Basic concepts in attachment theory
The infant would only go to the wire mother when hungry. Attachment does not have to be reciprocal. This section will review a few studies which compare psychometric instruments from both theoretical systems. Research on babies living in orphanages showed that babies who were not given physical and emotional attention had severe cognitive disabilities.
Such children are certain that their parents will be responsive to their needs and communications. Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives. An example is the "stem story", in which a child is given the beginning of a story that raises attachment issues and asked to complete it. By middle childhood ages 7—11there may be a shift toward mutual coregulation of secure-base contact in which caregiver and child negotiate methods of maintaining communication and supervision as the child moves toward a greater degree of independence.
Most researchers believe that attachment develops through a series of stages. Nevertheless, in the reunion episodes they obviously want proximity to and contact with their mothers, even though they tend to use signalling rather than active approach, and protest against being put down rather than actively resisting release This supports the evolutionary theory of attachment, in that it is the sensitive response and security of the caregiver that is important as opposed to the provision of food.
The results of the study indicated that attachments were most likely to form with those who responded accurately to the baby's signals, not the person they spent more time with.
Rothbaum, Rosen, Ujie, and Uchida eloquently describe similarities between attachment theory and family systems theory such as the forces of togetherness and individuality, …attachment theory is focused on dynamics involving protection, care, and felt security, whereas family systems theory is concerned with family dynamics, involving structures, roles, communication patterns, boundaries, and power relations; b attachment theory is focused on the dyad, with much of the action occurring within individuals e.
Several group members with or without blood relation contribute to the task of bringing up a child, sharing the parenting role and therefore can be sources of multiple attachment. The determinant of attachment is not food, but care and responsiveness.
Indiscriminate Attachments 6 weeks to 7 months Infants indiscriminately enjoy human company, and most babies respond equally to any caregiver.
Attachment behaviours such as clinging and following decline and self-reliance increases.
The procedure consists of eight sequential episodes in which the infant experiences both separation from and reunion with the mother as well as the presence of an unfamiliar person the Stranger.
Infants classified as anxious-avoidant A represented a puzzle in the early s. Family systems theory, attachment theory, and culture. John Bowlbyworking alongside James Robertson observed that children experienced intense distress when separated from their mothers.
The various measures were developed primarily as research tools, for different purposes and addressing different domains, for example romantic relationships, platonic relationships, parental relationships or peer relationships. The organization and stability of the mental working models that underlie the attachment styles is explored by social psychologists interested in romantic attachment.
Significance of patterns[ edit ] Research based on data from longitudinal studies, such as the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and the Minnesota Study of Risk and Adaption from Birth to Adulthood, and from cross-sectional studies, consistently shows associations between early attachment classifications and peer relationships as to both quantity and quality.
This pervasive behavior, however, was the only clue to the extent of her stress". Child Development, 41, Bowlby's original account of a sensitivity period during which attachments can form of between six months and two to three years has been modified by later researchers.
The monkeys engaged in bizarre behavior such as clutching their own bodies and rocking compulsively. For humans, Bowlby speculates, the environment of evolutionary adaptedness probably resembles present-day hunter-gatherer societies for the purpose of survival, and, ultimately, genetic replication.
Early steps in attachment take place most easily if the infant has one caregiver, or the occasional care of a small number of other people.
They feel comfortable with intimacy and independence, balancing the two. For humans, Bowlby speculates, the environment of evolutionary adaptedness probably resembles present-day hunter-gatherer societies for the purpose of survival, and, ultimately, genetic replication.
Basic Concepts Attachment theory is a stream of developmental psychology pro-viding an organized body of knowledge about human development, Bowlby, ), the concepts of attachment theory have been extended to the study of romantic and therapeutic relationships in adulthood (Hazan & Shaver, ; Obegi & Berant, a; Shaver & Mikulincer.
Following their findings, we predicted that God concepts would primarily be self-referenced. However, we also predicted, in line with attachment theory, that God concepts would be influenced to some degree by attachment to mother.
We found our predicted result in a sample of university students (N = ). Attachment Theory Part 3: Secure Proximity Maintenance.
According to Attachment Theory, this component of attachment develops when the baby is a bit more mobile. When the baby starts to crawl, they can start to venture out, but they keep constant eye contact with their caregiver to make sure they are close in case of danger.
Attachment theory has been significantly modified as a result of empirical research, but the concepts have become generally accepted.
[7] basis of new therapies and informed existing ones, and its concepts have been used in the formulation of social and. Attachment theory is a concept in developmental psychology that concerns the importance of "attachment" in regards to personal development.
Specifically, it makes the claim that the ability for an individual to form an emotional and physical "attachment" to another person gives a sense of stability and security necessary to take risks, branch out, and grow and develop as a personality.
Attachment theory explains how the parent-child relationship emerges and influences subsequent development. Attachment theory in psychology originates with the seminal work of John Bowlby ().
In the ’s John Bowlby worked as a psychiatrist in a Child Guidance Clinic in London, where he treated many emotionally disturbed children.
Basic concepts in attachment theory