Bowlby 's Theory Of Attachment

John Bowlby developed the theory of attachment he researched the significance of the relationship between a mother and her child. His theory shows that this bond

According to Ringel and Brandell (2012), Bowlby’s attachment theory was impacted by Spitz’s observation of abundant infants, Darwin’s evolutionary theory, and Harlow’s experiment with baby monkeys that were separated from their mothers (pp. 77-78). Bowlby’s conclusion is that infants’ basic survival needs are not just food and shelter but also love and nurturing (p. 78). Ringel and Brandell (2012), mention that from his work with children in orphanages and hospitals, Bowlby realized the influence of separation and loss on children’s development and the traumatic experiences is the base of attachment theory (p. 78).

His new theory stated that infants are social from a very young age, 6 months to less than two years old. The infants become focused on a particular individual or a few individuals. Bowlby's aim was to discover the consequences of difficulties in forming attachments in childhood, and the effects this would have on an infant's later development. He came up with the idea that infants develop a close emotional bond with an attachment figure early in life, and that the success or failure of this earliest of relationships lead the infant to form a mental representation that would have profound effects on their later relationships and their own success as a parent ("Attachment Theory," 2011).

Bowlby’s Ethological Theory of Attachment, first we have to understand that attachment is a bond between two people, which can give them comfort and pleasure by being connected. During the study they wanted to recognize the emotional tie from the child to the mother/caregiver evolved. Some examples of attachment are when a child who is scared clings to their caregiver, or when an infant smiles as the caregiver walks into the room. Bowlby’s theory is that children are born with a set of built in behaviors that will help to keep the caregiver/parent close for safety and support. He also believes that a child needs that single focus from that one main person for the first two years of their life in order to form the proper attachments.

This aspect focus on how children can have multiple people who care for them. The most influential piece of work undertaken that looks at the importance of relationships between a child and an adult is the research conducted by a psychiatrist called Bowlby. Bowlby proposed the theory of attachment (1907-1990). Bowlby’s theory of Attachment focused on early attachment formed by children with their main caregiver. This has a huge influence on later life and their relationships with other. Much of Bowlby’s work has been criticized because he has emphasised that the only significant attachment a child can form is with its mother. However this is not what Bowlby was saying at all, Bowlby suggested that babies and young children were capable of achieving multiple attachments, only once they have achieved a secure attachment from their primary caregiver. This could be other people other than the main caregiver (the mother) it could be with their father, siblings or grandparents. “We know that although many children have several people who care deeply about them all children need to have at least one person who is ‘on their side’ for them to really thrive. This helps the child feel valued and special and gives them a sense of self-worth. This in turn leads to them being confident with others and knowing when they need support from other people.” (Matters, 2012). This then enables children to build and form positive relationships

John Bowlby was a psychoanalyst and has developed his knowledge and understanding into the theory of Attachment. Bowlby believed that children have been born programmed to form attachments which will help them survive; this is known as evolutionary attachments. Bowlby believed that all attachments are instinctive, he said that attachments are shown when the child is under conditions of feeling threatened, such as: separation, fear and insecurity. In 1969 and 1988 Bowlby suggested that fear of strangers was an important survival mechanism; he said that babies display natural behaviours, such as: crying, laughing, smiling and crawling, this ensures the baby to feel in close contact with the mother.

Bowlby’s attachment theory has greatly influenced practice. His theory of attachment explains the importance of having a figure that the child shares a strong bond with. Having an attachment can significantly support a child’s development as Barbara Woods suggests that “his theory of attachment proposed that attachment is innate in both infants and mothers, and that the formation of this attachment is crucial for the infants development” Wood, B (2001, p.53). Bowlby believed that forming an attachment will help a child develop in all areas e.g. emotionally, physical and mentally. However if they did not form an attachment in the sensitive period, the child may have issues or problems in their cognitive, emotional and social development.

John Bowlby’s attachment theory established that an infant’s earliest relationship with their primary caregiver or mother shaped their later development and characterized their human life, “from the cradle to the grave” (Bowlby, 1979, p. 129). The attachment style that an infant develops with their parent later reflects on their self-esteem, well-being and the romantic relationships that they form. Bowlby’s attachment theory had extensive research done by Mary Ainsworth, who studied the mother-infant interactions specifically regarding the theme of an infant’s exploration of their surrounding and the separation from their mother in an experiment called the strange situation. Ainsworth defined the four attachment styles: secure,

One of the key theorists of attachment is John Bowlby and his ‘Attachment theory". Bowlby believed ‘the attachment of a caregiver is an inherited mechanism to

Perhaps the most influential explanation of attachment was presented by John Bowlby who began developing his ideas in the 1940s. Bowlby was commissioned by the World Health Organisation to investigate whether young children were likely to be harmed if they are separated from their mothers in the early years. (Hayes, 1996). Bowlby (1951) reported that infants possesses an innate need to attach to one main attachment figure (this was usually the mother). According to Hayes (1996), this is a special relationship which is qualitatively different from the relationship they form with any other kind of person. He described this as the process of monotropy; however, Bowlby did not deny that babies formed lots of attachments. (Bailey et al. 2008).

John Bowlby’s work in attachment has been the foundation when determining the attcahments and bonds that a child and parent may experience (Webb, 2011). According to Bowlby, “attachment” is referring to a lasting, mutual bond of affection that is dependent on an individual or more than one person (Webb, 2011). Establishing a secure attachment during infancy and early childhood is an important task of a parent or a caregiver. Not all parents or caregivers can provide their child with a secure attachment at this important in life due to various reasons. Since parents are the main providers in their child’s development of attachment, their lives and history has a great influence on their children’s lives.

Bowlby believed that babes had have built in social releasers that help form attachment, for example, crying and smiling. These would stimulate responses in caregivers. Bowlby also suggested that the infant would form only one primary attachment, and that this attachment would act as a secure base for exploring the world. This theory was also backed up by Mary Ainsworth ‘The Strange Situation’, Eysenck (2000). Another conclusion in Bowlbys attachment theory was that there was a sensitive period; a period were imprinting was important. This would affect attachment and have lifelong consequences. He

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).

In 1951 John Bowlby developed the concept of attachment theory. He argued that infants are genetically predisposed to form an attachment with their mothers. This statement was based off his study of children separated from their homes during World War Two, commissioned by the World Health Organization. Bowlby argued that the period between the child 's age of 6 months and 3 years was especially crucial towards this bond. Due

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