Attachment Theory: A Case Study Of Charlie's Behavior

Research has revealed that there is a strong relationship between insecure attachment and a history of abuse and neglect (Begle, Dumas & Hanson, 2010). Insecure attachments are formed due to parenting stress and abusive parenting behavior. Parenting stress and abusive parenting behavior form children’s mental schemas of how the world works based upon early interactions with caregivers. These mental schemas construct their expectations about relationships. Ultimately

Ainsworth (1978) developed the Strange Situation Theory, which is how one is able to view the different levels of attachment (Groh, Roisman, Booth-LaForce, Flaley, Owen, Cox, & Burchinal, 2014). The first attachment is secure attachment, which is when a child is able to greet and seek out contact with the caregiver upon arrival after a stressful separation (Haltigan & Roisman, 2015). The next is anxious-avoidant/resistant (insecure) attachment, when the child has no want to contact with the caregiver while showing signs of resistance upon the return (Haltigan & Roisman, 2015). The last and the most crucial to child development is disoriented/ disorganized attachment; conflicting responses from the child which show hostile and aggressive behavior toward the caregiver (Haltigan & Roisman, 2015). All of these attachements show the different types of ways that a child can communicate with their caregiver. These actions are the representations of their early attachment and experiences with the caregiver (Siebert & Kerns, 2015). If there are no changes toward the environment, the attention

EFT is an attachment based research theory, that suggest that couples have strong need to stay connected (bond) to each other. As such, bonding is very important in marital relationships and if the bond is disappearing, then stressful and negative cycle pattern begins to emerge. Thus, the goal of EFT is to support couples walk through a process of healing (overcoming the negative patterns, rebuilding the connection again, and fortify the bond) (Goldenberg, Stanton, & Goldenberg, 2017). From the assessment that has carried out by the therapist it is clear that Tam and Lisa do not have what it takes to manage or settle conflicts without it escalating into something else. As such, the bonding between them is disappearing and it’s becoming stressful and disturbing to them and their children. Because Jimmy and Emma even though do not see their parent fight or disagree in the open but they can sense the disconnection between their parent and feel the tension whenever both of them where at home. More so, because of the negative pattern that has emerge as a result of lack of secure attachment, there is no more interactions between the couple and each others needs are not met. From the case conceptualization, and to decide what treatment plan should target or focus on the therapist will use the step-by-step treatment manual provided by Johnson and Greenberg (1995) as cited in (Goldenberg et al., 2017) for the therapy process:

According to researchers, they believe this has a connection to their early environment during their first 18 months of life. This study included 40 children who lived below the federal poverty line. Out of these 40 individuals, 23 had mothers who reported that they worked full time or had two jobs in order to make ends meet during the interview portion of the study (Fearon, 2010, p. 445). When the children were interviewed, many did not directly admit to feelings of resentment towards their mother for not being there, but it was apparent in their responses. Out of the 40 children, 27 showed signs of insecure attachment to their mother based on their ability to trust others, their thoughts on relationships and their insecurity levels overall (Fearon, 2010, p.451). The parents were asked to rate their child on levels of aggression, violence, and defiant and criminal behaviors. It was found that insecure attachment predicted discernibly higher parent reported levels of externalizing behaviors such as aggression, hyperactivity and defiance than their same aged counterparts. The link between insecure attachment and externalizing behaviors is believed to exist due to feelings of neglect and disconnect (Fearon, 2010, pg. 453). These children have a sense that no one in their life cares for them so they act out. They either believe they will not get in trouble for their actions or they seek these actions as a way to gain attention from their parents since they are usually ignored. This relationship is seen more often for children in poverty since both their parents are often at work or they often come from a single parent household where the mother has to work and the parents are likely unable to afford daycare. Due to this instability in their life with their caregivers, food, housing, transportation, etc., children often feel unsafe in

Despite all the benefits of the three theories, they do have some limitations when addressing Andrew’s needs. For instance, attachment theory puts too much emphasis on the relationship between the mother and the chid, which unfortunately result in blame being put on the female caregiver (Coady & Lehmann, 2008). In Andrew’s case, the counsellor may focus too much on the relationship he had with his mother instead of also focusing on what kind of relationship he had with his father. One of the limitations for cognitive-behavioural theory regarding to treatment is that it may not be appropriate for clients with severe depressions or other sever problems (Coady & Lehmann, 2008). For Andrew’s case, if he was still taking his medications, he may

As one immerses themselves into Charlie’s journal or rather, progress reports, they began to learn much about Charlie and his character. Through these reports, one can gather that Charlie desires to be smart like everyone else (Keyes 1), strives to accomplish any task that he is given (Keyes 4), is very self-motivated (Keyes 9) and,

If anxiety levels rise in these problems, psychiatric, medical, or social dysfunction may develop (Kerr, 2000). In impairment of one or more children problems, according to Kerr (2000), the spouses focus their anxieties on one or more of their children and the children focus their anxiety on them which can ultimately impair school performance, social relationships, and even health (Kerr, 2000). In emotional distance problems, according to Kerr (2000), people distances themselves from others to reduce the intensity of the relationship, but risk isolation from each other. The fourth concept of this theory is the family projection process. This concept describes the primary way parents transmit their emotional problems to a child (Kerr, 2000). This process can impair the functioning of one or more children and can increase their clinical symptoms. Some problems that children inherit from their parents include the need for attention and approval; difficulty dealing with expectations; the tendency to blame oneself or others; feeling responsible for the happiness of others or that others are responsible for one’s own happiness; and acting impulsively to relieve the anxiety of the moment rather than tolerating anxiety and acting thoughtfully (Kerr, 2000). Parents have different roles in this process: mothers are the primary caretakers and experience more emotional involvement with one or

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).

Adults’ propensity to seek proximity and support when faced with a distressful situation demonstrates how attachment formations endure over one’s entire lifespan. Disorganization has also been observed in childhood and adolescence. For example, some disorganized children behave punitively toward their parents, seeking to challenge or humiliate them, while others adopt a caregiving stance, taking the role of the parent and attempting to soothe or comfort them Both of these forms of behavior are seen as controlling. Other forms of disorganized behavior include manifesting fear toward or having difficulties in addressing or interacting with the parent, exhibiting behavior that invades parental intimacy, engaging in self-injuring behaviors or

Proximity. Proximity is an attachment behavior that is characterized by mother and child maintaining closeness so the child can be comforted when frightened. Proximity helps the child to reduce their fear by keeping physical closeness to his mother. The mother also provides the blueprint for their environment to teach the child what is safe and what is unsafe. During slavery mothers were prevented from keeping proximity to their children as way to keeps bonds from forming.

Conformity is a dominating theme from start to finish and seen in several of the characters, but Charlie falls victim to this often. Beginning with him meeting Sam and Patrick, it can be said that he never says no to anything, he just goes along with it to stay friends. Two prime examples of this are: the drugs/drinking and the relationship that Mary Elizabeth forced onto Charlie. The first example is the drugs and the drinking; perceived as conformity, since they did not force either of the items down his throat. Identification is changing personal beliefs to be like the influencer, which is a primary motivator for Charlie’s actions. Charlie is compliant when Mary Elizabeth forces a relationship onto him, which is another example of conformity. Compliance motivates by either a reward or a punishment and in this case, both motivate Charlie. He states in the movie that he just accepted being her boyfriend

Charlie displays the characteristics of a negative team member. Charlie portrays the aggressor person within the group. The aggressor person can be described as one who shows anger, continually blames others for personal mistakes, and deflates the group as a whole (Manning & Curtis, 2003). In order to effectively redirect Charlie’s behavior, I would need to address him in a calm manner. Emphasis would need to be centered on establishing a more positive means on group communication. As a leader, I would need to stress the negative impact his aggressive behavior bestows upon the group as a whole. Other members can learn ways to circumvent and learn techniques for getting their ideas across (Helms & Hayes, 1990). Thus, Charlie’s aggressor behavior

In order for children to thrive, infants need to experience healthy nurturing relationships with their mother or caregiver. Nevertheless, without a mother infant attachment bond the growth and development of personality would be non-existent to the infant or child. For the explanation if attachment, family factors do play an imperative role for positive development in a mother infant attachment bond. Studies show that an individual who has a healthy relationship with parent s will have a positive or nurturing relationship with their peers (Richters & Walters, 1991). Individuals who are alienated growing up are more prone to the development of eating disorders or self-harm behaviors that had negative experiences growing up in a house hold with conflicts, or the lack of socialization skills (Richters & Walters, 1992).

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

In the early stages of a child’s character development, the family is the first social group that the child has. The relationship that is fostered between the family and the child is important, because it is the role of the family that influences the child’s behavior. Although the child may be influenced by the father and siblings, these relationships are looked to second. The child realizes early that the family belongs to him. This leads to jealousy towards other siblings because he may strive to be significant, and establish a position of superiority. Once the child comes to trust the family, it no longer feels threatened. By fostering a good relationship with the family, the child develops trust which leads to the child developing