Childhood Attachment Is an Important Aspect in the Field of Psychology - Research Paper Example

? Childhood Attachment Childhood attachment is an important aspect in the field of psychology that helps individuals learn the importance of developing relationships from an early age. The sub-discipline of child psychology plays an important role in helping individuals understand the very first type of emotional attachment that human beings form. This article starts with a discussion on the definition of attachment and the theory behind attachment based on the pioneers in the field. Thereafter, the article discusses reasons why attachment occurs and instances whereby attachment does not occur. The other part of the article dedicates its discussions to the effects of failure of attachment while the final part of the paper discusses the long-term effects of occurrence and non-occurrence of attachment. In this regard, it is important to point out that any occurrence will have some implications. Hence, the final part discusses these long-term implications to the American society and other societies of the world Keywords: attachment, childhood attachment, infants, caregiver Childhood Attachment Throughout life, human beings form unconventional relationships, which is the case even at infancy. The relationships formed by human beings might be lasting and intimate depending upon the individuals forming these relationships. On the other hand, some of the relationships formed by human beings maybe transient and superficial. Nevertheless, these relationships are crucial since they bring the family together and most importantly make a community or society one single unit. The ability amongst human beings to form the relationships and maintain them is the most pertinent trait in human beings. In fact, no person in the world would survive without the ability to form relationships. In this regard, the trait plays a crucial role in enabling people to procreate, learn, and work. Thus, newborn children will not survive without a caregiver who will protect them and provide for them in order to satisfy their needs. The interaction with these caregivers becomes crucial to the formation of relationships, which is part of the behavioral systems in a human being. The relationship formed by the infants with the caregivers is attachment. The role of childhood attachment in child development cannot be overemphasized; however, some infants fail to form these relationships, which may make them experience the effects in the long-term. The theory developed by John Bowbly and Mary Ainsworth, known as the attachment theory, guides development of relationship between people and the role these relationships play in an individual’s development (Benson and Haith 30). This theory is crucial to understanding the attachment of children at infancy all the way to old age. By definition, attachment in childhood is “an emotional tie that an infant constructs and elaborates with his principal caregiver(s) in the context of everyday interactions” (Benson and Haith 31). In this regard, the bond between an infant and a mother, or a caregiver, is a good example of attachment. It is important to note that, while the mother and the unborn child have a connection when the child is in the womb, this does not qualify as attachment. Therefore, attachment does not start at conception but rather after birth despite the child’s connection with the mother through the umbilical cord (Benson and Haith 32). In this regard, the connection has to be emotional in order for it to qualify as childhood attachment. Thus, an infant child will develop attachment to the caregiver or their mother in order to replace the initial connection, which was only a physical attachment through the umbilical cord. The key to attachment is attunement between the mother and the infant child. Rees simply describes attunement as “the baby’s cry elicits a calming parental response, reinforcing a learnt pattern for both” (“Thinking Children’s Attachment” 1060). An infant child is wholly dependent on its caregiver since it requires constant attention and care, which is from a different individual in order to ensure its survival. In effect, during the relationship between a caregiver and the infant child, the new relationship grows and the two nurture the relationship. The infant’s developing brain plays a crucial role towards establishing the relationship between them and their primary caregivers. However, it is crucial to note that this relationship is not easy to document though it plays a crucial role towards the developing of the child. According to Rees, “Children’s attachment patterns are substantially influenced by those of their parents” (“Childhood Attachment” 920). In this regard, attachment between an infant, or a child, and their caregiver does not only occur due to the attunement of the two. However, there are other pertinent factors such as the physical psychological aspect of the child, behavioral wellbeing of their parents, and the development wellbeing of the parents. Case in point, sick children behave in a way that ensures that the caregiver responds in various ways resulting from their attachment patterns. There are many dangers relating to the lack of attachment between an infant and their caregiver. Some of these problems pose a significant problem to the individual who does not get the attachment at infancy, the society of the individual, and the public services. According to Rees, “Disturbed childhood attachment relates to adult physical and psychological ill-health, including major causes of mortality” (Childhood Attachment” 920). In this regard, the physical state of an individual might influence the formation of a bond between them and the infant child they give care. Alternatively, the adult might be ill mentally and hence prevent them from responding to their infants needs when the child calls out for them. Some of the caregivers, especially some mothers, may experience problems related to bringing up their child and hence leave their children unattended. In effect, the mother will detach themselves from their children, which will make the child feel insecure. It is crucial to point out that the caregivers do not have to be psychologically ill in order for them to detach from their growing infants. The contemporary society influences the attachment between the infant and the primary caregivers, most of them being their mothers. One such contribution of the contemporary society results to semi-detached parenting, which hinders attachment of the mother and their infant child (Leahy 42). In this regard, human nature dictates that everyday toiling of parents with infants is an insurmountable task to some primary caregivers. Thus, some caregivers will seem to care less or give less attention to their infant child. Indeed, it is normal for human beings to think that they deserve a break from everyday life. As a result, such attitudes amongst caregivers influence the outcomes of attachment with some parents appearing semi-detached. According to Rees, the lack of attachment is “a key factor in intergenerational parenting difficulties, and predisposes children to substance abuse, temper problems, homelessness, promiscuity, early pregnancy, and criminality” (“Childhood Attachment” 920). These problems are a result of lack of forming attachment between an infant and their primary caregivers. In this regard, failure to form an attachment during childhood results to a failure in proper child parenting, which is dangerous for a society. As a result, the child lacks an experience in discipline since the primary caregiver does not show any attachment. Furthermore, such a child grows up in a state of myriad rules and ignores some of the rules in the society. Thus, the detachment creates socially unfit people in the society who abuse substances, with temper problems, criminal behavior, and other social problems. It is evident that societies will benefit from attachment between an infant and their parents in the long term. Conversely, lack of attachment between a child and primary caregivers has long-term effects to America and any other society. According to Rees, “attachment for children is the means to independence” (“Thinking Children’s Attachment” 1058). In this regard, the long-term effects of attachment in America and any other society help children learn how to solve problems and become responsible citizens in the future. Therefore, the connection between attachment with exploration, learning, and relating is crucial to developing individuals who will be beneficial for future societies. In addition, Rees concluded that attachment between infants and their primary caregivers is crucial to help individuals understand relationships in the future (“Thinking Children’s Attachment” 1059). In effect, the individuals will understand and respect relationships, which results to less social misfits in the society. Thus, America and other societies will benefit in the long-term through respects of the institution of marriage, which will ensure a less divorce rate and conservation of morals. Conversely, the lack of attachment during infancy will have detrimental effects to America and other societies in the world. According to Shaffer and Kipp, five percent of infants in America show signs disorganized or disoriented attachment (456). In effect, this percentage of American infant may have a positive influence in the long-term, which may apply to other societies in the world. According to Rees, disorganized attachment is an insecure attachment whereby individuals are “neither effectively self-sufficient nor able to use relationships” (“Thinking Children’s Attachment” 1059). In effect, such infants develop behaviors that make them deviants in the society. As a result, they will lack emotional awareness to show compassion and empathy, which are crucial in the contemporary world. On the other hand, these individuals find it challenging to study due to poor attachment in their infancy. Therefore, they will make sure that society will stay behind in terms of development since they cannot learn properly, which is detrimental in the current knowledge economy. In conclusion, the foregoing clearly emphasizes the importance role attachment will play in the American society and the world. While emphasizing the importance of relationships in life, it is evident that human beings learn how to build relationships immediately after birth. In addition, it is evident that the only connection between the mother and their infant when in the womb is only a physical one. Thus, an infant and their primary caregiver will form an emotional relationship immediately after birth, which is childhood attachment. Various reasons lead to the formation of this relationship though there usually is a rational adjustment, which is attunement, between the two individuals. Nevertheless, the need for care and protection lead to attachment. On the other hand, there are various reasons that influence the lack of attachment. In addition, failure lack of attachment in any given society can result to social problems in the particular society. Works Cited Benson, Janette B., and Marshall Haith. Social and Emotional Development in Infancy and Early Childhood. Waltham: Academic Press, 2009. Print. Leahy, Kerry Lynn. Complex posttraumatic stress symptoms among a community sample of battered women. ProQuest. 2007. Print. Rees Corrine. “Childhood Attachment.” British Journal of General Practice. Nov. 2007. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2169321/pdf/bjpg57- 920.pdf>. Rees, Corrine. “Thinking About Children’s attachment.” Arch Dis Child, 90(2005): 1058–1065. Print. Shaffer, David R., and Katherine Kipp. Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence. 8th ed. Stamford: Cengage Learning. 2009. Print. Read More