Attachment Theory
Attachment refers to an emotional connection to another human being. John Bowlby described attachment as a lasting psychological connectedness between human beings (Bowlby, 1969, p. 194). The early proponents of Attachment Theory John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth opened doors for the theory. Bowlby worked on the basic principles, drawing on concepts from various fields like ethology, developmental psychology, and a lot more. It was he who provided the breakthrough about how offspring gets attached to their mothers and the way that association is terminated through separation, death and deprivation. Ainsworth created a methodology that made it possible to test Bowlbys ideas. Additionally, she expanded theory from what Bowlby had done and she is the theorist behind the course that the theory is presently taking. She developed the model of attachment figure as a safe foundation from where a baby gets to discover the world. She is also the theorist behind material sensitivity to infant signals and its responsibility in the attachments between infants and their mothers. The theory has been developing for a long time and the work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth had some influence from that of Freud and other theorists in the field (Lee, 2003).
Attachment theory and communication
The concept of attachment involves two or more people interacting with each other. This evidently paved the way to the study of communication in this aspect, including concepts like cybernetics, information processing, interpersonal communication, and a lot more. It is not possible for human beings to communicate effectively and in a friendly manner without having a connection. Attachment theory was also extended to adult communications, especially in romantic relationships. Attachment theory is the basis in the development of the concepts behind human interactions and communication. Therefore, it can be argued that attachment theory is the foundation of human communication and interrelations. This paper investigates various concepts related to attachment theory. It is basically a review of literature in this field.
Inge Brethertons The Origins of Attachment Theory John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth outlines the early beginnings of the theory and how it was finally made as such (Bretherton, 1992). It details how this theory applies to various fields and how it has influenced a lot of perspectives. Bowlby focused on childhood development, but the theory he developed was extended to many other fields in human interrelations and communication.
The early beginning of the theory is concerned with the significance of the attachment between an infant and the mother or the caregiver. This attachment is natural and is comprised of a number of element instinctual reactions that functions to bind the infant to the caregiver. These element reactions such as suckling, clinging among others developed separately in the initial year of life. The responses become incorporated and focused on the caregiver in the second six months. After his discussion on the initial development of the baby, Bowlby came up with ethological concepts. These included the sign cues or social releasers that lead to particular reactions to be triggered and ended. Bowlby held to the belief that the initial connection that is developed between a baby and the caregiver is crucial as the child continues to grow.
To fully develop the theory, Bowlby evaluated a variety of disciplines. These disciplines include evolutionary science, psychoanalysis, ethology and communicative psychology, among others.
Attachment actions are adaptive. Human evolution has involved selection that leads to adaptation. Adaptation is what makes survival possible (Bretherton, 1992).
Despite the fact that attachment in children to caregivers remained the focus of the theory for very many years, it was later developed to adult attachment in the 1980s. The theory in this sense deals with romantic relationships in adults. There are other perspectives that the theory was extended to peer interrelations at all ages, and the relationship between caregivers and the ailing or the elderly. In romantic relationships, many studies have been established to establish how the attachment is related to the one between infants and caregivers. There are some aspects that reveal similarities between the two while others tend to reveal differences (Bretherton, 1992).
Erin J. Lees The Attachment System throughout the Life Course Review and Criticisms of Attachment Theory talks about the different aspects concerning attachment theory (Lee, 2003). The author looks at all the possible angles of the theory and points out the flaws as well as the strengths of the theory. Some psychoanalysts criticized the theory based on the argument that Bowlby did not consider psychological phenomena. There have been a lot of researches on the theory to come up with the final concept that came to be known as the attachment theory. It was developed in various phases and with studies done to various groups. For example, before a research was carried out in Strange Situation, theorists observed children and their mother in home situation. There were other studies and experimental researches on the same including the Stranger Situation (Lee, 2003).
The theory has been criticized for not exhaust the description of human communications, and does not mean the same thing as love and affection. This is despite the fact that a connection exists in love and affection. It is argued by critics that the theory is not all inclusive. There are very many questions that arise concerning the theory and relationship between the infant and the caregiver. Some critics have argued that the connection could be merely connected with the function of feeding. It is also possible that the concept of secure base and internal working theory are mere concepts that do not exist or are supported by practical data. This is because there are no tools developed to in measuring these concepts or data provided to substantiate them. If concepts like attachment security exist, then it should be possible to categorize and measure it (Lee, 2003).
One of the strengths of the work of Bowlby is the separation he put between the previous social learning theory and the new one that he had come up with. He noted that attachment does not indicate regression, but instead it continues to operate naturally even in adult life. This is true because the theory is seen to be at work even in adult relations. The theory is able to explain attachment, not only in childhood, but also as a person grows into adulthood. It is also used in therapy to help children who have psychological issues due to lack of attachment in the initial years of their life (Lee, 2003).
Maren Cardillos Intimate Relationships Personality Development Through Interaction During Early Life focuses on how the attachment theory works during the early stages of life ADDIN EN.CITE EndNoteCiteAuthorCardilloAuthorYear1998YearRecNum3RecNumrecordrec-number3rec-numberforeign-keyskey appEN db-idwze9d0pvpdf5dses50fp5ddzxwxdtrzxzrae3keyforeign-keysref-type nameWeb Page12ref-typecontributorsauthorsauthorMaren CardilloauthorauthorscontributorstitlestitleIntimate Relationships Personality Development Through Interaction During Early Lifetitletitlesdatesyear1998yeardatespublisherNorthwestern Universitypublisherurlsrelated-urlsurlhttpwww.personalityresearch.orgpaperscardillo.htmlurlrelated-urlsurlsrecordCiteEndNote(Cardillo, 1998). It outlines the importance of having a bond or an attachment to another person to an individuals personal growth and well being. As already discovered from the discussion, attachment theory was developed focusing on the attachment between an infant and the primary caregiver. The attachment is developed through the infants need for security and protection. It is important in every infant and child. The theory holds that an infant gets attached to the primary caregiver instinctively in order to survive. The biological reason is survival, while the psychological reason is security. Infants tend to establish the relationship with the primary caregiver who is responsive and sensitive to their requirements. This does not need to be specifically the mother, but any other person who is consistently responsive to their social interactions. This also involves responding to their signals and approaches ADDIN EN.CITE EndNoteCiteAuthorCardilloAuthorYear1998YearRecNum3RecNumrecordrec-number3rec-numberforeign-keyskey appEN db-idwze9d0pvpdf5dses50fp5ddzxwxdtrzxzrae3keyforeign-keysref-type nameWeb Page12ref-typecontributorsauthorsauthorMaren CardilloauthorauthorscontributorstitlestitleIntimate Relationships Personality Development Through Interaction During Early Lifetitletitlesdatesyear1998yeardatespublisherNorthwestern Universitypublisherurlsrelated-urlsurlhttpwww.personalityresearch.orgpaperscardillo.htmlurlrelated-urlsurlsrecordCiteEndNote(Cardillo, 1998).
The attachment of children towards more than one person, where they starts to be attached to some people and dismissive tom other begins in their second year. The figures that these children at this age get attached to are hierarchically ordered. The key figure that the child is attached to is usually at the top and will most of the times be the primary care giver.
The initial relationship is a very crucial part of our life and gets to be a significant part of our life as we grow and face the world. The innate working models are the ones that direct us in future relations ADDIN EN.CITE EndNoteCiteAuthorCardilloAuthorYear1998YearRecNum3RecNumrecordrec-number3rec-numberforeign-keyskey appEN db-idwze9d0pvpdf5dses50fp5ddzxwxdtrzxzrae3keyforeign-keysref-type nameWeb Page12ref-typecontributorsauthorsauthorMaren CardilloauthorauthorscontributorstitlestitleIntimate Relationships Personality Development Through Interaction During Early Lifetitletitlesdatesyear1998yeardatespublisherNorthwestern Universitypublisherurlsrelated-urlsurlhttpwww.personalityresearch.orgpaperscardillo.htmlurlrelated-urlsurlsrecordCiteEndNote(Cardillo, 1998).
Pre-attachment characteristics become evident in what is referred to as the initial phase. This is usually during the first eight weeks of life. This is when the child smiles, babbles or cries as a way of attracting the attention of the caregiver. Despite the fact that they learn to be attached to one caregiver, they tend to direct the action to anyone who is nearby. In the second phase, which is between to and six months, the baby begins to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar faces. They begin to get more responsive and sensitive towards the primary caregiver. Complete attachment becomes apparent in the third phase. This is between half a year and two years. The behavior of the child towards the caregiver gets to be organized and goal-oriented. By the time the baby is one year, they start to reveal a variety of attachment actions that are designed to ensure security. The child at this time will always want to be close to the caregiver, he or she begins to protest their departure, and to welcome their arrival. The child begins to explore the environment around him, and the exploration seems to be more when the caregiver is around. This is because they have developed the sense of security whenever the caregiver is in the vicinity. Anxiety, sickness and fatigue will make the child to increase the attachment actions. After the child is two years, the relationship begins to change. This is because at this time the child begins to see the caregiver as an independent person.
The relationship that develops during this period is a more complicated and goal-corrected. This is not just an attachment, but a relationship in form of a partnership. During this time, they have developed their feelings and are in a position to plan their actions efficiently ADDIN EN.CITE EndNoteCiteAuthorCardilloAuthorYear1998YearRecNum3RecNumrecordrec-number3rec-numberforeign-keyskey appEN db-idwze9d0pvpdf5dses50fp5ddzxwxdtrzxzrae3keyforeign-keysref-type nameWeb Page12ref-typecontributorsauthorsauthorMaren CardilloauthorauthorscontributorstitlestitleIntimate Relationships Personality Development Through Interaction During Early Lifetitletitlesdatesyear1998yeardatespublisherNorthwestern Universitypublisherurlsrelated-urlsurlhttpwww.personalityresearch.orgpaperscardillo.htmlurlrelated-urlsurlsrecordCiteEndNote(Cardillo, 1998).
During the development of a child from being a baby to a young boy or girl, attachment actions loosed some traits to become age-related actions. The pre-school age for example tends to use negotiations and bargaining. The kind of attachment that was available to the child as he or she is growing up determines the capability of that child to handle peer relationship. A child who lacks a strong attachment based early in life tends to become socially incompetent ADDIN EN.CITE EndNoteCiteAuthorCardilloAuthorYear1998YearRecNum3RecNumrecordrec-number3rec-numberforeign-keyskey appEN db-idwze9d0pvpdf5dses50fp5ddzxwxdtrzxzrae3keyforeign-keysref-type nameWeb Page12ref-typecontributorsauthorsauthorMaren CardilloauthorauthorscontributorstitlestitleIntimate Relationships Personality Development Through Interaction During Early Lifetitletitlesdatesyear1998yeardatespublisherNorthwestern Universitypublisherurlsrelated-urlsurlhttpwww.personalityresearch.orgpaperscardillo.htmlurlrelated-urlsurlsrecordCiteEndNote(Cardillo, 1998).
Cristina E. Eagans Attachment and Divorce Family Consequences talks about the effects of attachment and the attachment theory to cases of family distress that could lead to divorce and separation ADDIN EN.CITE EndNoteCiteAuthorEaganAuthorYear2004YearRecNum4RecNumrecordrec-number4rec-numberforeign-keyskey appEN db-idwze9d0pvpdf5dses50fp5ddzxwxdtrzxzrae4keyforeign-keysref-type nameWeb Page12ref-typecontributorsauthorsauthorCristina E. EaganauthorauthorscontributorstitlestitleAttachment and Divorce Family Consequencestitletitlesdatesyear2004yeardatespublisherRochester Institute of Technologypublisherurlsrelated-urlsurlhttpwww.personalityresearch.orgpaperseagan.htmlurlrelated-urlsurlsrecordCiteEndNote(Eagan, 2004). This shows certain consequences of the concept of attachment to the family, that indeed, there is also a negative side to this theory. Attachment in romantic relationships is an area that is undergoing a lot of investigation currently. It has been argued that if romantic relations are attachment relations, then it should be evident that some sort of personal differences are evident in such relationships just as in the relationships between babies and caregivers as described by Ainsworth. It is expected for some people to feel secure in their marriage while others fail to feel so. This is what is discussed by the styles of attachment and are what determines the strength or romantic relationships. The developers of the theory in relation to relationships between mature people identified four styles. The four are secure, dismissive-avoidance, anxious-preoccupied, and fearful-avoidance. These styles are defined by the characteristics of people in relationships ADDIN EN.CITE EndNoteCiteAuthorEaganAuthorYear2004YearRecNum4RecNumrecordrec-number4rec-numberforeign-keyskey appEN db-idwze9d0pvpdf5dses50fp5ddzxwxdtrzxzrae4keyforeign-keysref-type nameWeb Page12ref-typecontributorsauthorsauthorCristina E. EaganauthorauthorscontributorstitlestitleAttachment and Divorce Family Consequencestitletitlesdatesyear2004yeardatespublisherRochester Institute of Technologypublisherurlsrelated-urlsurlhttpwww.personalityresearch.orgpaperseagan.htmlurlrelated-urlsurlsrecordCiteEndNote(Eagan, 2004).
Studies have shown that romantic attachments have a lot in common with infant-caregiver attachment. For instance, in the two, there is the tendency to feel safe when the other partner is around. They also tend to turn to the other person when they have problems, and use them as a secure foundation on which to explore the environment. They also tend to communicate to each other using cues and unique language that they both understand. The negative side of attachment is evident where any of these is missing. Just as lack of these aspects is detrimental to a child, it is also detrimental to a romantic relationship or marriage. There is always the worry in people in relationships who feels that their partners do not love them the way they deserve. In this case, it is hard for such a relationship to persist. This kind of distress is likely to tear a family or a marriage apart leading to divorce. This means that attachment can make or break a romantic relationship. Attachment in romantic relationship is not similar to that between an infant and caregiver. This is because in romantic relationship it requires to be reciprocated. Where it is reciprocated, the relationship is likely to endure, but one-sided the likelihood is minimal ADDIN EN.CITE EndNoteCiteAuthorEaganAuthorYear2004YearRecNum4RecNumrecordrec-number4rec-numberforeign-keyskey appEN db-idwze9d0pvpdf5dses50fp5ddzxwxdtrzxzrae4keyforeign-keysref-type nameWeb Page12ref-typecontributorsauthorsauthorCristina E. EaganauthorauthorscontributorstitlestitleAttachment and Divorce Family Consequencestitletitlesdatesyear2004yeardatespublisherRochester Institute of Technologypublisherurlsrelated-urlsurlhttpwww.personalityresearch.orgpaperseagan.htmlurlrelated-urlsurlsrecordCiteEndNote(Eagan, 2004).
Assessment of the theory as it relates to interpersonal communication
The attachment theory is an integral aspect of interpersonal communication because it deals with a multitude of people instead of just individuals. Most of the situations presented involve the family or other groups of people, showing us that this is indeed a matter of great importance. It can be applied to our daily relationships and interactions. It is a must to study and understand the attachment theory in order to learn more about interpersonal communication (Fraley Shaver, 2000).
It is basic to any kind of communication, because communication cannot take place without a connection. Human interactions begin when the child is born. The child learns to communicate with the primary caregiver in its own unique way. This is made possible through the infant-mother or infant-caregiver attachment. Attachment theory gives emphasis on the significance of intimate relationships throughout an individuals life. The ability to establish a close and satisfying relationship is the most crucial task in developing personality. The accomplishment of significant and fulfilling interpersonal life is dependant with a number of traits, among them trust and collaboration. This cannot work without having attachment to the other person. Attachment is what makes it possible for people to forgive and accommodate each other. It is what makes it possible to tolerate, accommodate and forgive the unavoidable flaws of the other person (Fraley Shaver, 2000).
Conclusion
Attachment is very important in human beings as social beings. As seen from the research attachment begins very early in human life. Failure to achieve this brings about negative effects in life. The negative effects are not experienced only in childhood, but also later in life. Children have suffered a lot of psychological problems due to deprived attachment early in their life. Despite the fact that the kind of attachment evident in adult life is not similar to that in babies, studies have put forward the evidence that infancy attachment have an implication in later relationships. For instance, the people who have secure attachment in childhood, tend to develop self-esteem, and are in a better position to develop lasting relationships. They are also in a better position to disclose to others. This reveals the fact that attachment is important in relationships and communication.
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment