Attachment Theory Case Study

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Recommended: Analyse the significance of attachment on children’s development

Introduction
Attachment is very important within a child's development. Different theorists provide many different theories into how and why children/infants make attachments.
An attachment is an emotional bond between two people (mainly the primary caregiver and the infant/child), in which they both seek security when in the presence of each other. As time goes by, the bond will become stronger (Healthofchildren.com, 2017).
When a person creates an attachment bond, it may not be reciprocated by the other person. When a child is experiencing upset or threatened, they will seek close proximity to their primary caregiver. Attachment theory explains how the parent-child relationship emerges and influences subsequent development. Attachments
By the time the study had finished; they found that around half of the babies in the study by the age of 32 weeks have started to show signs of separation anxiety from the caregiver. Then by the time the babies were 40 weeks old, majority of them had a specific attachment and only a third of them had multiple attachments (Psychology4A.com, 2017).
Due to this study they were able to develop the stages of attachment:
Asocial stage - First few weeks: (Psychology Hub, 2017).
The baby starts to recognise its caregiver
They start to form bonds with the caregiver
Similar behaviour between humans and inanimate objects
Start to show preference in certain adults, in order to calm them
Happy when in the presence of other people Indiscriminate stage – 2-7 months: (Psychology Hub, 2017).
They start to display more observable behaviour
Start to preference people rather than inanimate objects
Recognise familiar objects
Accept cuddles and comfort from any
However, the strange situation fails to measure the amount of attachment; but it does measure different types. Due to the results of the strange situation they were able to develop the four types of attachment:
Avoidant infants – within the separation from the caregiver, there was little signs of distress shown. The child also does not interact with the caregiver when they reunite.
Secure infants – during separation, the child will show some distress.
Ambivalent infants – when the caregiver reunites with the child, the child shows they are seeking comfort; but also shows resisting behaviours.
Disorganised – throughout all eight episodes the child does not show any clear pattern. (Billingham, 2008).
Bowlby
In the year 1969 Bowlby identified 4 stages within the development of attachment behaviours. These 4 stages

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