John Bowlby Father Of Attachment

1.John Bowlby, a trained child psychiatrist maybe as well be considered as ‘father’ of attachment due to the nature of his contributions towards attachment. Bowlby (1980) asserted that human beings have an innate psychobiological system to seek security for from the moment of birth, human surviva. According to him this system motivates the humans to seek proximity to the people who will protect them in times of danger or threat. These people whom Bowbly refered to as ‘attachment figures’ are usually the mothers of the babies, however some other primary caregivers might become attachment figures as well. When an infant perceives threat, s/he searches for security and availability responsiveness of the attachment figure makes the infant feel secure and develop a secure attachment relationship with the caregiver. In the event the infant fails to achieve security and responsiveness from the caregiver, they feel insecure and develop insecure attachment and learn to cope with stress in her/his own way by organizing her/his behaviors (attachment behaviors) to increase the availability and responsiveness of the caregiver when needed.
Bowlby (1969), proposed two forms of attachment behaviors for the representations about self and others, which will form basis for future relationships. According to Bowlby, crying, smiling, babbling, being fussy are what he referred to as form of attachment behaviors the ‘signaling behavior.’ These behaviors bring the mother to the child so as to receive his/ her mother’s attention. Also, behaviors like following the mother, seeking and clinging, asking for cuddling were what he referred to as ‘approach behavior.’ These behaviors bring the child to the mother. Every child displays various ways of seeking ...

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...oup C) were anxious, and they explored little even in the presence of the mother. These children were intensely preoccupied with their mothers. They cried a lot after mother’s separation and did not easily calm down with her reunion. During reunion, these children approached their mothers but pushed them away or resisted being picked up. They were hardly comforted when distressed.
According to Ainsworth this behavior with mother’s lack of or inconsistent responsiveness and mother’s insensitivity to her baby’s needs, usually seen in withdrawn or depressed mothers. The child’s demanding and rejecting behaviors can be seen as a way of obtaining mother’s attention and proximity. These children are usually demanding yet never satisfying children.

After her research, many researchers have contributed to the attachment literature with quantitative research findings.
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