans and cognitive mechanisms that give rise to these observable phenomena. It can be presented as incorporating theoretical components that can be termed the behavioural and cognitive component of attachment theory (Petters 2006)

Strengths of attachment theory are that interaction between a care giver and an infant (Berghaos, 2011). This theory made us understand the importance of responding to an infant’s cry can help them form an attachment (Berghaos, 2011). This led us to understand Ainsworth idea of that interaction as a secure base for the infant (Berghaos, 2011). Critics have said that some early attachments do not become consistent throughout the individuals life (Berghaos, 2011). They believe that attachment theory is too simple to explain adult relationships and psychopathology (Berghaos, 2011).

Another psychologist who has had major input in the subject of attachment is Spitz and Wolf (1946). Spitz and Wolf (1946) “studied 91 orphanage infants in USA and Canada (3)”, what they found amazed the world of attachment. They found that despite getting better care and maintaining adequate health many had died before their first birthday. This and Bowlby’s research lends a hand in understanding attachment and both complement each other in facts. Seen as Bowlby was researching about the critical stage in development the research that Spitz and Wolf did also proves that.

John Bowlby’s theory of human attachment has been widely used for studies the stages of human development. It was first introduced in the 1950’s and considered to be one of the most popular theories relating to parenting. John Bowlby, the “father” of attachment theory, explained it as “a reciprocal behavioral process initiated by the neonate to ensure survival,” which is the primary need of a child from its’ mother (Brandon, 2009). Bowlby’s believed that

It is easy enough to know when you are attached to someone as you can understand how you feel when you are away from that person and as adults we can put our feelings into words and describe these feelings. However most of the research into attachment is carried out on infants and young children, so psychologists have to devise ways of researching attachment styles,

To gain a better insight of attachment theory Mary S. Ainsworth developed a concept unfolding the underlying behaviors infants display towards their mothers. Without a mother infant bond, insecure attachment can develop causing psychological and emotional stresses. However, a maternal bond is needed for a healthy development in an infant, without the necessary mother infant bond negative behaviors can arise leading to difficulties in relationships, negative behaviors, and an anxious attachment beyond infancy caused by a lack of the care giving system. In order for children to thrive, infants need to experience healthy nurturing relationships with their mother or caregiver. Nevertheless, without a mother infant attachment bond the growth

Originally created by renowned social scientists, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, Attachment Theory is primarily interested in the relationships of infants and preschool-aged children with their primary caregivers and how these relationships affect the way infants learn to build relationships with their caregivers, other persons, and environments. It is a foundational theory within the field of childhood development and the subject of many published, empirical papers, and theoretical studies. (Cassidy and

The work of psychologists Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby embarks on deeper insight into the evolution of attachment in early childhood. Bowlby developed four phases of attachment beginning at birth: pre-attachment, attachment in the making, clear-cut attachment and the formation of a reciprocal relationship. Throughout the first three phases, nonverbal cues such as facial expressions and eye contact occur. By the final phase, infants’ language and cognitive development grow. They begin to understand separation from their primary attachment. Ainsworth created the Strange Situation test to investigate the attachment behaviors found in

The lateral development in toddler is not only influenced by the early attachment experience but also the continuing quality of parent-child relationship. Although nearly all babies raised by families develop attachment to a least one family caregiver, the quality of the bonds differs depending on their relationship and interaction. Therefore, the 3 review papers are provided to examine the formation of attachment in 3 different approaches:

Child attachment has been a topic that has been greatly researched by both Psychologists and researchers alike, particularly the study called “Strange situation” by Bowlby (1969) Bowlby believed that most mental health issues could be related to early childhood behaviour. He believed that all childhood attachment was an instinctive behaviour and was activated when children were put in a stressful situation, and this seemed to enhance emotions such as separation, fear and insecurity (Bowlby, 1969) he also stated that fear of strangers is an instinctive reaction as it promotes the survival mechanism. Babies are expected to show attachment behaviours from very early on, and due to this they display social releases in order to increase proximity to a mother figure, these releases include things such as smiling, crawling and crying. According to Bowlby, mothers and babies were biologically programmed with the need to stay connected to each other. He also suggested that a child initially only forms an attachment with one carer figure,