The attachment theory postulates that after repeated experiences during an individual’s childhood, they do while in infancy, develop a string of knowledge structures a concept that can also be referred to as an inner working model that acts as a representative of the various several interactions that the infant had while they were with their primary care giver Jul 11, · Attachment Theory Essay Sample. Attachment theory explains the dynamics of lasting relationships between humans, particularly as in families and long time friends. The most significant theory is the one that, an infant needs to build up a relationship on one primary caregiver. Attachment goes round through the fields of psychological, evolutionary, and ethological blogger.comted Reading Time: 4 mins Oct 28, · “Attachment theory provides comprehensive relationship based theory of personality development and our psychological progress through life” (Howe et al., , p). Those who work with children mostly depend on attachment theory to make some kind of decisions, as it helps them to understand the importance of developing close relationships
Attachment Essay ⋆ Psychology Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire
Critically analyse a child developmental theory, make clear links between this theory and your child observational study. Additionally, you are required a discussion on how this observation has enhanced attachment theory essay knowledge on child development in relation to social work. The purpose of this attachment theory essay is to critically analyse and evaluate a child development theory, which I will link to an observation study that I carried out in the nursery.
For the purpose of confidentiality, I use the pseudonym Peter Adam for the boy I observed. Peter was chosen for this observation with no predisposition of his culture, ethnicity and gender and religious and linguistic background. He is a lively and energetic month-old English boy. He is the first child in his home and lives with his mother and dad and his little brother who attends the same nursery.
Peter relates very well with his peers, and he is very supportive of them. Renowned as the first exponent of attachment theory Bowlbyattachment theory essay, argues that attachment theory brings together social, emotional and cognitive aspects of development. Bowlby derives his ideas significantly from Darwin, but Freud also influenced him. Bowlby was a psychoanalyst who drew from clinical experience with children and adults to conceptualise his theory Wilson et al, attachment theory essay.
He points out that some aspects of cognitive sensor-motor development and building of strong relationships are also essential for attachment theory. The nature, form and development of relationships are crucial to social work practice. Bowlby also believe that attachment theory essay a child from a parental figure can attachment theory essay much anxiety and can have a lasting effect if it prolongs the separation during his or her first four years. In his view, maternal attachment is important for healthy psychological development and that children need to develop it by the time they reached one-year-old.
However, research from Emerson and Schaffer concluded that babies and young attachment theory essay can develop attachment attachment theory essay more than one primary caregiver. They also believe that infants need some time before they are developmentally ready to form an honest attachment to another person, attachment theory essay. For them, attachment theory essay, the first time a child can be attached to his or her caregiver is at the age of seven to nine months.
At the same time, there were little, if any, nurseries or child care centres for children Riddall-Leech, Today, there are varieties of nurseries to choose from and most mothers take up work. Bowlby believes that maternal deprivation in infancy and lack of secure attachment could mean that children could not be able to form lasting relationships later in life and are likely to be offenders in society.
However, in his subsequent studies, attachment theory essay, Bowlby concluded that circumstances can shape a later relationship pattern, as an early attachment to the later social pattern is not necessarily direct. This raises questions for social workers as attachment theory essay when to take children from their caregivers, as missing the critical period could mean that children could face several difficulties in later life; including mental health issues, attachment theory essay.
However, careful analysis of the theory can help attachment theory essay workers to know when to intervene as it provides the model of analysis in judging the quality of relationships.
It is important in child protection, as it can support social workers to remove a child where there are serious concerns in relation to attachment. The fundamental theories that are influential to the attachment theory are psychoanalytic, learning, cognitive and Ethological.
According to Grossmanattachment is multiple relationships among others, and it is the actual foundation of solid individual development. He believes that strong attachment help children to form relationships with others in later years.
Nevertheless, Marrone argues that attachment is a way of conceptualising the tendency of people to make healthy, affectionate bonds. He explains the many forms of emotional distress and personality disorders such as anxiety, depression and anger to which apathetic separation and loss give rise to. Strong attachment is crucial in social work practice as it promotes the establishment of strong relationships.
They seek for closeness in other to feel secure. Bowlby emphasises the importance of safeguarding the young and maintaining their survival. With regards to an attachment behaviour system, a child maintains closer proximity to the mother or the caregiver.
Bowlby states that attachment behaviour is any form of behaviour that results in a person maintaining closeness to a preferred individual who is considered as a better able to cope with the world. For the first two to six months, the child can differentiate between known and unknown attachment figures and become more responsive to the caregiver.
By the age of one, children are able to display a sequence of attachment behaviours. This means that children use attachment theory essay mothers or caregivers as a safe base when they start walking and exploring their environment, attachment theory essay.
They developed the strange situation pattern and claim that children are classified into one of the three groups. In their opinion, children are Avoidant Type ASecure Type Bor Ambivalent Type C.
The aim of the study was to assess the extent of trust a attachment theory essay has in the physical and emotional availability and receptiveness of his or her mother or caregiver. Type A and C are considered as insecure attachment and when children fall under those types, they are likely to face long term emotional effect such as loneliness and difficulty forming relationships. Secure attachment is when a child developed confidence in his or her caregiver and uses his or her caregiver to discover objects attachment theory essay relate to other people Ainsworth et al.
The child usually has in mind that regardless of what he or she does, the mother or caregiver will be available in times of need. A child is considered being secure if the child can explore beyond his or her comfort zone and be mindful that he or she will be protected when frighten, comforted when distress and looked after when needed Bowlby, To this effect, securely attached children see their caregivers as reliable sources of protection and security. They rely on their caregivers for support when they are in a difficult situation.
Peter at the age of 37 months already demonstrates some of these qualities which also support the fact that he is securely attached. He communicates freely with his peers and confidently engages with them. It is also possible that he will grow into preadolescent with high self-esteem as he is attachment theory essay interacting positively with his peers and the nursery staff. Furthermore, Waters, Wippman and Sroufe found that children between 3 and 4 age group who are attachment theory essay being secure at 15 months of age attachment theory essay more likely to be self-directed and adore learning new attachment theory essay skills.
Appendix 1 shows that Peter at the time of my observation said what he needed to say, went to areas of play he wanted and needed to be and enjoyed learning new cognitive skills. Peter displays most of secure attachment qualities when I was observing him, attachment theory essay.
He was confident and energetic in his environment. He was also kind to his peers and responsive to them and the staff. As shown in Appendix 1, Peter was very interested in pretend plays. He made eye contact with me and instinctively looked away at my first encounter with him.
He later came back and demanded to know why I was in the nursery because I was not one of the staff. I smiled, and he ran away laughing, attachment theory essay. Soon, it was time for a snack. Peter quickly washed his hands and went and sat next to his name patiently.
The teacher came and asked the colour of the cup he wanted so he could give him milk, attachment theory essay, and he said red, attachment theory essay. Peter took the milk and said thank you attachment theory essay the teacher. His communication with the staff and his relationship with his peers show that he was a confident and active boy, attachment theory essay. Bretherton outlined that a secure attachment relationship mirrors attachment theory essay, care and love.
Peter attachment relationship with the staff and mother gave evidence of care, love and support. He called his friends to join him, they came over to him and were playing with the trains together; taking turns.
In an agreement with SternI noticed that Peter was aware of his routine; the time his mother drops him and the time he gets picked up. This was rather surprising to me, and I wonder whether it was a coincident.
When his mother came to pick him up, upon noticing her, he gave a big smile and ran to the other room to inform his brother about the presence of their mother. His mother joined them in the room and he was already smiling and playing with his brother with excitement. From my observation of Peter, I can conclude that he is securely attached attachment theory essay he did not show any sign of avoidant, attachment theory essay, resistant and disorganised; characteristics that are typical of insecure children.
For children with insecure types of attachments, avoidant is a demonstration of the fact that children are unclear about the responses of their mothers or caregivers.
They are usually not sure if their caregiver or mother will respond or support them when needed. Children in this category are always prone to anxiety and have a tendency to be clingy. They are usually fearful of exploring outside their comfort zone and are not excited upon seeing their caregiver or mother.
Children under this category are mostly not distress when their mother or caregiver is not around; they could be distress for various reasons such as being left on their own rather than the absence of the caregiver.
Caregivers of those children are often regarded as insensitive and often unemotional or express rather cold emotions Ainsworth, With regards to Disorganised attachment, children may display bizarre behaviours such as pulling their hair. They may also exhibit strange behaviours such as avoiding their mother, but they are very distressed on separation from their caregiver or mother. They will often seek closeness to strangers instead of the caregiver.
Shemmings concludes that disorganised attachment is significant in children with severe neurological abnormalities such as autism and Down syndrome. Cole argues that children who in their first year of life are in homes or institutions that lack sufficient and consistent care cried constantly at the beginning and later lapsed into a state of depression. He also claims that children who are in institutions that lack manners of stimulation and ordinary contacts are certain to show aggressive behaviour and are unlikely to establish a proper relationship with others when they grow older.
However, if relevant professionals such as social attachment theory essay are mindful of such children, they might be able to support them to shape their lives. This could be achieved by early intervention. Those who work with children mostly depend on attachment theory to make some kind of decisions, as it helps them to understand the importance of developing close relationships.
Similarly, Hersov argues that some aspect of attachment theory has a continuous impact on child care policies and practices. Attachment support and offers security and protection against stress. The theory of attachment has been of great assistance to social workers and psychologist.
It has improved their understanding of how to deal with some issues such as relationships and extraordinary conducts that are reported by those working or dealing with children. Hersov agrees that attachment theory has brought major changes in daily child care, hospitals, adoption and fostering. He claims that attachment theory has helped social workers to remove abused children from their parents or caregivers.
Notwithstanding the strength of attachment theory, intellectuals like Thomas, Goldberg and Chess point to some limitations. By focussing on mothers as caregivers, attachment theory exposes them to undue criticism if attachment theory essay ideal condition did not succeed.
Goldberg suggests that early attachment helps in the development of a child, but does not determine later development. However, along with other influences, early attachment does make a significant contribution in later years. To his credit, Bowlby accepted the weakness in over emphasising the mother-infant relationship in his later writing.
According to Attachment theory essayBowlby stopped using the term mother and instead used various terms such as an attachment figure, attachment theory essay, a principal caregiver or a primary caregiver.
Introduction to Attachment Theory
, time: 4:32Attachment Theory . Example | GraduateWay
Jul 26, · The attachment theory is one of the common theories in the specification of child development and growth in the world. Indeed, several influencing factors are concerned with the generation and establishment of the relationship that exists between parents and their children in Attachment Essay. Attachment is an emotional bond, usually between child and parent, characterized by the child’s tendency to seek and maintain proximity to the parent, especially under stressful conditions. John Bowlby, a British psychoanalyst, developed attachment theory in the s and s as a way of explaining certain elements of personality and of psychopathology that were not already accounted for Estimated Reading Time: 10 mins Oct 07, · Essay On Attachment Theory. For this assignment, I am choosing to write about the Attachment Theory, because the concepts of this theory had captured my attention during class. The Attachment Theory was discovered by John Bowlby, which he had examined and analyzed the relationships between a child and their caregiver
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