The Contributions of Attachment Theory to Understanding of Human Development - Essay Example

Contributions of Attachment Theory in our Understanding of Human Development Healthy human developmentis manifested by positive changes in psychological, physical, emotional, social and spiritual functionality and uprightness in totality. The psychological developments in aspects such as emotional attachment to the primary caregivers, trust and a sense of security developed during the early days of a person predicts a lot about who the person will turn out to be and what behaviour patterns he/she will exhibits. It is this reason why great focus is given to the emotional attachment formation in relation to human development. Attachment is the profound emotional connection that a person develops with another person, object or event over time. In human development, emotional attachment is the deep-seated bound that involves feelings of compassion a child develops with the primary care-givers over time through their interaction (Geyskens, et al., 2011). Background Information Attachment theory, conceptualized by American Psychiatrist, John Bowlby is a psychological model that endeavours to describe, explain and appreciate the need for positive emotional inter-personal relationship attachments between humans (attachment figures) in upbeat growth and development. The theory believes that social and emotional developments are determined by the attachment styles that were formed during childhood with the attachment figures. Its studies were conducted on infant primates where those that were separated from their primary caregivers had low survival chances in the environment and exhibited negative relationship patterns compared those that had sufficient and healthy attachment to their primary caregivers. These study results made the attachment theorist come to a conclusion that strong, hale and hearty attachments with at least one primary caregivers (mother, father or guardian) brings out a positive social and emotional development (Horst, 2013). Attachment Styles/Patterns Basically, there are several attachment patterns/styles namely: secure attachment, insecure attachment, (avoidant and ambivalent/resistant) and disoriented/disorganized attachment. A securely attached child will explore his/her environment and is very happy when the caregiver is around, plays a lot and misses the caregiver when he/she goes away. It is evident that there is a connection between them. In insecure attachment is further divided into either avoidant or ambivalent attachment style. Avoidant attachment is characterized by lack of concern showed towards the care-giver. Unlike in the case of a secure child, they will not be overwhelmed when the caregiver goes away or comes back. Literally they do not care about the presence of the caregiver. A child with ambivalent/resistant attachment style are in a state emotional ambiguity as they cry when the caregiver goes away but resist/rebel against the same caregiver who they never wanted to lose. Disorganized attachment is a strange style of insecure attachment in which a child is totally in confusion and disoriented behaviours are exhibited in response to the caregiver’s moves (Andris, 2011). Related Child Care to Adulthood Behaviour. In its attempt to describe, explain, predict and provide corrective measures to be human behaviour, attachment theory has immensely widened the scope and increased the perspective angles of construing human development. This theory has provided a clear, precise and relevant explanation based on its school of thought, about the relationship between person’s childhood and later life stages in terms of behaviour (Andris, 2011). It has been able to relate childcare and the predicted behaviour outcome in adulthood. From the attachment theory perspective, people who fail to form healthy social networks and inter-personal relationships might have had a poor parenting style that restricted their emotional attachments to the caregivers. This disconnection at childhood progressed and later on resurfaced; making the person be cautious about forming close relationships with people. Insight into Developmental Disorders Through this theory, developmental disorders such as autism, learning disabilities, anti-social disorders among others have been explained much clearly. Since children who were never attached to their caregivers usually do not explore and try out new things due to fear, lack of motivation and lack of ‘back-up’ from anyone they trust, they experience learning disabilities, communication disabilities, poor relationship patterns among other that contribute to their stunted growth and development. Their cognitive development is greatly delayed in this regard. The attachment theorists have therefore given an explanation to this and recommended that strong positive attachments are necessary to be formed in order to prevent these. Demonstrated Need for Effective Parenting and Care-giving The interplay of the environment in shaping up the child as he/she grows cannot be downplayed. Attachment theory believes that the role of the caregivers in determining the development of the child across lifespan is vital. Its postulation about the innateness of attachment in children (we are pre-disposed with attachments that we need to get from the environment) has illuminated the role of parental care given to a child and how significant it is in the child developmental shape-up (Sanderson, 2006). It has demonstrated this by proving that a sense of insecurity, fear, mistrust, separation anxiety among others are developed when a close proximity is not formed between the child and hi/her caregiver. This stresses on the role of attachment figure to be available for the child and form close relationship ;show care and concern, respond to his/her needs and protect him/her whenever failure to which the child will develop resistance ,guilt and shame, sense of doubt and mistrust as he/she ages. Harnessing Nature-Nurture Controversy Consequently, attachment theory has harmonized the ‘nature-nurture controversy’; a great debate about between environment and genetical pre-disposition, which plays a major role in human development. It has done this through demonstrating that children cannot positively develop to become all round healthy individuals if they are not properly taken care of, especially on their emotional needs. The theory conceptualizes that as much as a child is pre-programmed with attachments and temperaments (genetic factor); they still depend on the environment to provide love, security, care, sense of belonging and compassion to them so they may healthily grow. It annuls the belief that a child can automatically grow and develop healthily with little or no support, love and care. Attachment theorists believe in the interplay of the two (environment and genetic factors) to produce a positively and healthily developed individual. For example, we are born predisposed/pre-programmed with a need to be loved, cared for and shown compassion from our parents, siblings, peers, friends and the people around us and lack of these makes us feel rejected, unworthy, we doubt our potentials and strengths, we focus more on our weakness and feel depressed. Contributions to Human Development Research Attachment theory knowledge in explaining human development has been used by researchers in the general human development spectrum in forming hypothetical bases for their studies. It has provided the researchers in the human development faculty with a knowledge-base to found their studies on and work towards expanding the understanding the dynamics of human development (Sanderson,2011). For example, a researcher who is perplexed about the whole mystery surrounding different behaviour patterns exhibited by people at different stages in life such as impeded social development (poor interpersonal relationships) has been able to find a clue on what exactly could have happened to such individuals. This can help him/her to make hypothetical formulations and research even on other aspects surrounding human development based on the knowledge he/she has gathered from Attachment Theory postulations (Andris, 2011). This theory therefore has contributed significantly in expanding knowledge on human development. Some of the ‘sub-theories’ that have been generated from the general Attachment theory are: Learning/behaviourist theory of attachment and Evolutionary Attachment Theory (Skinner, 2007). Impact on Child-based Institution Attachment theory has had great impact on institutions that handle children such child custody, day care homes, children’s and orphanage homes among others. Knowledge about the importance of mother-infant relationship has been derived and applied in handling children in these centres. For example, to determine which custody a child is to be admitted, considerations must be put in ensuring he/she right the attachments to enable his development. This has to be done during the evaluation stages of his/her admission. Also, it is the knowledge from attachment theory that has seen the government encourage child adoption and fostering .Need for attachment has prompted the establishment of various Children’s Homes to provide the street children with positive holistic development (Zevallos, 2007). Conclusion As evidenced above, Attachment Theory coined by John Bowlby has significantly contributed in understanding the dynamics of human development. It has harnessed through its postulations, the controversy about ‘nature-nurture debate’ and expanded greatly the knowledge-base in the human development arena. It is a theory that has focused on a very important aspect of the human development; emotional and social aspects and this has attempted to solve myriad puzzles surrounding human development and behaviour patterns. It has therefore had tremendous contributions to human development as a whole. References Andrist, L. (2011). Beyond attachment theory: Emotional health of children with severe attachment disorders. Geyskens, T., & Van, H. P. (2007). From death instinct to attachment theory: The primacy of the child in Freud, Klein, and Hermann. New York (N.Y.: Other press. Horst, F. C. P., & Kagan, J. (2013). John Bowlby - from psychoanalysis to ethology: Unravelling the roots of attachment theory. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Karantzas, G. C., & La Trobe University. (2007). An investigation of family caregiving from an attachment theory perspective. Sanderson, J. (2006). Attachment theory and object relations theory in an urban minority community. Skinner, K. E. (2007). The effect of a parenting seminar based on attachment theory upon parental expectations and attitudes in the adolescent family. Zevallos, N. A. L. (2007). Mentoring: Perspectives from attachment theory. Read More