¶ … Theory
Attachment is defined as a deep and enduring emotional bond usually that links an individual to another across space and time. Attachment is at times not reciprocal, in other words it may not be shared between the two. Attachment is characterized especially in children by specific behaviour, whereby a child seeks proximity with the individual to whom they are attached when they are threatened or upset (McLeod, 2009). Attachment-linked behaviour in parents towards their children encompasses responding appropriately and sensitively to the needs of their children. Such behaviour is seemingly universal across different cultures. Attachment theory offers an explanation of the manner in which the relationship between the parent and the child emerges and how it impacts subsequent development (McLeod, 2009; Bretherton, 1992).
Attachment theory is the field of psychology emerged from the influential work of John Bowlby in 1958. In the 1930's, Dr. Bowlby worked as a psychiatrist at the London Child Guidance Clinic, where he had worked to treat quite a number of children who were emotionally disturbed. This experience led Bowlby to want to further investigate the importance of the mother-child relationship especially in terms of the child's cognitive, emotional and social development. Specifically, his experience at the clinic shaped his belief about the relationship between early child separations with the mother and eventual maladjustment, and led him to come up with his attachment theory (McLeod, 2009).
Development of attachment theory
In 1964, Peggy Emerson and Rudolph Schaffer carried out a longitudinal study is which they studied sixty babies at monthly intervals for the initial eighteen months of their lives. The studies were conducted at the children's homes and the relationship/interactions between the babies and their carers were observed. The carers were also interviewed. The two found a pattern in the development of attachment. The evidence of the development of an attachment or a bond was that the babies showed some sort of separation anxiety each time a carer left (Prior & Glaser, 2006; McLeod, 2009).
Emerson and Schaffer discovered that the development of an attachment followed a particular sequence:
• Up to three months of age-non-discriminate attachments. The baby is predisposed to attach to any person they interact with. Most babies will respond in the same way to any caregiver.
• After four months-preference for particular individuals. Babies learn to differentiate between their primary and secondary caregivers; however they still accept care from anyone.
• After seven months-there is special preference for a specific attachment figure. The infant looks to specific individuals for protection, security and comfort. Babies display a fear of strangers and unhappiness when separated from the specific attachment figure (also known as separation anxiety). At this age some babies show more separation anxiety than others, however both cases are interpreted as proof that the baby has already formed an attachment. Intense attachment often develops at 12 months of age (Prior & Glaser, 2006; Bretherton, 1992).
• After nine months -- Multiple attachments. The baby becomes increasingly independent and forms many different attachments.
The study also revealed that there was a much higher likelihood of attachments being formed between the baby and those who responded appropriately to the infant's signals, and not the individual they spent most time with. Emerson and Schaffer called this sensitive responsiveness (McLeod, 2009).
Many of the babies in the study had formed multiple attachments by the time they were ten months of age, including attachments to their parents, grandparents, siblings and neighbours. The mother, however, remained the main attachment figure for about 50% of the children at eighteen months old and the father for the majority of the rest. The child will most likely form an attachment with the person who communicates and plays with them and not the one that changes or feeds them (Prior & Glaser, 2006).
Formation of attachment
There are two main theories associated to the formation of attachments;
Behaviorist / Learning theory of attachment argues that attachment is a set of specific learned behaviours. According to this theory the basis of learning of attachments is through the provision of food. A baby will at first form an attachment to the person who feeds them. Infants learn to associate the feeder (often the mother) with the act or comfort of being fed and thus learn attachment though classical conditioning. Infants also learn that certain behaviours (e.g. smiling or crying) bring about desirable responses from others (e.g. comfort or attention) and thus learn to repeat those behaviours through operant conditioning so as to get what they want (O'Gorman, 2012; Vandevivere, Braet, Bosmans, Mueller...
Figure 1 portrays three of the scenes 20/20 presented March 15, 2010. Figure 1: Heather, Rachel, and Unnamed Girl in 20/20 Program (adapted from Stossel, 2010). Statement of the Problem For any individual, the death of a family member, friend, parent or sibling may often be overwhelming. For adolescents, the death of person close to them may prove much more traumatic as it can disrupt adolescent development. Diana Mahoney (2008), with the
S., experts estimate the genuine number of incidents of abuse and neglect ranges three times higher than reported. (National Child Abuse Statistics, 2006) in light of these critical contemporary concerns for youth, this researcher chose to document the application of Object Relation, Attachment Theories, and Self-Psychology to clinical practice, specifically focusing on a patient who experienced abuse when a child. Consequently, this researcher contends this clinical case study dissertation proves
An important point emphasized by many theorists was that it was essential for the therapeutic alliance to be flexible in order to accommodate the patient or client's perceptions. Another cardinal aspect that was emphasizes by clinicians and theorists was that the therapeutic alliance had the ability to create and promote change in the client. In other words, the therapeutic alliance should be varied enough to deal with the various levels
On the other hand, others may require a few weeks to get adjusted (Thompson; Connell; Bridges, 1988). Threshold of Responsiveness: This refers to how strong a stimulus requires to be reminded of a response from a child. For instance, one child may find a light touch irritating while another may need a deep hug to continue a response. This intensity of reaction refers to the vigor level of the response that
The most fundamental theorist in this area is Jean Piaget. Additionally, Piaget demonstrated one of the first scientific movements in the filed, with the utilization of direct observation as the best tool for understanding. (Piaget, 1962, p. 107) Piaget also believes, and his theories reflect that children play a very active and dynamic role in development through interaction with their environment and active role imitation. (Piaget, 1962, p. 159) Sensory-motor
Lee, (2003). Lee (2003) says that insecure attachments have been linked to psychiatric disorders to which the children are exposed to after the loss of the attachment figure. These children will form inability to form secure attachments, react with hostility and rejection to their environment according to Pickover, (2002). This is a phenomenon found among many immigrant children, especially who had the attachment figure back in their country of origin
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