Explying Attachment Theory
Exploring and Applying Attachment Theory
Ashly Peterson
University of Southern Queensland
Exploring and Applying Attachment Theory
According to Bowlby’s (1969) attachment theory, an adaptive, enduring bond exists between mothers and infants that ensures an infant’s physical and emotional survival. This Darwin-based theory states that infants are innately equipped with social releasers, such as crying or cooing, to gain their mother’s attention and comfort in real or perceived situations of danger (Ainsworth & Bell, 1970; Bowlby, 1969; Howe, 2005). In an ideal, secure attachment, the perception of threat is eliminated by a mother’s comfort and proximity; this interaction regulates the infant’s distress allowing the infant to regain …show more content…
While mothers are considered the main attachment figure, it should be noted that Bowlby’s theory was devised in a time when mothers were the primary caregiver; however, he recognised this would not always be the case and suggested the monotropic bond could occur with any primary caregiver (Bowlby, 1969; Howe, 2005). For the purposes of this paper, the mother-infant relationship will be discussed while recognising that fathers, grandparents or other carers may be and can be the attachment figure as well.
In 1970, Ainsworth and Bell conducted the Strange Situation study wherein three different attachment styles emerged based on how distressed infants responded …show more content…
Bowlby’s attachment theory posits that the initial bond between mother-infant is critical in shaping an infant’s internal working model which will guide their social and emotional development (Howe, 2005). This model evolves through schemas, or mental representations, which are based on the early interactions between mother and infant; these schemas will then go on to influence the infant’s self-image and how they behave in future relationships (Bowlby, 1969). Per Bowlby, some processes affected by the internal model include: personality, emotional regulation, future attachment-seeking behaviour, expectations and beliefs about others, impulse control and stress management to name a
Ashly Peterson
University of Southern Queensland
Exploring and Applying Attachment Theory
According to Bowlby’s (1969) attachment theory, an adaptive, enduring bond exists between mothers and infants that ensures an infant’s physical and emotional survival. This Darwin-based theory states that infants are innately equipped with social releasers, such as crying or cooing, to gain their mother’s attention and comfort in real or perceived situations of danger (Ainsworth & Bell, 1970; Bowlby, 1969; Howe, 2005). In an ideal, secure attachment, the perception of threat is eliminated by a mother’s comfort and proximity; this interaction regulates the infant’s distress allowing the infant to regain …show more content…
While mothers are considered the main attachment figure, it should be noted that Bowlby’s theory was devised in a time when mothers were the primary caregiver; however, he recognised this would not always be the case and suggested the monotropic bond could occur with any primary caregiver (Bowlby, 1969; Howe, 2005). For the purposes of this paper, the mother-infant relationship will be discussed while recognising that fathers, grandparents or other carers may be and can be the attachment figure as well.
In 1970, Ainsworth and Bell conducted the Strange Situation study wherein three different attachment styles emerged based on how distressed infants responded …show more content…
Bowlby’s attachment theory posits that the initial bond between mother-infant is critical in shaping an infant’s internal working model which will guide their social and emotional development (Howe, 2005). This model evolves through schemas, or mental representations, which are based on the early interactions between mother and infant; these schemas will then go on to influence the infant’s self-image and how they behave in future relationships (Bowlby, 1969). Per Bowlby, some processes affected by the internal model include: personality, emotional regulation, future attachment-seeking behaviour, expectations and beliefs about others, impulse control and stress management to name a