The Attachment Theory

In numerous cases, primary caregivers and infants tend to develop a deep and emotional connection. Such a formidable connection is vital and often influences the growth, mental and physical, of the child. Attachment is an essential necessity in the infant’s growth as they tend to experience joy and safety in the hands of their primary caregiver. In incidences when the caregiver is not around, an infant is usually distressed and visibly agitated. One cannot ignore or undermine the importance of the emotional connection the two parties have. There is an attachment theory that states that a child needs their caregiver to have an optimal development. Attachment theory was developed in the 1950s by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. This theory has been used extensively as the paradigm to evaluate the connection between parent and children relationship. According to Tarabulsy and Symons (2016), there has been a close correlation between maternal sensitivity and infant behavior (Biro, Alink, Huffmeijer, Bakermans-Kranenburg & Ijzendoorn, 2015). The formation of attachment bond between primary caregivers and infants has been an underpinning to a stable development throughout a child’s life. Attachment theory explores how an attachment loss affects infants, their behavior, and mental well-being (Lucktong, Salisbury & Chamratrithirong, 2017). Bowlby’s theory states that attachment is an inherent behavior and therefore comes easy and natural between the two parties. Attachment is a representation of both comfort and protection. Thus, a child is able to survive throughout childhood and make a transition to adulthood. Various scholars have been intrigued in finding out the motivational factor behind attachment between an infant and their caregivers. Behaviorists suggested that food was the major contributor to bond formation while Bowlby insisted that nurturance and responsiveness played an irreplaceable role in attachment formation.

An attachment impact and importance are indelible in an infant’s life. The attachment quality between an infant and their immediate caregiver has various outcomes for the child later in life. For instance, a rigid attachment improves tremendously a child’s self-esteem, self-recognition and reliance as they transition from childhood to adulthood. This empirical document will anatomize the impact and importance of infant and toddler attachment as well as the influence of attachment theory.

The attachment theory focuses on the bond between a child and their mother. In attachment theory, its importance is centered on the ability to shape character, personality, coping with various issues and also developing and maintaining relationships (Yip, Ehrhardt, Black, Walker, 2018). Attachment has had profound effects on children as they interact with other society members. Usually, the first bond ever formed by an individual is their caregiver, who in multifarious incidences is the mother. Their character revolves around their caregivers. Therefore, caregivers have a gargantuan effect in shaping the infant’s mindset and behavior as they advance through adulthood.

Bowlby provides an interesting perspective related to attachment theory. The attachment theory is viewed more as biological occurrence that enables survival among infants. In reference to Scharfe (2017), relationships and bonds presented under attachment theory are an evolved biological predisposition meant to enhance survival. These relationships tend to last for a very long time. Whenever individuals feel threatened, ill, demoralized and etcetera, they look for their caregivers for solace (McLeod, 2017). As mentioned before, attachments tend to provide children with comfort and security. Nonetheless, it is prudent to note that attachments tend to vary in quality. These differences have divergent outcomes based on the relationships’ sensitivity levels. Even if an infant develops other attachment to other people later in future, they maintain a dominant relationship with their primary givers. Thus, attachment relationships developed in infancy function in ‘cradle to grave’ way (Scharfe, 2017). The close proximity to a strong and wise caregiver guaranteed a child’s survival throughout their life. Therefore, the belief of attachment being a biological necessity to facilitate survival was upheld by various theorists. It is from the safe haven created by caregivers that infants starts exploring the outer world. They are able to develop other relationships that might not be as strong as the one they have developed with the main caregiver. Also, attachment is reciprocated. The caregivers develop a need to protect their infants and toddlers as they nurture them from childhood to adulthood.

Attachment plays an important role in defining a child’s behavior. It entails the cognitive, physiological, social and emotional components that have a monumental impact on child’s attitude and behavior. Bowlby noticed that a majority of young people in juvenile centers had a history of bad parenting or emotional trauma from a young period. The juveniles’ behavior manifested their attachments’ insensitivity and the lack of proximity to caregivers for solace and protection. Poor attachments is a huge blow to children. They are unable to cope with stress due to the dilapidated relationships and as such, result to erratic behavior. Even adults that have enjoyed a vibrant relationship with their caregivers for a long time experience distress when incommunicado with their loved ones for a long time.

Sensitivity and responsiveness shape the attachment quality level. An attachment’s quality level determines the mechanisms adopted by children in seeking solace from their caregivers. One of the notable contributions of this theory in understanding the relationships between parents or guardians and their children is that young ones develop a sense of security and belonging when they are in the hands of their caregivers (Cassidy, Jones, & Shaver, 2014). Also, they seek protection whenever they feel threatened.

Attachment categorization

Attachments vary in sensitivity levels as explained initially. Therefore, under attachment theory and understanding its modus operandi, it is crucial to provide the various categories under which infants and toddlers might fall.

The first category entails secure children. Under this category, there are high trust levels in security and responsiveness from the caregiver. When the infants and toddlers feel threatened or stressed, they rush to caregivers who provide them with a safe haven. After they are assured of security and comforted, the infants are rejuvenated and can comfortably resume playing. Thus, secure infants have high and positive expectations in their caregivers’ ability to respond immediately to their distress and offer solace. There are children labeled as avoidant forming the second category. Here, the infants will not look for security and comfort from their primary caregivers. They harbor negative emotions on their own. Even when they reunite with their caregivers, it is more of a normality than a necessity.

Third category entails resistant children. These infants do not have full trust in their caregivers’ ability to comfort tem during distress. The parents or guardians offer unpredictable support during a distressing moment and are unsure of responsiveness that they might get. Also, their response to challenging moments might vary from crying and clinginess to complete withdrawal. It is extremely difficult to comfort and convince them to return to play.

The last category entails disorganized children. Here, the parents or guardians are normally abusive and violent towards the child usually in physical, emotional or sexual ways. When faced with a stressing moment, they exhibit lack of attachment strategy and will usually sink into depression rather than seeking comfort from their caregivers. The reason being, the people that are supposed to offer protection are the source of threats. In most cases, children and adults with irresponsible behavior often fall under this category.

Behavioral theory of attachment

The attachment theory received negative criticism from other behavioral theories. In particular, the behavioral theory which castigated Bowlby’s findings on attachment. Behaviorists believed that children developed an attachment with their caregivers due to food. They believe attachments are a response to stimuli and that every behavior is learned within the confinements of a particular environment. Environmental factors are associated with behaviorism and totally disregards innate characteristics. However, most of behaviorism theories are derived from external observation and totally disregard emotions and thinking processes.

Importance of attachment in Infant and Toddlers

Attachment is very important to an infant’s growth and development. A child is assured of emotional solace as well as developing strong social skills. Infancy bonding offers a robust foundation on which an individual is able to build meaningful relationships as well as interactions throughout their entire lives. The main reason is that, a caregiver is able to reciprocate their feelings in an attachment. Reciprocating attachments enables an infant to develop other attachments with various parties as they continue growing and exploring the world. Therefore, they develop vital social skills that help them to develop healthy relationships with other society’s members. Also, individuals that have had quality attachments with their caregivers are able to be responsible and caring parents. Quality attachment impacts huge cognitive skills as well as well as emotional control especially during crisis. Therefore, an individual from infancy is able to exhibit great problem-solving capabilities.

A caregiver develops a rigid bond with an infant from birth. The infant develops trust with the caregiver from the onset their food, diaper change and being soothed to sleep requests are answered without hesitation. Apart from trust, they infants develop a sense of security through the protection that they receive from their caregivers. Neurological reactions facilitate emotional balances that become inbuilt in a child. Therefore, an infant whose crying is met with soothing sounds and lullabies is better off than those left to cry for longer periods. Poor attachment results to delayed emotional developments and inability to socialize. Therefore, infants with poor or no attachments tend to be aggressive and antisocial throughout their lives. This lack of quality attachment explains why Bowlby found many children in correctional facilities had parenting issues dating back to their infancy stages.

Phases of Attachment Development

Attachment is most effective during the infancy and toddler period. This period is usually between 0-3 years. During this period, there are various phases that are vital in developing attachment as indicated below.

Pre-attachment phase. This phase is usually between 0-6 weeks. The inherent signs are dominant and prevalent throughout the phase. They include smiling or crying while looking at the caregiver’s eyes who respond by staying close by to offer comfort. Also, they are able to recognize their caregiver’s face or fragrance or voice. The attachment has not developed then, which makes it possible and able to remain with strangers.
Attachment Development. The period occurs between six to eight months. They respond to their touch more quickly than others.
Clear-cut attachment. The attachment build from eight months to eighteen months. At this stage, the children manifest separation anxiety whenever an adult they trust leaves them.
Reciprocal Relationship. A toddler is able to understand reasons for the parents leaving. Predicting their return minimizes their prospects of crying.

Conclusion

Relationships and bonds facilitate healthy growth in infants and toddlers. It strengthens their emotional, cognitive, physiological well-being. The sensitivity levels of the attachments between infants and toddlers and their caregivers is important in defining their behavior. Studies show that individuals who have had quality attachment tend to be more socially skilled, independent, and also more intellectually endowed. Nonetheless, infants that do not receive quality attachment tend to be stressed and manifest poor social and problem-solving skills. Attachments theory indicates that bond formation between infants and their primary caregivers is as a result of evolution’s response to survival. Attachments are biological and influence a caregiver to nurture and protect their young one. Nonetheless, behaviorists have disputed this by indicating that every behavior is self-taught. Behaviorists’ theories also indicate that attachments between infants and caregivers are because of food. Nevertheless, studies have indicated that quality attachments are strategic to an individual’s mental and social development