Attachment Theory (AT) is essential when determining the relationship between a caregiver and an infant and frequently drawn upon when assessing the “quality” of a relationship (Norton‚ 2003). Attachment to a caregiver is multifaceted and various factors play a role in the assessment of a relationship‚ therefore as a social workers it is critical we understand these factors and also recognize that all theories have their limitations. AT was a term developed by John Bowlby (1988) and was developed
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Theories of attachment 1) “cupboard love” theories – psychodynamic/behaviourists 2) The ethological approach 3) Bowlbys evolutionary theory 4) Social learning theory Studying attachments and their loss can help us understand how early relationship experiences can affect later development What is attachment? An intense emotional relationship that is specific to two people that endure over time. Prolonged separation brings stress and sorrow 1‚ “cupboard love” theory – psychodynamic
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The psychoanalysis‚ John Bowlby formulated the idea between psychoanalysis and other subjects. He approached psychoanalysis through Darwinism‚ by how it has shaped human nature. Bowlby emphasized natural instincts are encountered from the environment that are basic survival skills. Bowlby studied the connection between people‚ without having to be reciprocal‚ which developed into the theory of attachment. The relationship between the attachment between child and mother is essential in personal development
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behavior and attachment to his mother through the lens of John Bowlby’s theory of attachment and Margaret Mahler’s Theory of Separation-Individuation. Bowlby’s theory of attachment suggests that children instinctually form attachments with others to help them survive. Overtime children learn to depend on the caregiver and recognize that they will be there to comfort them and keep them safe. Attachment behaviors develop to protect against situations that threaten the closeness of those attachments. Bowlby
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responsive 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
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development of children’s understanding‚ through observing them and talking and listening to them while they worked on exercises he set. His view of how children’s minds work and develop has been enormously influential‚ particularly in educational theory. His particular insight was the role of maturation in children’s increasing capacity to understand their world; they cannot undertake certain tasks until they are psychologically mature enough to do so. He proposed that children’s thinking does not
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Bowlby’s Evolutionary Theory of Attachment. (12mark) Attachment can be described using two theories‚ one being Bowlby’s attachment theory which is based on an evolutionary perspective. The theory suggests that evolution has produced a behaviour that is essential to the survival to allow the passing on of genes. An infant that keeps close to their mother is more likely to survive. The traits that lead to that attachment will be naturally selected. Bowlby has the idea that attachment has evolved and it
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under the disorganization attachment can behave in two different ways towards their caregivers. The adolescents can act harshly towards their parents by degrading them or being defiant towards them or they will take on the caregiving role and try to comfort their parents. Even though these are two different types of temperaments‚ it has been narrowed down to a certain behavior trait‚ which is a controlling behavior. Other behaviors that have stemmed from this attachment style are self-harm‚ fear
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Outline and Evaluate One or More Theories of Attachment. (12mark) Attachment can be described using two theories‚ one being Bowlby’s attachment theory (1946) which is based on an evolutionary perspective. The aim was to find out whether there was a relationship between maternal deprivation and emotional problems in children who had been referred to Bowlby’s child guidance clinic. It aimed to test the validity of Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis. 88 children (an opportunity sample) were
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Bowlby ’s maternal deprivation hypothesis assumes that continual disruption of the attachment bond between the infant and primary caregiver would result in long term cognitive‚ social and emotional difficulties for the child. To what extent has research into deprivation and privation supported this view. Bowlby claimed that the role of a mother was essential to a child and without this essential mother figure it would affect the child’s psychological health. He called this theory the maternal
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