The Attachment Theory in Child Psychology Essay - 2260 Words

The Attachment Theory in Child Psychology The term attachment describes an infants tendency to seek closeness to particular people and to feel more secure in their presence (Atkinson et al, 2000, p90). This essay will attempt to provide a brief and up to date summary of attachment theory and research, show how it is linked to Child Abuse, the Family, and Children and Divorce, critically evaluating attachments predictive value. One of the most influential theories in the history of attachment has been that of John Bowlby developed during a study of the mental health of homeless children for the World Health†¦show more content†¦However, the political implications of the era in which it was developed cannot be ignored with men returning from war and needing jobs back! In contrast, Freud Dann (1951) found that the negative outcome for the child of deprivation (lost or separated from mother), or privation (no particular person to attach to), in concentration camps, was alleviated by the company of other children. cheekycool Bowlbys somewhat pessimistic view of the consequences of maternal separation/deprivation has been actively debated and was the catalyst for much contemporary work. Rutter (1971) in Rutter (1999) p65, challenged Bowlbys (1960) findings that linked significant separations in early childhood with stealing tendencies/delinquency in boys. He found that emotional disturbances related to the reasons for separation from the primary caregiver, i.e. serious tensions at home, parents with mental illness and acrimonious divorces were responsible for later delinquency, rather than the separation itself. Tizard (1989) also challenged monotropy finding adoptedShow MoreRelatedQuestions On Theories Of Attachment Essay1191 Words   |  5 PagesUnderstand Theories of Attachment. Evaluating two theories that explain the development of the infant attachment to parents or surrogates. Ainsworth and Bell’s theory, based on Strange Situation Test (SST), and Bowlby’s monotropic theory will be evaluated and shall show their usefulness in psychological research. Summary of Attachment. An attachment is, to quote Kagan et al. (1978, cited in Gross, 2015), â€Å"†¦an intense emotional relationship that is specific to two people, that endures over time,Read MoreMy Point Of View Attachment Theory1033 Words   |  5 PagesMain Post Attachment theory is defined as the characters associated with the long term associated of human beings. From my point of view attachment is a lasting, secure and positive bond between a child and a caregiver, a reciprocal relationship. John Bowlby who used his knowledge in developmental psychology, psychoanalysis, ethology, and data processing to base his principle of the theory developed attachment theory. John Bowlby believed that attachment theory was on of the four essential behavioralRead MoreThe Primary Focus Of Educational Psychology765 Words   |  4 PagesEducational Psychology is learning. When most people think of education, they have a tendency to focus on early childhood, but Educational Psychology focuses on the entire lifespan. Learning is an ongoing process in which development, behaviors and cognition can greatly affect an individual. Ensuring a proper academic foundation is key to aiding on ones developmental success. There are many factors that play into a c hild’s educational achievement such as pre-natal development, caregiver attachment, cultureRead MorePsychology is not just common sense1300 Words   |  6 Pages Psychology is not just common sense. Discuss. The statement of psychology not being just common sense is parallel with the ideologies of most psychologists in the field. Although some aspects and examples of psychology might be simplistic and clear, it also involves substantial critical thinking skills, reasoning and an extensive amount of research. Psychology is defined as the study of the mind and behaviour. (American Psychological Association, 2014), thus affirmingRead MoreBowlby s Theory Of Attachment1255 Words   |  6 PagesAttachment refers to an affectional bond; a bond which is exclusive to an individual and cannot be exchanged to another. A particularly important bond is the emotional one between an infant and its primary care giver. When it comes to attachment it is often said that it is either down to nature or nurture. Nature is the belief that it is genetic based whilst nurture believes it is our environment and experiences. Bowlby focuses on the evolutionary argument for attachment. Bowlby’s theory can beRead MoreAttachment Theory Essay1152 Words   |  5 PagesChris Livoti 3/5/13 IB Psychology Mrs. Urso John Bowlby is the pioneer of the attachment theory and worked with children who had been separated from their parents during World War 2. He observed that many of these children developed emotional problems, and he made the connection that the emotional problems stemmed from the separation from the mother. Bowlby was born in London to an upper class family, and would rarely see, and interact with hisRead MoreMaternal Deprivation Hypothesis1222 Words   |  5 Pagesideas of evolutionary psychology and the theories of Freud which were about the effects of early experiences on children. Bowlby worked with children who had experienced disrupted early lives and after studying children of post-war Europe, who had being separated from their parents, Bowlby came up with the theory of attachment. Bowlby observed and interviewed children in both hospitals and institutions to better understand the impacts of parent-child separation on a child. Bowlby believed that aRead MoreEffects Of Mater nal Separation On Children s Development1397 Words   |  6 PagesThe bond that a child and their parents or caregivers form plays a vital role in the child’s life. Studies were performed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth to observe the effects that maternal separation had on the child’s development. The hypothesis they formed based off their observations became known as the attachment theory. The attachment theory came about on the core principle that â€Å"children brought up with consistent, loving parents or significant, reliable caregivers can develop a foundationRead MoreErik Erikson s Theory And Theory908 Words   |  4 PagesBoth Erik Erikson’s theory and Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby theory support the idea that early life experiences impact the person across their lifespan. Erikson’s developmental theory discusses the eight stages of life and the forces and values that arise at each stage, which should be developed within this frame. The att achment theory focuses on the interaction an individual has and the impact it may have on their psychological and social development. Both theories believe that personality beginsRead MoreAttachment Theory: Childrens Attachment to a Caregivers833 Words   |  4 Pagesresponsive to their needs. Image by Jeff Osborne What is Attachment? Attachment is an emotional bond to another person. Psychologist John Bowlby was the first attachment theorist, describing attachment as a lasting psychological connectedness between human beings (Bowlby, 1969, p. 194). Bowlby believed that the earliest bonds formed by children with their caregivers have a tremendous impact that continues throughout life. According to Bowlby, attachment also serves to keep the infant close to the mother