ATTACHMENT THEORY

Attachment theory



Attachment theory

Introduction

This essay discusses the ways in which knowledge and understanding of theories of child development help social workers to promote and safeguard the welfare of children. The essay focuses on the theory of attachment and the development of social relationships between children and their caregivers and its application to the very early child development. The attachment theory has been chosen from others because is a highly influential theory and familiarity with its chief tenets, applications and criticisms of the theory is essential for social workers.

The essay starts by briefly describing the theory of attachment. It highlights the important concepts of the theory, its chief tenets and its application during the early childhood relationships. Then, the essay goes on to examine the ways in which knowledge and understanding of the theory help social workers to promote and safeguard the welfare of children. The examination mainly focuses on how the attachment theory can help social workers in assessing, intervening, examining the causes of child abuse and how children are looked after.

Theory of attachment

Attachment theory is the strongest theoretical influence in modern-day studies of infant-parent relationships. John Bowlby was the first exponent of the theory. He brought to bear both a very original mind and an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of children and their emotional development. The intellectual flowering of his work was the basic formulation of what is now called “attachment theory” (Howe, 1995: 45). Bowlby's thinking has roots in psychoanalytic thought, particularly in the emphasis on the significance of the earliest relationship between parent figure and child.

However, he adds important evolutionary and ethological concepts. In his view, the propensity to make strong emotional bonds to particular individual is a basic component of human nature, already present in germinal form in the neonate (Bowlby 1988: 3). Influenced by Freud and Darwin, Bowlby explains that the root of human personality lies in the earliest childhood relationships. He explains why a child's separation from a caregiver should cause so much anxiety. He explains why distress caused by such separation did not cease immediately contact was restored. He also explains why significant failure or trauma in those relationships could permanently shape the child's development.

Applicability of the attachment theory to early childhood relationships

Normally, a child shows a relatively indiscriminate preference in the first six months of his/her life. After this period the child starts to show preference to specific family members particularly his/her parents or any member whom the child has regular contact (Laura 2003:14). By the age of three, the child develops a more complex understanding of his/her own and others' behaviour. S/he starts to recognise others' emotions and behaviour as different from his/her own thereby manipulating his/her own and others' behaviour (Laura 2003:14).

The child does not have the opportunity to experience a shared social interaction if the attachment figure is unresponsive. As the result, the child experiences the anxiety and distress associated with the loss of his/her attachment figure (Howe, ...