M14_1 Power Point Attachment Theory-Allen

8/7/2019 M14_1 Power Point Attachment Theory-Allen

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THE HUMAN ANIMAL BOND and ATTACHMENT THEORY

Instructor: Christina Allen



Definition of Attachment Theory:Behavior that has proximity to an attachment figure asa predictable outcome and whose evolutionary function is protection of the infant fromdanger (Bretherton, & Munholland, 1999).



Theorist- John Bowlby and later Mary Ainsworth added research and information toattachment theory.

Bowlby formulated his theory from the fields of evolutionary biology, ethology,

developmental psychology, cognitive science and control systems theory.

He proposed an infants emotional tie to the caregiver emerged as a result of evolutionary pressure. (Bowlby, 1958).



Research by developmental psychologist Mary Ainsworth in the 1960s and 70sreinforced the basic concepts, introduced the concept of the "secure base" anddeveloped a theory of a number of attachment patterns in infants: secureattachment, avoidant attachment and anxious attachment. A fourth pattern,

disorganized attachment, was identified later (Bretherton, 1992)..



Secure- CHILD-Uses caregiver as a secure base for exploration. Protests caregiver'sdeparture and seeks proximity and is comforted on return, returning to exploration. May becomforted by the stranger but shows clear preference for the caregiver.CAREGIVER-Responds appropriately, promptly and consistently to needs. Caregiver hassuccessfully formed a secure parental attachment bond to the child.



Avoidant-CHILD-little affective sharing in play. Little or no distress on departure, little or no visible responseto return, ignoring or turning away with no effort tomaintain contact if picked up. Treats the stranger similarly to the caregiver. The child feels that there is

no attachment; therefore, the child is rebellious andhas a lower self-image and self-esteem.CAREGIVER-Little or no response to distressed child.

Discourages crying and encourages independence.



Ambivalent-Resistant-CHILD-Unable to use caregiver as a secure base, seeking proximity beforeseparation occurs. Distressed on separation withambivalence, anger, reluctance to warm to caregiver and return to play on return. Preoccupied with

caregiver's availability, seeking contact but resistingangrily when it is achieved. Not easily calmed bystranger. In this relationship, the child always feelsanxious because the caregiver's availability is never consistent.

CAREGIVER-Inconsistent between appropriate andneglectful responses. Generally will only respondafter increased attachment behavior from the infant.



Disorganized-CHILD-Stereotypes on return such as

freezing or rocking Lack of coherent attachmentstrategy shown by contradictory disorientingbehaviors such as approaching but with the backturned.

CAREGIVER-Frightened or frightening behaviour,intrusiveness, withdrawal, negativity, role confusion,

affective communication errors and maltreatment.Very often associated with many forms of abusetowards the child.



Adult attachment theory-1980s by Cindy Hazan andPhillip Shaver. Four styles of attachment have beenidentified in adults: secure, anxious-preoccupied,dismissive-avoidant and fearful-avoidant. Theseroughly correspond to infant classifications: secure,insecure-ambivalent, insecure-avoidant and

disorganized/disoriented.Securely attached adults tend to have positive views of

themselves, their partners and their relationships.They feel comfortable with intimacy andindependence, balancing the two.



Anxious-preoccupied adults seek high levels of intimacy, approval and responsiveness frompartners, becoming overly dependent. They tend tobe less trusting, have less positive views aboutthemselves and their partners, and may exhibit highlevels of emotional expressiveness, worry and

impulsiveness in their relationships.



Dismissive-avoidant adults desire a high level of independence, often appearing to avoid attachmentaltogether. They view themselves as self-sufficient,invulnerable to attachment feelings and not needingclose relationships. They tend to suppress their feelings, dealing with rejection by distancingthemselves from partners of whom they often have apoor opinion.



Fearful-avoidant adults have mixed feelings aboutclose relationships, both desiring and feelinguncomfortable with emotional closeness. They tendto mistrust their partners and view themselves asunworthy. Like dismissive-avoidant adults, fearful-avoidant adults tend to seek less intimacy,

suppressing their feelings.



IMPLICATIONS-, it can enrich a therapist's understanding of patients and thetherapeutic relationship rather than dictate a particular form of treatment.Attachment-centered interventions have been developed, such asattachment-based family therapy and emotionally focused therapy.

Attachment theory and research laid the foundation for the development of the understanding of "mentalization" or reflective functioning and itspresence, absence or distortion in psychopathology. The dynamics of anindividual's attachment organization and their capacity for mentalizationcan play a crucial role in the capacity to be helped by treatment (Slade,2008)



Human-Animal attachments- Dynamic relationshipbetween people and animals in that each influencesthe psychological and physiological state of theother.

Children learn to be more nurturing and perhaps better parents to their own children(http://www.vet.purdue.edu/chab/)

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References

Bowlby, J. (1958). The naure of the child's tie to his mother.International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 39, 5, 350-73.

Bretherton, I. & Munholland, KA. (1999). Internal working models inAttachment relationships: A construct revisited. In Cassidy J. Shaver PR. Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research and Climical

Applications. New York: Guilford Press. 89-114ISBN 1572300876

Slade, A. (2008). Attachment theory and research: Implications for thetheory and practice of individual psychotherapy with adults. In CassidyJ. Shaver PR. Handbook of Attachement Theory, Research andClinical Applications. New York and London: Guilford Press. 762-82.ISBN 9781593858742.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_theory

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