The Emotional Link Of Attachment - 1661 Words

Introduction Attachment is one of the developmental milestones that begins during conception and remains throughout one’s life. It is defined as the â€Å"strong affectionate tie we have for special people in our lives that lead us to experience pleasure and joy when we interact with them and to be comforted by their nearness in times of stress† (Berk, 2011, p. 264). When an individual meets the child’s needs, an attachment begins to form. The primary caregiver, preferably the mother, is considered to be the initial secure base for the child. The emotional connection infants have towards their mother is what theorist Sigmund Freud believes to be the â€Å"foundation for all alter relationships† (as cited in Berk, 2011, p. 264). However, by the second half of the first year, infants begin to develop attachments towards anyone who responds to their needs. The work of psychologists Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby embarks on deeper insight into the evolution of attachment in early childhood. Bowlby developed four phases of attachment beginning at birth: pre-attachment, attachment in the making, clear-cut attachment and the formation of a reciprocal relationship. Throughout the first three phases, nonverbal cues such as facial expressions and eye contact occur. By the final phase, infants’ language and cognitive development grow. They begin to understand separation from their primary attachment. Ainsworth created the Strange Situation test to investigate the attachment behaviors found inShow MoreRelatedInfluence Of The Early Bonds Created By Parents And Their Children914 Words   |  4 Pagesand their children. These theories on attachment have demonstrated the effect of attachment with social and emotional development and its direct relationship with future behavioral issues. Numerous studies have shown the existing links betwe en early security and insecurity in the early relationships formed by the child, and future outcomes in his teenage and adult behaviors. Nonetheless, most of these studies have not considered the effects of early attachment between the child and the individualRead MoreA Basic Principle Of Attachment Theory Essay1585 Words   |  7 Pagescontinues throughout a child s development soon after a child is born, an attachment begins. This attachment begins with imprinting which some call the sensitive period. During this time the child will become attached to the first caregiver seen (usually the mother) and look to it for any sort of comfort. This was discovered through Bowlby s experiment with ducks in the 1970 s, Bowlby defined attachment theory as â€Å"Attachment theory conceptualizes the propensity of human beings to make strong affectionalRead MoreAn Attachment For Successful Emotional And Social Development Essay1089 Words   |  5 Pages Attachment is a strong emotional connection between two people, often a bond between a child and caregiver. Since Bowlby’s (1969) theory, describing the importance of developing an attachment for successful emotional and social development, other researchers have theorised that not forming attachments affects individuals, including their possible development of mental health issues. Researchers have replicated Ainworths and Wittig’s (1969) Strange Situation experiment, using the results forRead MoreBowlbys Theory of Attachments854 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Bowlby’s Theory Attachment is a strong and emotional bond that develops over time between two individuals that is reciprocal. 1. THE THEORY * Bowlby’s theory suggests that attachment is evolutionary and is needed to aid survival. * He did observational research to link orphans with psychological damage. * Babies are helpless and rely on adults. They make instinctive decisions because they haven’t actually learnt anything yet. 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Babies bond in many different ways, mainly through touch and smell. Bonding is the sense of connection between parents/main carer and the infant. Bonding is the basic link of trust between an infantRead MorePersonality Development of Children: Who Matters More?1681 Words   |  7 PagesPersonality development of children: Who Matters More? Judith Harris and John Bowlby The impact of parents on child development has been a major matter among developmental psychologists who have been trying to find a direct link between parental activities and the personality development of children. The nature vs. nurture debate remains vital and keeps the world of developmental and clinical psychology polarized for a long time now (Encyclopedia.com). There are various factors that affectRead MoreOutline and Evaluate One Theory of Attachment920 Words   |  4 Pagestheory of attachment (12 marks) Bowlby’s theory is an evolutionary theory because, in his view attachment is a behavioural system that has evolved because of its survival value and, ultimately, its reproductive value. According to Bowlby, children have an innate drive to become attached to a caregiver because attachment has long-term benefits. Both attachment and imprinting ensure that a young animal stays close to a caregiver who will feed and protect the young animal. Thus attachment and imprintingRead MoreDevelopmental Psychology: Attachment Essay1488 Words   |  6 Pages Attachment is the formation of a two-way emotional bond between a child and an adult caregiver. It is an important part of developmental psychology, which is concerned with reasons and causes for human behaviour, addressing both nurture and nature aspects of childrearing. John Bowlby (1907-1990) is a key psychologist involved in the studies and theories concerning attachment. He summarised his point and the reason for attachment as follows: Based on the above, this essay intends to focusRead MoreSecure Attachment Relationship Between Young Children And Their Families898 Words   |  4 PagesSecure Attachment Relationship The mother is usually the first and primary object of attachment for an infant, but in many cultures, babies become just as attached to their fathers, siblings, and grandparents. When infants are attached to their caregivers, they gain a secure base from which babies can explore their environment and a haven of safety to return to when they are afraid. Attachment begins with physical touching and cuddling between infant and parent. Some babies become secure or insecure