Basic Concepts in Attachment Theory Attachment theory is the joint work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth (Ainsworth & Bowlby‚ 1991 ). Drawing on concepts from ethology‚ cybernetics‚ information processing‚ developmental psychology‚ and psychoanalysts‚ John Bowlby formulated the basic tenets of the theory. He thereby revolutionized our thinking about a child’s tie to the mother and its disruption through separation‚ deprivation‚ and bereavement. Mary Ainsworth’s innovative methodology not only
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A thematic analysis in support of the theory that early relationships affect adult attachment Abstract. This study was a qualitative thematic analysis to see if there was any evidence in early relationships that then affects the adult attachment theory. The qualitative textual analysis was carried out on a pre-existing‚ edited‚ filmed semi-structured interview. The thematic analysis showed that there is some truth in
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Hodges and Tizard (1989) found that children who have formed no attachments had later difficulties with their peers. This therefore supports Bowlby’s concept of a sensitive period during which infants are most sensitive to the development of attachments. Another strength is that if attachment did evolve as Bowlby suggests then we would expect attachment and caregiving to be universal. Tronick et al (1992) studied an African family tribe where infants were fed by different women but slept
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For years‚ the predominant view of infant-caregiver attachment was that it was a “secondary drive” i.e. that any attachment formed was because of the infant associating the caregiver with providing for physical needs such as hunger. However‚ John Bowlby argued that attachment is an innate primary drive in the infant. This theory was reinforced by Harlow & Zimmerman’s (1959) experiment involving baby monkeys who had been separated form their mothers and offered two surrogate “mothers”. One of these
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amount of subsequent research. The core principle behind Bowlby’s theory was that the formation of a stable‚ healthy attachment with a caregiver in the early years of life is the key for an infants’ future emotional‚ social and cognitive development. Bowlby explained that this primary attachment relationship develops because infants need a mechanism to ensure survival. Attachment is therefore an adaptive behaviour which ensures the infant receives food‚ security and a safe base from which to explore
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Child Development‚ 1969‚ 40‚ 969-1025 OBJECT RELATIONS‚ DEPENDENCY‚ AND ATTACHMENT: A THEORETICAL REVIEW OF THE INFANT-MOTHER RELATIONSHIP MARY D. SALTER AINSWORTH Johns Hopkins University 3 theoretical approaches to the origin and development o f the infant-mother relationship are reviewed: psychoanalytic theories of object relations‚ social learning theories of dependency (and attachment)‚ and an ethologically oriented theory o f attachment. "Object relations‚" "dependency‚" and "attachment
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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
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connection and safety gained from holding the infant with gentle firmness against the bosom. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs asserts that biological needs (i.e. food‚ water‚ etc.) are primary needs‚ while safety is secondary (Maslow‚ 2005). According to Bowlby (1951‚ as cited in Feldman‚ 2008‚ p. 191)‚ attachment is based on a need for safety and security. So‚ impulsively‚ it would seem that the provision of physiological needs has little to do with the developing emotional bonds (attachment). However‚
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Harry and Marguerite Harlow‚ John Bowlby‚ and Mary Aisworth figure among the most notorious attachment theorists. The Harlows conducted the first experimental research regarding the effects of attachment. In their study they used baby monkeys and separate them from their mothers approximately eight hours after birth. These monkeys were raised in experimental chambers‚ were they were exposed to non-living surrogate mothers: some were made of wire‚ others were covered with terrycloth. Some of the monkeys
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The Relational Approach to Counselling I this essay I intend to demonstrate my understanding of the Relational Approach and its underlying theory. I will show throughout this essay that it is essential to understand relationships‚ their development and impact on humans. I am also going to discuss the concept of secure base and repeating relational patterns. I will then consider the implications of working with a culturally diverse population and how this effect the counsellor‘s way of being with
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