The Development of Attachment

The Development of Attachment

Psychological research can inform us about the development of

attachments to a certain extent. Mary Ainsworth actually covered a

definition explaining, how we know when an attachment has developed.

This is; 'the infant tries to get close to and maintain that proximity

with the caregiver, using a number of strategies to do so. E.g.

clinging and signalling behaviours such as smiling, crying and

calling.' The fact she has outlined this definition obviously shows

she must have evidence to back her definition up.

John Bowlby's view on attachment is that it is very important to

ensure the survival of infants. Attachment must be two-way in order to

ensure good care. The infant will cry out when left and in turn, the

caregiver would respond to the child. An infant, who is not attached,

will not be cared for.

Developmental psychologists have produced stage theories for the

development of certain behaviours, such as attachment. However, the

weakness of any stage account of development is that it suggests a

fixed pattern of development. It is the sequence that is important,

the actual ages are approximate, and therefore infants will go through

the stages at different times. It will not occur at the same age in

each individual.

Bowlby (1969) proposed that the development of attachment follows a

certain sequence. From birth to eight weeks, the infant is friendly

towards other people without discrimination of one special person. At

around eight-ten weeks to six months, the orientation and signals are

directed towards one or more special people (to a caregiver). At six

months through to one-two years, the ...

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separation. This shows us imprinting is a rapid special form of

learning, which is shown by some young animals shortly after birth. It

also shows that there is a critical period, which is a sensitive time

when the gosling forms an attachment

In conclusion, these studies do show us that psychological research

can inform us bout the development of attachment. The stage theories

developed by John Bowlby and Schaffer and Emerson are quite similar

showing infants go through these stages in their life. Most of the

studies eventually suggest there is a critical period where mother and

infant should spend time forming an attachment. It also tells us that

interaction and responsiveness is the key to attachment to maintain

proximity and exploratory behaviour, which is important to the later

development of the infant.