The Importance Of Secure Attachment Bonds On Childhood And Their Impact On Social

The Strange Situation is meant to be a snapshot of the relationship between infant and caregiver, and provide insight into the dyadic patterns that define this bond. Securely attached children are thought to have a primary caregiver who is sensitive, available and receptive to their infants needs. Insecure-avoidant children have primary caregivers who are intrusive, controlling and hurtful. These caregivers may be present in the infant’s life but unable to understand their infants needs, and provide the correct response. Caregivers of insecure-ambivalent infants have been found to be unresponsive to the needs of the infant, and very often unavailable. The effect of this treatment is that the infant is starved for affection and attention. The infant also feels the need to amplify their needs in an effort to reach their caregiver (Barnett & Vondra, 1999).

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.

Studies have shown agreement in nonclinical samples between parents’ interpretations of their early family relationships and the security of attachment the child has with them. Many previous studies focus on main and direct effects of parents’ attachment histories on their children’s adaptation, which are believed to be mediated by the quality of current family relationships. The early relationships that parents have with their own parents had created

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).

Early childhood secure attachment could affect adult relationship in many positive ways. Many research suggested that individuals who experienced security during childhood, had exemplar parents who took attachment as an important part of their relationship during their child’s development is very likely to determine the onset of relationship during adulthood with more satisfaction and partner matching. (Brennan & Shaver, 1995). Secure attachment is known for promoting confidence and self-security within the person been raised in the environment that prepares them for later life relationship with other adults. The emerging adult would have matured and learned to understand the dynamic of what a relationship should be and is assumed that he or she has the capability to tolerate the challenges that such relationship will encounter. Some studies show that those adults who encountered secure attachment during their childhood can display appropriate relationship and friendship engagement because they have developed the ability to regulate their feeling and emotions which helps them tolerate frustrations or disappointment that may arise from the relationship. (Boyd,

There are many studies focusing on levels of attachment and the quality of the parent-child relationship starting at birth and moving up through infancy. These studies have found that the infants involved in the study could be categorized as either having a secure or insecure attachment to their caregivers. Some children grow secure attachments with the caretaker from the daycare and thus have weaker relationships with their parents. Researchers have found that there could be variations on how critical the attachment is effected based on sex, age, and individual personality. The attachment can also vary from parent to parent; for example, some studies have found that at infancy, boys are more effected by the absence of the father while at daycare (Quan, et al., 2013). On the other hand, some could argue that these effects aren’t negative and that the ability to socialize outside the family at an early age could possibly aid the child to grow up with more confidence and adaptability (lecture, 10/12/16). There are also other factors that could be taking place when a child is seen shying away from a stranger or if they still seem distressed when seeing the parent again after separation, as seen in the Strange Situation. Inconclusive results can make it seem that, for example, personality or situational factors like being tired could affect and skew results (lecture, 10/12/16). It may seem that there are harmful effects to the early parent-child relationship, however, there are

First we have Carly who has report having a secure attachment classification. As a child with a secure attachment style, young Carly would have been distressed when her parent or caregiver left her, but would become happy upon their return. This is evidences that Carly and her caregiver developed a sense of trust between one another, allowing them to express positive emotions during interactions. Having been able to learn a

Infant attachment is the bond between an infant and their caregivers. An infant’s early attachment to their primary caregiver (PCG) is often seen as the foundation for all future development (Fairbairn, 1952). Individual difference perspectives have focused greatly on the predictive power of attachment because parents want to raise healthy, well-adjusted, normal children and are often concerned about the extent to which their parental upbringing skills can impact their child’s future. Attachment theory claims that infants are born with the innate ability to form attachments to their primary caregivers (Bowlby, 1969). Ainsworth and Bell (1970) developed the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) to determine the different attachment styles between mothers and their young children, which are secure, insecure avoidant, and insecure resistant. Hazen & Shaver (1987) applied attachment theory to adult relationships to show the predictive power of attachment. Infant attachment is translated into the romantic relationship style. This shows the consequences of attachment as all future relationships can be determined by the infant’s bond with their parents. However, attachment theory and the SSP may not be universally applicable, as child-rearing practices vary widely across cultures. Some children are raised by multiple caregivers, some are often left alone and others are never separated from their attachment figure. This suggests that secure attachments are culturally dependent. This

When I was about four months old, up until I was one, I would become distraught when my mom and dad would leave the room and when they re-entered the room I would become happy again. My parents would always calm me when I was upset and give me attention that I needed, which in return caused me to have a secure attachment. I fully believe that if a child is raised in a good environment where their needs are met, then they will have a secure attachment. This also works the other way around. For example when the needs of a child are not met the child may regress and stop looking to the caregiver for fulfilment of its needs. The child will interact less with the caregiver because they realize their attempts for attention will not be met. The emotional bond that forms between the infant and the caregiver usually affects personality. Therefore one can see that the interactions we first have with our primary caregivers could shape our relationships as

The concept of infant-mother attachment is as important to the child as the birth itself. The effect this relationship has on a child shall affect that child for its entire life. A secure attachment to the mother or a primary caregiver is imperative for a child’s development. Ainsworth’s study shows that a mother is responsive to her infant’s behavioral cues which will develop into a strong infant-mother attachment. This will result in a child who can easily, without stress, be separated from his mother and without any anxiety. Of course the study shows a child with a weak infant-mother relationship will lead to mistrust, anxiety, and will never really be that close with the mother. Without the

To further support the hypothesis of infancy attachment styles being remained stable throughout a lifetime, Matas, Richard and Srouthe (1978) investigated the children’s functioning in terms of quality of play. It was evident that securely attached children demonstrated more adequate functioning, exhibiting greater ability in problem-solving (Matas et al., 1978). Moreover, Shaver and Brennan

For example, a parent that is available and nurturing will provide a child with a constant sense of security and warmth. To the contrary, a distant or dismissive parent will possibly develop a relationship with a child whose emotional and security needs are not met. The development of an attachment style with a parent or caretaker has a profound effect on one’s emotional growth and future relationships.

Parental care can often shape kid’s identity through attachment style, which is pattern of caregiving that teach them who yourself and others are and how to approach relationships (Wood, 2016, p51). The first attachment style is a secure attachment style. The key to the style is the consistent attention that the caregiver gives to the child and helping the child to build a positive sense of self image and others. The second style is the fearful attachment style. It occurs when the caregiver communicates negatively, sometimes even abusive, to the child. Children treated in this way often infer that they are unlovable and end up rejecting others. Third type of the attachment style is dismissive attachment style. The main difference between the

By responding with care and comfort, this enables for an “attachment bond” to form between the infant and caregiver, most commonly the mother (White et al., 2013). Following on from Bowlby’s theory, Mary Ainsworth investigated the theory of attachment through observing the reactions of infants when their mothers left them alone with strangers. The investigation was named as the “Ainsworth’s strange situation assessment” (White et al., 2013). It was discovered through this investigation that infants who had secure attachments with their mothers were upset when separated and were easily soothed when the mother returns. This investigation implies that infants with secure attachment to their mothers show signs of normal social development.

In the first few months of life, the sole purpose of any child’s behaviour is to survive. This, more often than not, results in actions that reduce the risk of harm and increase the chances of longevity. Of these behaviours, some argue that the most influential is attachment behaviour. “Attachment behaviour is any form of behaviour that results in a person attaining or maintaining proximity to some other clearly identified individual who is conceived as better able to cope with the world”(Bowlby, 1982). Therefore, children will make an effort to stay close to and under the protection of their primary caregiver. According to Webster, “through interactions with their primary caregiver, the child develops expectations and understandings about the workings of relationships. These mental representations of relationships become internalized to the degree that they influence feelings, thought and behaviour automatically and unconsciously” (1999, p.6). Moreover, the response of the identified individual plays a huge role in the child’s perception of the outside world. If the caregiver responds to the child’s needs in a caring and protective manner, the child will feel safe and comfortable in his or her surroundings. If, on the other hand, the caregiver is often emotionally and/or physically unavailable, the child is likely to