Developmental Psychology : Laser Student Number : Ruby Kiddi

The attachment theory is a theory proposed by John Bowlby. The theory basically states that infants need to be attached to someone in order to have successful relationships as they grow older. Bowlby says, “Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space”

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.

The term ‘attachment’ is used by psychologists who study the child’s early relationships. An attachment is a unique emotional bond normal between a child and an adult. A theorist called John Bowlby (1970-90) had a relation to the attachment theory. In 1950s John identified that when children and

What is the definition of attachment? If you look it up in a dictionary it explains that it is ‘an emotional bond between an infant or toddler and primary caregiver, a strong bond being vital for the child’s normal behavioural and social development’. That strong bond between infant and caregiver is believed to happen between the ages of 6-8 months although Bowlby (1958) suggests that the infants are born into this world pre-programmed to form attachments, they have innate behaviours in the way of crying, smiling, crawling and cooing which will stimulate attention and comforting responses from the caregivers. These behaviours are called social releasers. Kagan et al (1978)

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

The central theme of attachment theory is that mothers who are available and responsive to their infant's needs establish a sense

Bowlby stated attachment was not shaped solely from the child’s acceptance, but the behaviour of another significant other, usually the mother or caregiver who had a crucial role in the child’s growth. The growth and development of the child is reliant on four stages of process from birth, Bowlby stated these stages were where the child would bind to the mother or vice versa, he proposed one to two months old in which the infant shows attachment to the mother by crying, sucking. The second stage up to six months old the child has the focus on a mother figures and attaches to the one he or she has more contact with. The third stage up to aged two named the secure base, where the child has its focus on the where the main caregiver is when their welfare is under threat. The stage up over the age of two is concerned on the child learning a behaviour and how this affects the relationship with their mothers or attachments, this will be the grounding for subsequent relationships

Attachment theory is defined as the characters associated with the long term associated of human beings. From my point of view attachment is a lasting, secure and positive bond between a child and a caregiver, a reciprocal relationship. John Bowlby who used his knowledge in developmental psychology, psychoanalysis, ethology, and data processing to base his principle of the theory developed attachment theory. John Bowlby believed that attachment theory was on of the four essential behavioral systems necessary for the evolution and survival of humans. Mary Ainsworth, psychologist, who made a big impact on Bowlby 's attachment theory. She had definitely modified and improved this theory by providing most famous research “strange situation” which explained the individual differences of newborns in attachment. Ainsworth describes of the patterns of secure and insecure attachment, the study, which resulted 4 attachments pattern (styles); secure, ambivalent, avoidant, disorganized-insecure (AttachFromScatch, 2013).

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,

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

As humans, building relationships between others is a form of connecting and communicating. It is a social situation that is experienced every day through the course of a lifetime. The initial relationship that is made is between the mother and the child. This bond that connects two people is known to be called attachment. The theory of attachment begins at birth, and from that, continuing on to other relationships in family, friends, and romance. Attachment is taught through social experiences, however the relationship with the mother and her temperament are the key factors in shaping the infants attachment type, which

The theory of attachment was originally developed by John Bowlby (1907 – 1990), a British psychoanalyst. Bowlby’s explanation of attachment hints that children come into the world biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with other, because this will avail them to survive. According to Bowlby, crying, clinging and searching our behaviours displayed by infants as a result of separation from their primary caregiver and a response to re-establish proximity. Bowlby proposed the idea of monotropy, this is when an effective emotional bond is formed between an infant and one particular individual. Bowlby suggested that there is a critical period for attachment to be formed between an infant and caregiver. This means that if an attachment is not formed priority to the first two years of infancy it would not be possible to form an attachment after this period. Thus meaning that the child will suffer irreversible long-term consequences as a result of maternal deprivation. Bowlby used the term maternal deprivation to refer to the

Attachment is an emotional bond between two people. The Attachment Theory is a concept from developmental psychology. John Bowlby was the first psychologist to carry out this idea. In 1930, Bowlby worked in a Child Guidance Clinic in London where he treated emotionally disturbed children. This led to Bowlby understanding how important it is for a child to have a relationship with their mother for social, emotional, and cognitive development (McLeod 2009).

This leads me on to discuss the afore mentioned theory of attachment. An attachment theory is a theory in developmental psychology that highlights the importance of attachment in personal development. It is the ability for one person to form an emotional and physical attachment to another person which gives a sense of stability and security necessary to take risks, grow and develop as an individual.

Attachment theory is a concept that explores the importance of attachment in respect to direct development. “It is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space” (Bowlby, 1969; McLeod, 2009). It is the relationship that develops within the first year of the infant’s life between them and their caregiver. The theory also relates to the quality of the attachment that is shown in the behavior of the infant (Rieser-Danner, 2016). Attachment theory shows that infants need a close nurturing relationship with their caregiver in order to have a healthy relationship. Lack of response from the caregiver