The Theory Of Developmental Psychology

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.

One of the most important factors that affect child development is the relationship of the child with their primary caregiver. This is a tenet of developmental psychology known as attachment theory. John Bowlby, the creator of this theory, wanted to examine how early childhood experiences influence personality development. Attachment theory specifically examines infant’s reactions to being separated from their primary caregiver. Bowlby hypothesized that the differences in how children react to these situations demonstrates basic behavioral differences in infancy that will have consequences for later social and emotional development.

Psychology is diverse, and there are many diverse specialty areas available to individuals seeking a career in the field of psychology. Most Psychologists choose to specialize in subfields that focus on specific subjects. Obtaining a profession in any of the specialty areas would require graduate study in that area of interest. Some professionals have a broad general knowledge, are skilled in several areas, and work with a range of clients. Some are specialist in treating a specific type of psychological disorder, or work with a specific age group. For those interested in specializing in a psychology career, developmental Psychology is one of the many fields available.

One of the key theorists of attachment is John Bowlby and his ‘Attachment theory". Bowlby believed ‘the attachment of a caregiver is an inherited mechanism to

The Attachment theory is a psychological, ethological and evolutionary theory that gives a descriptive and explanatory framework of understanding interpersonal relationship between human beings. Presented by John Bowlby, the important tenet of this theory is that an infant needs to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for social and emotional development to progress generally.

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.

Bowlby’s theory of attachment (1969), Looked, how monotropy was used in young infants, within “proximity between infant and caregiver”. (Cardwell et al 2003). Observing Lorenz’ (1935), how the geese behaved by imprinting the first moving thing once hatched. Lorenz, discovered the behaviour was prolonged, after the geese followed their, mother became “safe from predators, and fed”. (Cardwell et al 2003).

They both observed children experiencing intense distress once separated from their mothers. Although they were fed by other caregivers, it did not eliminate their anxiety. This resulted in the behavioral theory of attachment, which showed the child’s connection with their mother. The theory states that the child becomes attached to the mother simply because she feeds them. According to Bowlby, attachment was a "lasting psychological connections between human beings". In 1958, attachment was found that the caregiver provides security. Children 's natural response would be to seek safety and security when under stress. (McLeod)

How much attention and nurturing children receive does, in fact, affect how they will develop as adolescents and adults in areas of personality, emotion, and social interaction. John Bowlby, a British researcher, a child psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, is well-known in Psychology for his research specializing in parent or primary caregiver-child relationships. His research influenced Mary Ainsworth who later became his research assistant and continued his research on attachment after his death. Being neglected as a child by parents and caregivers, he understood the negative effects of growing up lonely and detached. John Bowlby founded the attachment theory, an essential theory in Psychology that reveals the negative impact of neglect and is now used as a reference to understand its effects. The theory is an important advance in Developmental Psychology because children were now viewed as vulnerable and need the care to develop to their full potential development. Therefore, methods of how to understand and interact with the victims of neglect were needed for professionals in the fields of medicine, law, and education.

ATTACHMENT THEORY- This theory was given by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. This theory talks about a child’s attachment patterns with his primary caregivers like his mother or father. A child in his initial years needs a safe and a secure environment to feel comfortable and relaxed. To become an independent, confident and a strong individual who has the capacity to deal with day to day challenges a child should have a functional and a stable bond with his parents. A child with a dysfunctional childhood can become aggressive, dependent and hesitant. All these factors are emerged from separation anxiety. When a parent especially the mother is not available emotionally or physically for the child the child feels threatened and this can lead

Bowlby was a child psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, and his colleague, Mary Ainsworth, was trained in clinical and developmental psychology (Shaver & Mikulincer, 2002). In psychodynamic approach, attachment disorder occurs when there is a lack of trust in the interpersonal relationship of child with caregiver. When the child starts life, the first person who means the world of the child is the primary caregiver. If the child cannot bond with the primary caregiver, the life can seem scary because there is no one to look after the child.

Three of the fields of psychology that have influenced me and my current major in biology are Developmental Psychology, Neurological Psychology, and Clinical Psychology; they have influenced me by Developmental Psychology relating to my future goal to work with pediatrics, Neurological Psychology relating to both biology in a general sense and also my potential interests in the neurology field, and Clinical Psychology relating to being a doctor in general.

The Attachment theory originates from the John Bowlby (1907 - 1990), a British psychoanalyst who was attempting to understand the intense distress experienced by infants who had been separated from their parents. He believes that the experiences in childhood effected the developed meant of children and their behavior right through their lives into adulthood. Attachment theory looks at the child’s bonds with their parents or caregivers and allows us to understand how this relationship affects the child. The theory states there is a human requirement to build relationships. It’s a part of being human and a part of us all. Our attachment can be broken down into four main aspects, which are proximity maintenance, safe haven, secure base, and parathion distress.

The attachment theory is most commonly observed in the parent- child scenario, as it is in Bowlby’s study which regarded the existence of the attachment as a child needing some sort of person to give them a security and

Attachment Theory was originally created by John Bowlby who is British psychoanalyst in 1958. When John Bowlby as a psychiatrist worked in Child Guidance Clinic in London in 1930’s. He was trying to understand and concerns many emotional children, and think that the most importance influence on baby’s development with the caregiver in social, emotional and cognitive development. This theory to understand long-term emotional and deep between caregiver and baby. Also, the infant will the tendency to seeking closeness and more secure to the caregiver in the environment.