Attachment Theory To Human Development

Contribution of attachment theory on human development
In this essay I am going to discuss the contribution of attachment theory on human development. I will source all my information from books and journals. I will introduce John Bowlby’s attachment theory. I will discuss how attachment plays a vital role in one’s social and emotional development throughout the lifespan. I will state why one must form a good relationship with a caregiver at an early age. I will also introduce Ainsworths “strange situation” theory and Erikson’s stages of development.
Attachment theory plays a very important role in a person’s human development. Attachment is usually described as affection or love. In Prior and Glaser ‘s book they state that “According to
This will affect their social development as they will have difficulty forming relationships, this will start off in school and they will not be able to make friends because they will not understand how to communicate properly with the other children. Attachments with caregivers also teach children how to behave correctly. The way a caregiver responds to a child’s behaviour has a significant outcome on their social skills. Eisenberg 1992 suggest that when a parent responds to a child’s corrupt behaviour and emotions negatively it will relate in the child’s bad adjustment and functioning. This also tends to have harsh effects on their socialization. The way a caregiver acts with a child in terms of interaction etc influences the way the child will grow to socialize. If a child does not have a relationship with a caregiver they will not know how to create a relationship with anyone else, they will not understand the norms of socializing and the correct ways to behave. One of Bowlby’s key ideas about infant caregiver attachment is that once a child experiences the physical attachment to their caregiver this will encourage the child to explore away from the caregiver. This is very important so the child can form other relationships and explore further interests when they go to school etc. If a child did not feel this sense of security with their caregiver it would result in them
A caregiver should be the one who teaches a child how to love and care for someone. Paul Greenhalgh states that children who experience emotional difficulties also encounter other difficulties, they struggle to find their sense of basic safety which leads them to anxiety. For a child to develop and learning to proceed they must develop a sense of emotional trust and security in their caregiver. Emotional difficulties can influence a child’s behaviour in school, it can lead them to act out and look for attention off others. A child needs to get the correct amount of love and attention at home for them to behave correctly. A lack of love can cause the child to grow feeling angry. Teachers also play a vital role in a child’s emotional development. If a child is acting out the teacher should not react to this negatively. They should first talk to them about their hopes and concerns and encourage them to talk about how they are feeling. (Greenhalgh 1994, p.27). If one is not encouraged to speak about how they feel when they are young this will have an impact on them as they grow and they will continue to have difficulties elsewhere such as the work place etc. Emotional development is important for one to feel inner strength and explore new things. One needs to feel accepted to have an individual identity. Children are dependent on the support of the caregiver followed by