Has Attachment Theory Had Its Day?
Has attachment theory had its day?
There are many different views on attachment theory but the first and most recognised is that of John Bowlby. He argued that attachment was an instinctive biological need that begins at infancy and continues throughout life. (Elliot & Reis, 2003). Further to this Bowlby argued that babies who were separated from their mothers before becoming securely attached would find it impossible to bond with others and in later life would suffer ill affects from this deprivation (Woolfolk, Hughes & Walkup, 2008). He explained that each infant has a critical period in which they must form an attachment, and after this period, of about two or three years, the child will no longer be able to form any attachment. Bowlby has been very influential in this area. His maternal deprivation hypothesis stated that long-term intellectual, social and emotional damage follows the deprivation of an attachment during a critical period in the child 's development. (Rutter, 1972) Bowlby’s theory is wide-ranging and provided a basis of research into the nature of early relationships, and so established a good foundation for Mary Ainsworth’s attachment theory. Ainsworth took her theory a step further with the Strange Situation, which splits attachment into three types; secure avoidant and resistant (Ainsworth, 1964).
Ainsworth’s Strange Situation involved providing an unfamiliar but interesting environment where the child was motivated to explore but needed to feel secure. An observer then recorded the child’s responses to the departure and later return of the mother (Woolfolk et al, 2008).The research showed significant differences in the child’s reactions and so led Ainsworth to develop the three types of attachment. The secure type is when an infant seeks protection or comfort from their mother and receives care consistently; the mother is usually rated as loving and affectionate. The avoidant type is when the infant tends to pull away from their
There are many different views on attachment theory but the first and most recognised is that of John Bowlby. He argued that attachment was an instinctive biological need that begins at infancy and continues throughout life. (Elliot & Reis, 2003). Further to this Bowlby argued that babies who were separated from their mothers before becoming securely attached would find it impossible to bond with others and in later life would suffer ill affects from this deprivation (Woolfolk, Hughes & Walkup, 2008). He explained that each infant has a critical period in which they must form an attachment, and after this period, of about two or three years, the child will no longer be able to form any attachment. Bowlby has been very influential in this area. His maternal deprivation hypothesis stated that long-term intellectual, social and emotional damage follows the deprivation of an attachment during a critical period in the child 's development. (Rutter, 1972) Bowlby’s theory is wide-ranging and provided a basis of research into the nature of early relationships, and so established a good foundation for Mary Ainsworth’s attachment theory. Ainsworth took her theory a step further with the Strange Situation, which splits attachment into three types; secure avoidant and resistant (Ainsworth, 1964).
Ainsworth’s Strange Situation involved providing an unfamiliar but interesting environment where the child was motivated to explore but needed to feel secure. An observer then recorded the child’s responses to the departure and later return of the mother (Woolfolk et al, 2008).The research showed significant differences in the child’s reactions and so led Ainsworth to develop the three types of attachment. The secure type is when an infant seeks protection or comfort from their mother and receives care consistently; the mother is usually rated as loving and affectionate. The avoidant type is when the infant tends to pull away from their
References: Clarke-Stewart, K. A. 1989 Howe, D., Brandon, M., Hinings, D., & Schofield, G. 1999 Lopez, A. -Guardian Professional, 2011 Grosgop, V. - Writer for The Observer, 2011