Attachment Theory: How Early Attachments Shape Behavior

Attachment theory is focused on the relationships and bonds between people, particularly long-term relationships including those between a parent and child and between romantic partners. What is Attachment? Attachment is an emotional bond to another person. Psychologist John Bowlby was the first attachment theorist, describing attachment as a "lasting psychological connectedness between human beings." Bowlby believed that the earliest bonds formed by children with their caregivers have a tremendous impact that continues throughout life. The central theme of attachment theory is that primary caregivers who are available and responsive to an infant's needs allow the child to develop a sense of security. Ainsworth's "Strange Situation" In her 1970's research, psychologist Mary Ainsworth expanded greatly upon Bowlby's original work. Why Attachment Matters Researchers have found that attachment patterns established early in life can lead to a number of outcomes. Patterns of Attachment References

Secure Attachment & Bonding: Understanding the Different Ways of Bonding and Communicating With Your Child Understanding the Different Ways of Bonding and Communicating With Your Child Why is the attachment bond so important? A landmark report, published in 2000 by The Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development, identified how crucial the attachment bond is to a child’s development. This form of communication affects the way your child develops mentally, physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. While attachment occurs naturally as you, the parent or caretaker, care for your baby’s needs, the quality of the attachment bond varies. A secure attachment bond ensures that your child will feel secure, understood, and be calm enough to experience optimal development of his or her nervous system. Developing a secure attachment bond between you and your child, and giving your child the best start in life, does not require you to be a perfect parent. Your baby needs more than love The bond of love differs from the attachment bond Distractions of daily life

John Bowlby | Maternal Deprivation Theory by Saul McLeod published 2007 John Bowlby (1907 - 1990) was a psychoanalyst (like Freud) and believed that mental health and behavioral problems could be attributed to early childhood. Bowlby’s evolutionary theory of attachment suggests that children come into the world biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with others, because this will help them to survive. Bowlby was very much influenced by ethological theory in general, but especially by Lorenz’s (1935) study of imprinting. Bowlby believed that attachment behaviors are instinctive and will be activated by any conditions that seem to threaten the achievement of proximity, such as separation, insecurity and fear. Bowlby (1969, 1988) also postulated that the fear of strangers represents an important survival mechanism, built in by nature. These attachment behaviors initially function like fixed action patterns and all share the same function. Main Points of Bowlby’s Theory 1. 2. 3. 4. They found 3 progressive stages for distress: