London: Clinical Application Of Attachment Theory

Simms, J. A., Irvin, D. B., & Drinnien, B. A. (1987). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a structural progression of psychological and physical needs. Maslow hypothesized that there were two distinct types of needs: deficiency needs and growth needs2. The deficiency needs,

Maslow believes childhood experiences play an important role in personality development. Childhood experiences, such as

Psychologist Abraham H. Maslow is the developer of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The theory covers human behavior in terms of basic requirements for survival and growth (Cengage, 2002). The theory was developed in the early 1960’s. During this time psychology was taken over by two different views. One side was the human behavior and the other one was the behaviorist. Maslow explained that psychoanalysts had not accomplished the task to consider the behavior of healthy humans. He also mentioned that many subjective experiences that related with human behaviors were being ignored by behaviorist. In the beginning Maslow examined motivations and experience of many healthy individuals. He recognized that there are many requirements in this theory that are important for human survival and to help motivate individuals. He conceptualized different human needs as a pyramid with five levels in

This study was conducted to use concepts from attachment theory, and social support theory, to contribute to our understanding of the human–companion animal bond. “Measure Pets as Sources of Social Support and Attachment Figures”, This study uses Attachment Theory, Social Support Theory, and the concept of the hierarchical nature of attachment relationships to further understand and measure human–animal attachment. (Meehan, Massavelli & Pachana, 2017). In one of the studies discussed in the article, the purpose of one experiment was to use the Attachment Scale to determine the level of attachment the owners feel to their animals. Researchers believed participants who appeared to be lonelier or didn’t have enough social support would be more

Attachment theory is one way of understanding relationships, and the effect it has on an individual (Bowlby, 2005). Bowlby theorized that the relationship established from birth by the primary caregiver is the foundation for the development of relationship building throughout the life cycle. This relationship instructs the infant how the environment will respond to crying, hunger, and emotional stimuli (2005). When the infant obtains a nurturing response to these stimuli the infant will have secure attachments, and provide a blueprint how the world will respond to their needs (Pearson, 2010). An unhealthy response (ignoring, yelling, etc.) perpetuates a negative development or insecure attachment giving the child an inconsistent understanding of what to expect from their environment (Pearson, 2010).

In 1943, Abraham Maslow developed a theory in psychology known as the Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is mostly often used as a pyramid, as shown on the title page. One of the many interesting things that Maslow noticed, is the layers of physiological needs, safety and security needs, the needs for loving and belonging, esteem needs, and self-actualization, in that order(working from the bottom layer of the pyramid up).

Sengupta (2011) defines the theory as that, in Maslow’s theorization the appearance of a need usually rests on the prior satisfaction of another more proponent need which is the strongest, in the sense that it has to be satisfied first. Once it is satisfied, the next category of basic needs emerges, and will now have the stronger influence on the individual's motivated behavior. Against this background Maslow concluded that only when lower needs are gratified higher ones emerge, which indicates that the higher needs are weaker than the lower ones. The theory begins with basic needs such as food, water, and shelter. The theory than emerges into safety, then love, then self-esteem, and finally self-actualization. When applied to early infant attachment, if an infant does not receive proper nutrition and shelter it will stall that infant’s ability to develop. The most sensitive for an infant is safety and love. Without the security and love of family, food, shelter, sleep, and the body, an infant’s development will be significantly stalled and based on the theory, the infant will not be able to progress to the next needs until the needs are met in

Pausing to reflect on my life, I see that it was the seemingly insignificant moments that nudged me forward, creating the person I would become. I was first introduced to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs during freshman year of my undergraduate Developmental Psychology class. This idea helped me think critically about my background and the steps I would need to reach my full potential. I realized that all of my life experiences leading up to that moment influenced the decisions I had made and would continue to make. This sparked my interest in the developmental stages of children and how quickly their early life experiences begin to shape them as well.

Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1982) was based on the observation that humans have an innate motivation to seek close relationships from friends and families in times of need or distress. Granqvist, Mikulincer, and Shaver (2010) examine religion from an attachment perspective, arguing that people seek to have a relationship with God for the same reasons children seek a relationship with their parents. In general, people believe their God is protecting, always accessible, loving, comforting, especially when faced with hardship or a physical threat – all qualities that securely attached children seek from their parents (Granqvist, Mikulincer, & Shaver, 2010). Laurin, Schumann, and Holmes (2014) conducted four studies investigating associations between attachment theory and religion. In the

The focus of attachment theory looks into how biological, neuropsychological, cognitive, and social factors highly affect child attachment and development. Bowlby started his clinical observations in the 1960s while working with maladjusted boys. There were two particular cases that strongly impacted his development of the theory. These two cases has one thing in common which was distressing relationships with their mothers. Bowlby believed that this was due to the early disruption in the child infant relationship. For an infant attachment appears to be more about the parent or mother’s proximity to the infant then their needs for sustenance. The proximity allows the child to

Maslow’s theory is based on the needs of the children and how they need to have their needs met in order to progress. There are 5 areas within the hierarchy of needs pyramid which are; physiological (needs of housing/shelter, air and sleep), safety (needs for security, stability, structure and freedom from fear), social (needs for love, family, friends, affection, lover and community), esteem (needs for self-respect and self-esteem although it also provides you with esteem for others), and self-actualisation (needs to obtain full potential). The needs at the bottom on the pyramid need to be met in order for the child to progress up the pyramid.

With the removal of the umbilical cord, emotional and psychological attachment begins directly. While the earliest of attachment is crucial to bloom inside of the womb, many psychologists believe that the second connection provides both the physiological base and the social and physical buffer we need to develop in the world. In the scenario of Mrs. Kaufman, she gives a great deal of time caressing her infant son while acknowledging the baby’s behavior and necessities. Her husband on the other hand, worries that his wife’s interaction with their baby may one day lead their child to; cry easily when frustrated, fearfully attach to his mother, become hostile toward other people, and become unsociable and oblivious to his surroundings.

Social media is a pervasive part of the world in which we live. One of the most controversial areas in psychology involves whether social media is beneficial or harmful to the psyche. The strength of the social bonds formed online as opposed to face-to-face friendships. Attachment refers to the dynamics between two individuals. It is measures by the quality of the relationship, the emotions felt, and a feeling of loss when that person is not in one's life anymore. The proposed measure will examine the facets and strength of adult attachment among friends who met online but that have never met in person.

Attachment theory centers around relationships and bonds formed between people. It generally focuses on long term relationships such as parents or caregivers and children. The theme of the theory is that if the primary caregiver is responsive to a child’s needs, then he or she will develop a sense of security. If a parent or caregiver does not provide this, a child will have trouble attaching and forming relationships in the future. There are theorists who have explored and researched the theory, and determine the characteristics of attachment styles. There are positives and negatives surrounding the theory, many people believe in the theory but there are some who criticize it as well. Some psychologists argue Nature vs. Nurture, and also that the theory has limitations. There are cultural and spiritual aspects that will need to be considered when implementing attachment theory with a client. Some cultures may not agree with all of the pieces of the theory, and it is important to be aware of that and shape the theory, if possible, to the client’s needs.