Ainsworth pertaining to the topic of attachment theory. Attachment is an important concept to understand within the context of modern society. As human history has progressed‚ so has the complexity of social structure. Bowlby and Ainsworth made observations of contemporary tendencies and connected these behaviors to security‚ parental presence and then made predictions as to how attachment can predict a person’s future behavior. One benefit gained through knowing attachment theory foremost is empathy. Relating
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Describe and Evaluate Bowlby’s theory of attachment. An attachment refers to ‘a close two-way emotional relationship between two people. In Child Psychology this focus is on the main care-giver most commonly (but not exclusively) our mothers.’ According to Bowlby‚ children develop an attachment to one main caregiver which is qualitatively different than any others e.g. warm and continuous relationship with mother. This attachment has to occur within the sensitive period (6-24 months) or there could
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The impacts of infants attachment in their early stages can never be overlooked. It forms the basis of their development and interaction with others especially caregivers. John Bowlby defined attachment as a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings” (1969‚ p.194). Nativist sees the connectedness as a biological process; empiricist‚ however‚ perceives connectedness as a learning curve through interaction with the environment. This essay will look at Bowlby’s evolutionary theory and
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dependency (and attachment)‚ and an ethologically oriented theory of attachment. "Object relations‚" "dependency‚" and "attachment‚" although overlapping‚ are seen to differ substantially. Among the concepts in regard to which there are significant intertheoretical differences‚ the following are discussed: genetic "biases‚" reinforcement as compared with activation and termination of behavioral systems and with feedback‚ strength of attachment behavior versus strength of attachment‚ inner representation
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John Bowlby first introduced the theory of emotional attachment in the 1960’s when he conducted research on toddlers who were hospitalized for long periods of time due to chronic illnesses (Shaffer‚ 2009). In his observations he noticed how children slowly began to show signs of apathy and unresponsiveness to toys as well as other people and eventually showed indifference towards the presence and absence of their mothers (Shaffer‚ 2009). However the most concerning result of all this was the toddlers
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Bowlby’s theory of attachment (12 marks) Bowlby was an evolutionary Psychologist who believed that attachment is a part of evolutionary behaviour and focus on an animal’s instinctive and innate capabilities‚ and the functions of their behaviour. They believe this is useful for learning about human instinctive and biological behaviour. Attachment behaviour keeps a young animal or human safe. It is behaviour seen in all species of animal. Many species of animal form rapid attachments to either mother
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According to attachment theory and in accordance with ecological views of development such as that of Bronfenbrenner‚ the child develops within a network of influences that impact a child from various levels (Egeland & Carlson‚ 2004). Psychopathology is not caused by disturbed early experience in a linear way; rather it is a developmental construction resulting from the transactional process as the evolving person interacts with the environment (Egeland & Carlson‚ 2004; Sroufe‚ Carlson‚ Levy & Egeland
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John Bowlby believed that behavioural and mental health problems can be traced back to childhood. His theory of attachment suggests that children are hardwired to develop attachments to other people because it will ensure survival. Attachment behaviour and caregiving behaviour are complementary to each other because they behave in ways that secure an attachment. In a 1951 report‚ Bowlby claimed that children who were deprived of maternal care for prolonged periods of time during early childhood
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negatively affect secure attachment in infants will be discussed. Early influences of secure attachment will be considered and how this can affect the social skills‚ emotional responses and personality of a child. A further discussion will take place to address the different patterns of attachment‚ those being secure and insecure‚ the characteristics of each attachment‚ and how the timing of these attachments can determine the development of a child. Bowlby described attachment as the emotional bond
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Discuss Bowlby’s work on attachment. Refer to the work of at least one other researcher in your answer. (12 marks) Attachment theory was developed in the 1950’s by psychoanalyst John Bowlby‚ who defined attachment as a ‘lasting psychological connectedness between human beings’. Whilst working with James Robertson in 1952‚ he observed that children experienced intense distress when separated from their mothers and if fed by other caregivers‚ the child’s anxiety did not diminish. This led to his theories
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