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Attachment theory vignettes
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The purpose of this paper is to correlate the links between infant mother attachment and eating disorder behavior. Throughout this paper the two main theorists that are looked at are Mary S. Ainsworth and John Bowlby. Mary S. Ainsworth’s framework of attachment theory began in Uganda, while studying individual difference in infant behavior, which is known as the Strange Situation. John Bowlby coined the theory of infant mother attachment based on object relations psychoanalytical theory and the conceptualization that infants need healthy maternal bonds for later functioning as adolescents. Eating disorders have reached epidemic proportions over the last 30 years. Research shows that individuals with eating disorder have higher levels of insecure attachment than non-eating disorder individuals. Today, mental health professionals are becoming aware that both women and men suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders have been recognized across all socioeconomic and racial groups in the world. In sum, the present study will differentiate whether previous attachment difficulties have any relationship with eating disorders symptomlogy. Keywords: Infant-mother attachment, eating disorders, avoidant, secure Introduction John Bowlby John Bowlby began researching his theory, after he graduated from Cambridge University, he began conducting his observations, while working at a group home for boys, who suffered from behavior problems. Bowlby believed that the attachment process involves cognition and emotional features of the attachment figure, the psyche, and the environment, based on experience (Cassidy & Shaver, 1999). Attachment theory initially began as an outline that normal and abnormal behavior existed.... ... middle of paper ... ...sensitive mothers were more likely to be classified as insecure” (Bretherton, 1992, p.770). “Secure attachments provide the child with a sense of comfort and predictability, encouraging the child to approach rather than avoid new developmental and interpersonal challenges” (Rice & Mirzadeh, 2000, p.239). For example, infants cried on separation from their mother, but when the mother returned, the infant was calm and soothed by the mother’s voice (Karen, 1994). “Mothers of surely attached children were found to be more responsive to the feeding signals and the crying of their infants and to readily return the infants smiles” (Karen, 1998, p.2). Approximately 65-66 percent of American infants have secure attachment relationships (Shaver & Cassidy, 1999). Children with secure attachment histories are more prone to psychological stress and anxiety as adolescents.
Attachment theory focuses on the bond between a caregiver and a child and how these fragile bonds, if not attended to properly have psychological and social effects on the child’s future. The attachment process itself responds to the developing identity of the child, which is very dependent on the sensitivity and guidance of the caregiver. John Bowlby takes attachment theory in a more biological/ evolutionary perspective, in which he views these formations of bonds as a survival mechanism in which the infant ensures its survival by attaching themselves to an adult (caregiver) who can meet their needs. This take on the attachment theory suggests that parents and infants may be biologically programmed to form an attachment and that every interaction and behavior thereafter facilitates the creation of this bond (Ashford 2013, 266). On a bio-social level children look for this attachment because they are biologically wired to be related to others and be social creatures. Regardless if the attachment theory is taken through a biological,
Relationships are the building block for personality and are significant in children’s ability to grow into substantial individuals who can thrive in an often harsh world. Constructing lasting and fulfilling relationships is an integral part to development as the interpersonal bonds forged are not only highly sought after but also set the ground work for all upcoming expressive interactions. Relationships and attachment go hand in hand as attachment is the strong and lasting linkage established between a child and his or her caregiver. Moreover, attachment significantly influences a large capacity of ones make up as it these first relationships that teaches morals, builds self-esteem, and develops a support system. The pioneers of Attachment Theory realized early on that human beings are not solely influenced by drives but that the earliest bonds formed by children with their caregivers greatly impact their ability to forge lasting relationships later in life. John Bowlby was first to introduce this theory to the masses in the 1950’s, and later Mary Ainsworth conducted further research to expand on Bowlby’s theory which proclaims that attachment is a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings” (Bowlby, 1969, p. 194). The attachment bond theory by both Bowlby and Ainsworth focuses on the significance of the relationship between babies and their caretakers which research has suggested is accountable for influencing impending interactions, firming or injuring our capabilities to concentrate, being aware of our emotional states, self-soothing capabilities, and the capacity to be resilient in the face of hardship. Additionally, this research has provided a framework for assisting in describing these att...
John Bowlby’s attachment theory established that an infant’s earliest relationship with their primary caregiver or mother shaped their later development and characterized their human life, “from the cradle to the grave” (Bowlby, 1979, p. 129). The attachment style that an infant develops with their parent later reflects on their self-esteem, well-being and the romantic relationships that they form. Bowlby’s attachment theory had extensive research done by Mary Ainsworth, who studied the mother-infant interactions specifically regarding the theme of an infant’s exploration of their surrounding and the separation from their mother in an experiment called the strange situation. Ainsworth defined the four attachment styles: secure, insecure/resistant, insecure/avoidant and disorganized/disoriented, later leading to research studies done to observe this behavior and how it affects a child in their adolescence and adulthood.
The attachment theory, presented by Mary Ainsworth in 1969 and emerged by John Bowlby suggests that the human infant has a need for a relationship with an adult caregiver, and without a subsequent, development can be negatively impacted (Hammonds 2012). Ainsworth proposes that the type of relationship and “attachment” an infant has with the caregiver, can impact the social development of the infant. As stated by Hammonds (2012), attachment between a mother and a child can have a great impact on the child 's future mental
Bowlby, the originator of attachment theory, claimed that during the child’s early age, he depends only on his mother who is his benefactor providing an environment and orientation for him; she is also his connection to the world and provides the safety he need. Upon a child’s learning of those skills, the parent transfers all those roles to the child in a slow and gradual process until he reaches maturity (Bretherton, 1992). This shows how parenting and attachment can shape the life of an infant in preparation for his adult life. Although Bowlby used mother and parent, a broader view would encompass caregivers especially in today’s American society where mothers have ceased to be stay home caregivers for their children. Therefore it is important that the rearing of a child is coupled with good parenting style to stimulate an attachment that would enhance the child development and the quality of future behaviors. Because researches shows that the combination of parenting style and temperament of the child’s determine the outcome of the child’s social-emotional and cognitive development. So in the following paragraphs will examine two different parenting styles, authoritative and indulgent parenting styles, and two different types of attachments that we might expect from their applications.
Infant attachment is the first relationship a child experiences and is crucial to the child’s survival (BOOK). A mother’s response to her child will yield either a secure bond or insecurity with the infant. Parents who respond “more sensitively and responsively to the child’s distress” establish a secure bond faster than “parents of insecure children”. (Attachment and Emotion, page 475) The quality of the attachment has “profound implications for the child’s feelings of security and capacity to form trusting relationships” (Book). Simply stated, a positive early attachment will likely yield positive physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development for the child. (BOOK)
Weinfield, N., Sroufe, L., Egeland, B., & Carlson, E. (2008). Individual differences in infant-caregiver attachment: Conceptual and empirical aspects of security. In J. Cassidy, P. Shaver (Eds.). Handbook of Attachment: Theory, research, and clinical application (2nd ed.) (pp. 78-101). New York, NY US: Guilford Press.
Some theorist agreed with Bowlby 's attachment theory and some did not. "In addition, attachment theory underemphasises the degree to which humans can self repair. Schnarch (1999) argues that while the drive for connection is powerful in humans, it is not as strong as the need for emotional self regulation and self preservation. Attachment theorists have ignored our capacity to stabilise ourselves and our strivings for autonomy, instead focusing on interaction and believing that all soothing must be internalised from others. He cites research suggesting that parents and infants are constantly moving in and out of “synch” with each other in terms of soothing. Babies soothe themselves when mismatches occur, and even break contact when they are overstimulated by a good connection. So we may in fact self regulate at the expense of connection. Attachment is not the dominant and overriding drive but only one among several including self control and self direction." The Limitations of Attachment Theory for Adult Psychotherapy, JONATHAN NORTON ⋅ JUNE 3,
Attachment theory is the idea that a child needs to form a close relationship with at least one primary caregiver. The theory proved that attachment is necessary to ensure successful social and emotional development in an infant. It is critical for this to occur in the child’s early infant years. However, failed to prove that this nurturing can only be given by a mother (Birns, 1999, p. 13). Many aspects of this theory grew out of psychoanalyst, John Bowlby’s research. There are several other factors that needed to be taken into account before the social worker reached a conclusion; such as issues surrounding poverty, social class and temperament. These factors, as well as an explanation of insecure attachment will be further explored in this paper.
An embryo forms in the uterus of a soon-to-be mother. Already the organism is dependent on its mother and is physically attached to her through the formation of the umbilical cord. After birth, the interactions between the child and its caregivers determine whether this attachment continues on a healthy path or begins to become disturbed. When the latter occurs, children may develop reactive attachment disorder (RAD) Being that this disorder is fairly misdiagnosed and misunderstood, there is not much empirical data as pertains to its etiological bases and epidemiology. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders characterizes RAD has a disorder that occurs when a child has experienced repeated insufficient care. Moreover, children with this disorder really concentrate on attention and attachment that they perceive from the world around them, whether they avoid it (inhibited type) or crave it (disinhibited type). Further research is needed in the years to come in order for RAD to become more recognized and understood.
Through the well-studied idea of maternal-infant attachment there has been important insight into a child’s development. Mary Ainsworth found through her “Strange Situation” experiment that there are three distinct types of attachment that infants form; anxious avoidant, secure, and anxious resistant (O’Gorman, 2013). Later a fourth attachment style known as, disorganized attachment, was identified (CITE). Secure attachment is linked to maternal sensitivity just as insecure attachment is linked to maternal rejection or unpredictable maternal response to an infant’s desires and needs (Kinsvatter, Desmond, Yanikoski, & Stahl, 2013). Infants are “at risk” of developing an insecure attachment to their mother when they are placed in alternative care before nine months of age (Stifter, Coulehan, & Fish, 1993). This is concerning in that we see there are negative effec...
James Bowlby came up with attachment theory as an explanation of the mother child bond that had been the craze in the 1980’s. He believed that a child was normal and well adjusted if she was assured of her ‘caretakers’ support in her emotional state. If so then the child would have the ‘secure base’ needed to branch out and develop securely. (Ainsworth et al, 1978). His theory mainly stated that there is a critical period of time in which a child must bond with a caretaker in order to form stable bonds that would in turn shape their future development. He was however unable to prove such an effect in his lifetime Soon after his troy fell out of fashion, till the late 1970s’ when the work of Mary Ainsworth was published.
The child feels more desire to explore when the caregiver is around, and he or she is discontented when the caretaker goes away. This pattern of attachment is characterized by high discriminative aspects where the child highly sensitive to the presence of strangers (Newton, 2008). A child becomes happy where the caregiver is present and dull when the caregiver goes away. Secure attachment level and intensity is determined by the caregiver sensitivity to the needs of a child. Consistent response to a child needs by the caregiver or parents will create a relatively strong secure attachment pattern. Care and attention are the major determinants of secure attachment and a child who revives a lot of attention and care from his or her parent are much prone to develop secure attachment, and it is an indication that the parent is responsive to the child
In secure attachment, infants use the caregiver, usually the mother, as a secure base from which to explore the environment. Secure attachment is theorized to be an important foundation for psychological development later in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In insecure attachment, infants either avoid the caregiver or show considerable resistance or ambivalence toward the caregiver. Insecure attachment is theorized to be related to difficulties in relationships and problems in later development. Developmentalists have begun to explore the role of secure attachment and related concepts, such as connectedness to parents, in adolescent development. They believe the attachment to parents in adolescence may facilitate the adolescent’s social competence and well-being, as reflected in such characteristics as self- esteem, emotional adjustment, and physical health (Allen & Kuperminc ; Armden & Greenberg; Black & McCartney; Blain, Thompson,
“Attachment is as essential for the child’s psychological well-being as food is for physical health,” claimed Bowlby, B (2001, p.54). Bowlby claimed in this statement that attachment is a necessary thing that a child needs in order to develop healthily. There is evidence from other theorists who support Bowlby’s theory of attachment, such as Harlow, whose approach is based upon a caregiver’s sensitivity and attachment. Ainsworth is another theorist whose research supports Bowlby’s theory of attachment. In her strange situation study, she tested for the attachment types and what effects they had on a child’s behaviour.