Attachment theory 101

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Attachment theory 101

• By Sue Shaw

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The theorists

• John Bowlby originally developed the concept of
  attachment. He was a British developmentalist
  who was inspired by both psychoanalytic theory
  and the study of patterns of animal behavior. He
  was particularly interested in the observations
  of the interactions of monkeys.
• Mary Ainsworth, a young American graduate student
  devoted her career to defining and measuring
  attachment.

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What is attachment?

• Mary Ainsworth stated that attachment may be
  defined as an affectional tie that one person or
  animal forms between himself and another specific
  onea tie that binds them together in space and
  endures over time.(1973)
• Or simply
• Attachment is a strong, affectional tie that
  individuals feel toward special people in their
  lives.

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It has been said

• Parents who fall in love with their children,
  have children who fall in love with their parents

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Attachment involves..

• A complex, ongoing process.
• A two-way experience
• It requires both a closeness and a responsiveness

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Attachment happens in every culture..
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Attachment theory is

• the belief that these strong affectionate ties
  that an individual feel toward special people in
  their lives influence mental, social, and
  emotional development and are vital to healthy
  development in each of these areas.

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Brain research and attachment

• How a brain develops hinges on a complex
  interplay between the genes youre born with and
  the experiences you have.
• Early experiences have a decisive impact of the
  how the brain develops.
• The connections used regularly become reinforced
  and protected and become part of the brains
  permanent wiring.

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Early attachment factors include

• Overall sensitivity to the infants basic needs
  food, stimulation, soothing
• Responsiveness to specific signals, such as
  vocalizations and facial expressions
• Play in which the caregiver actively encourages
  ongoing development

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Attachment and the Social Context

• A securely attached toddler plays happily when
  the her caregiver is presentthey feel secure and
  safe
• When people are attached they try to be near each
  other and interact with each otherthey display
  proximity seeking behaviorsand contact
  maintaining behaviors

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Attachment and emotional health

• Every theory recognizes the importance of the
  early relationship between the infant and
  caregiver.
• The two must form a bond (attachment) that allows
  the infant to rely on the caregiver for security
  and support
• This bond allows the infant courage to explore
  their environment
• The bond allows for a feeling of
• safeness

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Attachment ensures survival

• Bowlby said that attachment is a means of
  ensuring survival of the child and also of the
  species (1969)
• It creates the caring (the feelings) that
  motivates the action of giving care.
• The first attachment(s) provide the foundation
  for all later relationships

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Children with special needs

• For infants and toddler with a special need the
  nurturing support of a knowledgeable care giver
  can make all the difference in their ability to
  grow and develop.
• The more we know about attachment and how to
  support it's development the more we can respond
  to the needs of the child whether expressed or not

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Warning signs of insecure attachment

• A infant in your care that does not thrive in
  the same way the other babies do. She may not be
  gaining weight or reaching milestones
• The baby is unresponsive to everybody
• The infant responding the same to
  everyonecaregiver and stranger
• The child may become passive and non-complaining
• The child may seem disorganized in his thought
  patterns

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What could prevent attachment from forming?

• Parents that may be unhappy about the pregnancy
  or unhappy with each other
• A parent who is addicted to drugs or alcohol
• Parents who miss out on the initial bonding
  period because of illness, accidents, adoptions
• Temperament that is a mismatch between the parent
  and the child

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Patterns of Attachment

• Secure (type B) Explores freely when the
  caregiver is present
• Insecure-avoidant (type A) Explores freely,
  uninterested in the caregivers presence or
  departure
• Insecure-resistant/ambivalent (type C) Resists
  active exploration, preoccupied with caregiver
• Disorganized (type D) Neither plays freely nor
  responds to the caregiver in one coherent mode.
  May cry, hit, show fear, move slow

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Summary

• Secure attachments influence the way a child
  makes sense of his world
• The first two years are the foundation for a long
  developmental history
• Trust and attachment are lifelong issues
• View the Bonding segment of First 5
  Californias The First Years Last Forever video