Attachment Theory

Attachment Theory

Psychology is a broad field that involves descriptions and theories regarding human behaviors and their feelings and thinking patterns. Amongst various other theories, the concept of emotional attachment among people has been widely known for the past hundreds of years. Since the period of 19th century, the psychiatrists and psychologists made suggestions about theories regarding the nature and existence of the early relationships. The current work discusses about the theory of attachment by elaborating on the understanding of the process of mourning and bereavement. It also explains the limitations and strengths of bereavement/mourning theories with reference to particular kinds of loss and the influence of cultural attitudes and practices.

Attachment Theory

The concept of attachment refers to an enduring and deep emotional bond which links the feelings and emotions of an individual to another across space and time (Ainsworth, 1973; Bowlby, 1969). In the psychological perspective, the attachment theory pertains to the dynamics of long-term relationships between the human beings. Amongst various other theories, the concept of emotional attachment between and amongst people has been widely known for the past hundreds of years. Since the period of 19th century, the psychiatrists and psychologists made suggestion about theories regarding the nature and existence of the early relationships. The most significant tenet of this theory is that a new born baby is required to develop some relationship with one main caregiver for emotional and social development in order to make it happen in a normal way (Fraley, Bonanno, 2004).

The theory explains the extent of to which the relationship between child and parent influence the development of the infant (Kübler-Ross, 2005). The attachment theory entails the capacities of evolutionary, psychological and ethological theory that makes it an interdisciplinary study. The origin of the attachment theory dates back to immediately after World War II, when the orphaned and homeless children countered several difficulties and issues. In order to solve such issues, UN asked the psychoanalyst and psychiatrist, John Bowlby, to compose a pamphlet on the matter that was captioned as maternal deprivation. Out of his subsequent works on the concerned issue, the attachment theory emerged.

The basis of this the attachment theory suggests that infants get attached to such individuals who are responsive and sensitive and interact with them. These individuals stay as their reliable and constant caregivers for certain number of months in the time period ranging from six months to two years of age, and this is referred to as the sensitive responsiveness (Kübler-Ross, 2005). The responses of the caregivers help in developing the attachment patterns; these, ultimately, direct the internal working models that lead the emotions, perception and expectation, and thought of the individual in further relationships (Holmes, J, 1999).

The grief or anxiety of separation or loss of the attachment figure is acknowledged to be adaptive and normal response for the infant who has remained attached to a particular person. It is because of the increased probability of child's survival that these behaviors gradually evolve. The act of attachment needs not ...