Influence Of The Early Bonds Created By Parents And Their Children

There are various factors that contribute to huge challenges or issues in the attachment relationship or connection between parents and their children. Throughout the past few years, several attachment researches have been conducted to examine a wide range of various factors that contribute to these issues. The factors

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.

The importance of a healthy attachment in early childhood development can lead to a better adult development and skills for daily life. A secure and healthy attachment to the caregiver in infancy to adolescence showcases the importance of building strong relationships and coping skills during periods of stress and anxiety. The research that has been found, goes into detail about the different types of attachments that infants and children can develop as well as what negative and positive aspects come along with the attachments.

Infant attachment is the first relationship a child experiences and is crucial to the child’s survival (BOOK). A mother’s response to her child will yield either a secure bond or insecurity with the infant. Parents who respond “more sensitively and responsively to the child’s distress” establish a secure bond faster than “parents of insecure children”. (Attachment and Emotion, page 475) The quality of the attachment has “profound implications for the child’s feelings of security and capacity to form trusting relationships” (Book). Simply stated, a positive early attachment will likely yield positive physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development for the child. (BOOK)

A child’s ability to function and comply with society’s rules and regulations rely on a healthy early childhood attachment. Attachment is the biological instinct for infant to seek closeness to their caregiver. A secure attachment develops through consistent and positive, interactions between the caregiver and the child. A child’s physical development, mental development, social development, and ability to form daily living skills, all begin to develop through that secure development but continues to develop through continued nurture throughout that child’s life. Children who fail to receive a secure attachment will most likely struggle with self-regulation making it hard to control behaviors and impulses.

Although secure attachment during infancy is the foundation for continued healthy positive development during the lifespan, it is important to understand that other factors can have a significant effect on development later in life (i.e. illness, loss, and trauma). However, research has shown the importance of consistent care giving that is responsive and nurturing and the caregivers’ ability to effectively accommodate more difficult temperament characteristics ,as well as other factors, influence the development of healthy attachment{{64 Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian 2003}}. Research has also shown that infancy and early childhood is the period of development where scaffolding begins and continues (Vygotsky, 1978; Zhao & Orey,1999).

The majority of developmental theories say that children must develop a secure primary attachment in order to develop in a healthy manner. A secure and strong attachment is clearly essential for healthy future relationships. John Bowlby’s studies in childhood development led him to the conclusion that a strong attachment to a caregiver provides a necessary sense of security and foundation. Without such a relationship in place, Bowlby found that a great deal of developmental energy is expended in the search for stability and security. In general, those without such attachments are fearful and are less willing to seek out and learn from new

In this case study psychodynamic theory by Freud (1859-1939) and attachment theory by Bowlby (1907-1990) seems the most pertinent to this case study. The claim of psychodynamic theory is that outcomes in adulthood are predicted from infancy. Freud maintained that we have several levels of conscious and unconscious thought and as suggested by Hothersall (2014) the problems in day to day functioning are seen as a result of negative early experiences that have not been resolved. Also looking at attachment theory where the nature and importance of the parent-child relationship helps explain any behavioural or relationship problems in a family situation we know through Bowlby (1958) and Ainsworth (1973) that the degree of security in the first attachment is thought to be the most influential factor in the child’s internal working models of relationships and will shape all intimate interpersonal bonds formed by the individual in future

Attachment theory “is one of the complex influences on children’s development and the emotional, behavioural and social difficulties” (Payne, 2016, 43). Another limitation is attachment focuses on the mother as being “the primary attachment figure, when in fact, a father or sibling can have the same types of attachment with the infant at the same time” (Lee, (n.d.)). Due to the critique of attachment theory, it is difficult to know whether or not attachment will affect the child even as an

As a whole, attachment theory investigates the process in which “children form ties to caregivers that vary in terms of the security of the bond” (Kerns, Tomich, Aspelmeier, Contreras 2000, p. 614). Better bonds between parents and children lead to better attachment of the child to the parent. If a child is attached well, they will “…use the primary caregiver as a secure base from which to explore [their environment] and, when necessary, as a haven of safety and a source of comfort (5)” (Benoit 2004, p. 542). Parents need to be available to children as a source of security, but at the same time let their children develop independence to explore their surroundings and make choices for themselves.

An infant with a secure attachment style has a natural bond with their parent, where they are able to trust them, at the same time leaving their side to discover and explore their surroundings. In an insecure/resistant attachment the relationship the child has with their mother or caregiver is very clingy, thus making them very upset once the caregiver is away. When the mother or caregiver is back they are not easily comforted and resist their effort in comforting them. In an insecure/avoidant attachment the infant is, “indifferent and seems to avoid the mother, they are as easily comforted by a stranger, as by their parent” (Siegler 2011, p.429). Lastly, the disorganized/disoriented attachment is another insecure attachment style in which the infant has no way of coping with stress making their behavior confusing or contradictory. Through these brief descriptions of the attachment theory, many researchers have defined the turning point in which each attachment definition can have an influence on one’s self esteem, well-being and their marital relationship.

As explained by Bowlby (2008), the quality of the attachment relationship between a parent and child is a crucial determinant in development. The quality of parental sensitivity in repeated interactions and daily occurrences permits the child to set expectations regarding the behavior of their primary caregiver in times of duress (Kerns & Brumariu, 2014). Consequently, a child’s social and emotional development is ultimately affected by the type of parent-child attachment experienced early in life. The research revealed that secure attachment formed between the parent and child predicts ideal behavior (Kochanska & Kim, 2013). However, the formation of insecure attachment styles significantly increase potential risks for challenging behavior regarding social and emotional

Attachment and security serve as further causes of abnormal psychology. As above, the attachment model of psychopathology also places emphasis on the relationship between the parent and child but, rather than focusing on the perceptions of the child, there is a focus on the characteristics of the actual relationship. It is believed that if a parent does not provide a feeling of security, trust and love then the child will develop a negative view and, thus, result in an inability to regulate emotions and feelings. As a result, the child will be at a greater risk of developing a disorder.

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

Simple causal relationship tells of the varied effects to society when parents spend more time with their children. Again, the report by Gerard Clark from New Zealand puts into words some of these effects. He pointed out how secure attachment formed in the early months, between parent and child, is a “predictor of resilience in later life”. He also pointed to how many adolescent issues like crime, drug abuse, and mental health have their roots in early childhood.