Essay on Foundations and Characteristics of Attachment Theory

Ainsworths ‘strange situation’ was developed as a tool to measure types of attachment in infants. The experiment was carried out in a purpose build playroom and children were observed with cameras. It consisted of several situations, standardised for all those who took part. Each condition involved variation of the presence of the mother and/or a stranger, over 3 minute intervals. During these different conditions, the child’s behaviour was monitored, assessing their exploratory behaviour, stranger anxiety, separation protest and reunion behaviour. From her study, Ainsworth identified three types of attachment, these were: secure, insecure- avoidant and insecure-resistant, she

The first attachment style is secure attachment. The children who were categorized this way showed comfort with stranger as long as the caregiver was there. The children with this type avoided the stranger when the caregiver was not there. The children were distressed when the caregiver left, but not exceedingly distressed. When the caregiver returned, these children acted contented and thrilled.

The Development of Attachment Theory and Its Strengths and Limitations English psychiatrist John Bowlby is a leading and influential figure within the history of social reform. His work has influenced social work policies and legislation relating to child psychiatry and psychology. Bowlby was trained as a psychoanalyst, and was influenced by Freudians theories, but became influenced again in his attachment theory by the work of ethologists. The ethologists theory concentrates on looking at the role parents play rather than only the child. Bowlby believes that parenting has strong ties with biology and it explains why there are such strong emotions attached.

In the part of the essay I will describe and evaluate Bowlbys theory of Attachment and the learning theory of Attachment. I will show strengths and weaknesses in both theories. I will use a collection of source literature to back up and correlate this information.

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.

British psychotherapist, John Bowlby (1907-1990) was recognized as the father of the attachment theory and advanced a multidisciplinary stance, which included psychoanalysis with ethnology and cognitive development. Bowlby (1969) wanted to understand more about the level of distress that occurred in infants when they were separated from their parents and how that experience impacted on their developmental wellbeing.

In 1958, the Attachment theory came into existence. It was developed by John Bowlby on the notion that the quality of the parent -child relationship was essential for development and mental health (Howe, 2011, pg, 7). This thinking was in the context of distress shown by children when separated from their parents or when in unfamiliar surroundings. While having credit for the emergence of the attachment theory, Bowlby subsequently carried out a lot of research work with Mary Ainsworth concluding that children view their attachment figures as both a ?safe haven? to return to for comfort and protection and also a ?secure base? from which to explore their environment. The birth of children gives rise to the need to feel loved and wanted by caregivers, (Maclean and Harrison,2015 pg, 103), the absence of which might result in a range of behaviors to either

This is how children learn about the world, take in new information, and develop skills that lead to mastery and autonomy. When a child gets tired or distressed, such as when encountering unfamiliar objects or events, or when separated from the primary attachment figure, the child feels vulnerable. Children need to be able to trust that the attachment figure is going to continuously provide a “secure base” from which the child can experience the world. Having this experience enables the child to learn communication and social skills that become a foundation for later child

The attachment theory was created by Mary Ainsworth, an American-Canadian developmental psychologist. Ainsworth built off the initial works of psychiatrist John Bowlby, who observed deserted children and how they would grow and face the world. Ainsworth conducted an experiment to observe early emotional attachment between a child and their caregiver. Ainsworth wanted to set up a “base” for the children and observe the different kinds of attachment that the children would develop. Through these studies different types of attachments were discovered such as secure and insecure attachments.

Attachment theory is the concept of the development, of a psychological and emotional bond, that creates a secure or insecure attachment to a caregiver. Attachment bonds are very important, in regards to personal development. Formulated by John Bowlby in the sixties, he discovered that a child’s development depends significantly, on the strong attachment they form with a caregiver. Functions of Bowlby’s attachment

John Bowlby proposed a theory that the attachment styles are learned in our childhood by particular others; he divided them into four categories: Secure, Anxious/Ambivalent, Dismissive, Fearful. Secure attachment style forms as result of consistent and positive communication between caregiver and the child. Parent, who takes primary care of the child, is always responsive to child’s needs and develops positive and strong bond. The child feels secure and can always depend on the parent; he or she can discuss any problems or concerns with this parent. The children with this style, according to the theory, will grow to be a confident, outgoing and loving adult who does not depend on relationships for their self-esteem.

Attachment is the beginning of development for a healthy family system. Attachment or bonds are started very young they start with the parent and the child then it expands outward overdevelopment. There are four types of attachment styles avoidant, secure, ambivalent, and disorganized-disoriented. An attachment is a special bond and is usually positive between the child and usually the parents (Feldman, 2014, p.182). Out of the four attachments, secure attachment plays the most important in a healthy development of a child. Secure attachment is when a child and the caregiver such as the mother gives a secure foundation which the child feels like he/ she can explore the world around

Like Mary Ainsworth a colleague of his whose own research help develop the attachment theory went on to do her own observational research, Ainsworth identified three different attachment styles; secure, insecure avoidant and ambivalent/resistant that are the results of early attachment with the

In the next sections, the author will discuss the framework of attachment theory by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth since both theorists worked collaboratively with attachment styles and object relations theory. John Bowlby coined the theory of attachment based on the object relations

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