Attachment Theory
Will’s attachment style is predominantly of the insecure-avoidant attachment variety This style includes a tendency to keep people at arm’s length and be mistrustful, which is particularly problematic in a therapy session. According to Cassidy (2000), attachment styles are related to representational models, which are built based on experiences and the treatment the individual receives. However, these representational models and attachment styles aren’t set in stone. Thus, one method of dealing with Will based on attachment theory would be to provide him with experiences and treatment counter to Will’s representational models, leading to a more secure attachment and the healthier behaviors that are associated with
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However, Sean offers him comfort, which is beneficial as it provides evidence contrary to his current representational model.
Will primarily displays insecure-avoidant attachment style, but there are exceptions. Will seems quite securely attached to his friends, especially Chuck. He trusts them to back him up, as shown in the fight early in the film and Will is also able to be somewhat vulnerable with Chuck, qualities indicative of secure attachment. I noticed that as the therapy sessions proceeded, Sean begins to speak to Will much like Will and his friends speak to each other. This includes use of a lot of curse words and playful insults (directed at Will and at himself). When Sean does this, Will often seems to let his guard down and relax. For example, in the third shown session, on the topic of Skylar, Sean says, “only way you’re finding out that one is by givin’ it a shot… you certainly won’t learn from an old fucker like me and even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell a pissant like you” (Bender & Sant, 1997). Will’s body language after this is very relaxed and open, he leans back in his seat and puts his hands behind his head. Will confirms the existence of this friend-like bond in the fifth shown session when, in response to Sean trying to kick him out early, he becomes upset and says, “I thought we were friends” (Bender & Sant, 1997). At the end of the film, they also exchange information, intending to keep in touch with each other, offering
Broderick and Blewitt (2015) stated, John Bowlby and Erik Erikson “proposed that the relationships that an infant has with one or a few caregivers during the first year of life provide him with a working model of himself and of others” (p. 133). Attachment theory plays a large role in cognitive and emotional development because it sets a foundation for the child. A case study of Angela, a 17-year-old mother, and her 11 month-old son, will dive into the attachment relationship between the two and extenuating circumstances surrounding that attachment. Angela is attempting to raise her son under the roof of her mother; who doesn’t support a paternal relationship for Adam. Angela’s attachment relationship with her son is an example of intergenerational transmission of attachment due to her attachment style with her own mother. Studies have shown positive and negative influences of teen mothers living in a home supervised by an adult, concerns with maternal attachment leading to disruptive behaviors, young children being untrusting of a mother due to an insecure attachment, and potential interventions to support a positive attachment relationship.
Each attachment style is divided along two dimensions – the fear of abandonment and the fear of closeness. Bartholomew and Horowitz define fear of abandonment as the model of self which describes the belief of an individual to be either “worthy of love and support or not” (1991). They also define fear of closeness as the model of other which describes an individual’s
Sean gets on with his brothers but mum reports that at times she feels her MS is too much on Sean and he finds difficult to express how he
In his last therapy session, Will reveals to Sean that he was beaten as a child. As a result, he has a tough time believing that he is capable of achievement in life. Children who endure such hardships can feel unworthy and not have a desire to succeed in life. Will also has a tough time accepting love. When Skylar, his girlfriend asks him to go to California with her, he chokes her. Shortly after, he breaks up with her. This most likely resembles Cluster C avoidant personality disorder. Avoidant personality disorder occurs when people have feelings of insufficiency and are extremely sensitive to rejection. Connors wrote, “Specifically, individuals with an avoidant attachment style who have been rebuffed by caregivers in childhood will be defensively constricted and unable to love in adulthood” (475). Will did not feel like he was capable of being loved and feared being rejected, so he ended things with Skylar. It wasn’t until he was court ordered to see a psychiatrist that he began to value himself.
Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space (Bowlby, 1969). Likewise, attachment theory is a psychological model that seeks to illustrate the dynamics of both long term and short- term interpersonal relationships (Waters, E.; Corcoran, D.; Anafarta, M. 2005). Additionally, attachment theory address how people respond within relationships when hurt, separated from loved ones, or when they perceive a threat (Waters et al., 2005). Attachment theory is the combined work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth (Bretherton, I. 1992, p. 1). The theory predominantly draws on the ideas from doctrines such as, ethology, cybernetics, information processing and developmental psychology (Bretherton, I. 1992, p. 1). It is considered that attachment theory has revolutionized the way society thinks about the relationship between the mother and her child and the importance of
John Bowlby, the backbone of attachment theories will be discussed throughout this essay to explain and evaluate the key theories of attachment. Health and well-being which is made up of four factors ‘physical, intellectual, emotional and social ' (Jones, 2016), will also be discussed within the essay. The definition of attachment is ‘an act of attaching or the state of being attached. ' (Dictionary, 1400) This will be showed in the assignment, using theorists to analyse the meaning. Sharing the strengths and weaknesses in some theorists will help conclude this assignment.
The attachment theory is a theory by Bowlby that refers to the joint mutual relationship that babies experience and develop with their primary caregiver (Bowlby, 1982). This theory is not supported by research in various sceneries. However, even though the attachment theory began as an initiative, the clinical application to the daily clinical understanding of adult mental health complications has penned red behind the current available research. I believe that the theory can give valuable insight into both the developing nature of recognized psychiatric disorders as well as in the development of the therapeutic relationship in adults. My position provides an overview of (a) the application of attachment theory to diverse psychopathologies
When speaking to the counselor Sean admits that, he does not remember what happened last night or how he came to be at the hospital. He remembered being at the Sigma house and playing a drinking game around 10:00 pm and did not remember much after that. He even mentioned a story about drinking when he was in high school. Sean was very worried that his parents would find out and that they would make him come home. He seemed to be very nervous about not knowing whether his parents were called or not. Sean admitted to smoking marijuana before the party. He also stated that a friend gave him oxycontin.
To begin with attachment theory, first everyone should understand what the attachment is. According to attachment means bonding between a child and caregiver or vice versa. The attachment theory is the theory that describes the long term interpersonal relationship between the humans. Also, it can be defined as the strong bond between parent and child, and later in peer and romantic relationship (Metzger, Erdman, Ng 85). It generates a specific fact that how the humans react in relationships when they get hurt, separated from loved ones and perceiving a threat. Basically the two main types of attachment are secure and insecure. Secure attachment is the attachments where mother and father are available for their child and during that time child demonstrates his or her stress and reestablish the connection (Metzger, Erdman, Ng 87). Insecure attachment is the attachment where parents are not regularly in touch with their children or they ignore their child which built a failed emotion communication (Metzger, Erdman, Ng 87). Also, it may be repeated from one generation to another until it is not recovered. However, as a result of attachment theory, it is so important for children to know about it and there are also several emotional effects on children when their parents leave to go to another county due to their connections or bond between them.
John Bowlby’s Attachment theory is relevant to serial murderers since it looks at the child’s early life experiences, focusing on the bond between the mother and child (Bretherton, 1992). It argues that a break in the bond will lead the child to a life of crime and delinquency. In this paper we will discuss two points. The first point is discussing Aileen’s Wuornos life from childhood to adulthood and the second point is explaining how her life is relevant to Bowlby’s Attachment Theory. We will finally know what happened in Aileen Wuornos’ life that caused her to become one of the most famous female serial killers of all time.
One of the key reasons why Sean was able to teach Will to open up was to by first opening up himself. Sean was not afraid to show his faults and allowed Will to challenge him on certain, albeit emotionally-charged, occasions. Instead of completely shunning the challenges as the other psychologists in the movie, Sean actually faced those statements and answered them sincerely whilst accepting that he was not perfect. In other words, he showed Will it was okay to be vulnerable to his emotions and to accept his imperfections. He was able to show Will that he cared, as with many other patients who suffered abuse as a child, Will seemed to have blamed himself for what happened until Sean gently, but firmly challenged Will to accept it. By the end of the plot, Will was ready to start taking risks and learning to live life more
Throughout one’s life, people experience meaningful moments that contribute to the personalities and relationships they develop overtime. Some moments are positive where they continue to reproduce resiliently strong children and other moments are negatively impactful where they render attachment issues. In the film, Good Will Hunting, Will displays behaviors congruent with insecure attachment issues and he struggles to build relationships. This paper utilizes other attachment theory-based sources to compare to Will’s actions. The attachment theory is used to examine the behaviors Will displays by considering his childhood and his current life status.
This essay will firstly explain the different stage that is associated with development of young people socially in the early years of their life, with examples of Schaffer and Emerson’s theory of stages of attachment. Next the essay will evaluate the theories of attachment between a child and their parents/guardians, evaluating Bowlby’s theory of attachment, and using examples from Freud’s ‘cupboard love theories’ and behavioural and psychoanalytic perspectives in comparison to Bowlby. Next it will look at any contributing factors that make a difference to individuals during attachment and looking at way fear and anxiety play a part during separation for children from their primary carer. After which the essay will respond to Bowlby’s
After a difficult start, Sean concludes that Will's defensiveness is the result of years of physical and emotional abuse, (as well as intense isolation), and that his hostile, sarcastic, and evasive behaviors are all defense mechanisms. The two work together to break through Will's considerable barriers, using a certain type of psychotherapy, and to get at the heart of the problem, dealing with Will's complex emotions. The two begin to relate to each other more, with Sean telling Will about his past and his happiness with his now
Many psychologists have come and gone, and many different theoretical orientations have been developed. With each orientation has come a new perspective on development, behaviour and mental processes. Some are similar, yet others could not be more contradictory. Attachment is one such theoretical orientation, developed by John Bowlby out of his dissatisfaction with other existing theories. Although Bowlby rejected psychoanalytical explanations for early infant bonds, the theory of attachment was influenced in part by the principles of psychoanalysis; in particular the observations by Ana Freud and Dorothy Burlingham of young children separated from