ASSIGNMENT WRITE-UP: P2 |
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Key term
Attachment is the term that describes the emotional relationship a child experiences with their significant adult. Bowlby's attachment theory suggests four types of attachment: |
> Secure attachment is the healthiest form of attachment. It describes an attachment where a child feels comforted by the presence of their caregiver. Securely attached children feel protected and that they have someone to rely on. Children with secure attachment prefer their caregiver over strangers, seek comfort in their caregiver, and are comfortable exploring their environment with their caregiver present.
Secure attachment is seen as crucial to healthy development because it has lasting impacts on an individual. By growing up with a sense of stability and care, securely attached children find it easier to investigate and interact with the world around them .
Into adulthood, secure attachment translates into higher self-esteem, more long-term healthy relationships, and an increased ability to trust others for social support. Since they grow up with a positive caregiver relationship, securely attached children can replicate a healthy bond with others, in all types of relationships.
Secure attachment is seen as crucial to healthy development because it has lasting impacts on an individual. By growing up with a sense of stability and care, securely attached children find it easier to investigate and interact with the world around them .
Into adulthood, secure attachment translates into higher self-esteem, more long-term healthy relationships, and an increased ability to trust others for social support. Since they grow up with a positive caregiver relationship, securely attached children can replicate a healthy bond with others, in all types of relationships.
> Avoidant attachment is one of the insecure attachment styles developed in attachment theory, characterized by a child who avoids their caregiver and does not seek comfort from them. These children will show little to no preference for their caregiver over a stranger. They will not seek out their parents when in times of distress.
Avoidant attachment is formed when a child feels they cannot consistently count on their caregiver to comfort and care for them. An avoidant child sees no preference for their caregiver over a stranger because it’s possible the stranger may be more attuned to their needs than their actual caregiver.
Those who grow up with an avoidant attachment are more likely to have challenges with intimacy later in life and be closed off from social relationships. By not growing up with a close connection to their caregiver, they have trouble finding a healthy connection to others in their life.
> Another type of insecure bonding is ambivalent attachment, also called anxious preoccupied attachment. Children with this insecure attachment are clingy to their caregiver, yet when their caregiver attempts to comfort them, the child remains distressed. This can be hard for the caregiver because they are consistently unable to soothe their child, which can lead to a negative cycle of interaction. The child wants to be close with their caregiver but doesn’t fully trust them for support. As a child with ambivalent attachment grows, this bonding style will often lead to clinginess and distrust in other types of relationships that develop in their life.
> Children with disorganized attachment, also called fearful-avoidant attachment, will show an inconsistent connection with their caregiver and often hold fear towards them. The child must rely on the caregiver for survival, but the caregiver is also a source of fear. This is because their caregiver is sometimes there for support and sometimes unavailable or emotionally damaging, so the child doesn’t know when they can count on their caregiver to meet their needs.
This type of attachment style often occurs in homes with abuse, leading to insecure attachment from trauma. It will often contribute to mental health issues in adulthood, like substance abuse and borderline personality disorder.
This type of attachment style often occurs in homes with abuse, leading to insecure attachment from trauma. It will often contribute to mental health issues in adulthood, like substance abuse and borderline personality disorder.
Information
It is believed that secure attachments in childhood will lead to resilience and autonomy later in life.
Resilience is the ability to overcome setbacks and disappointments without giving up or being demoralised
Autonomy is the freedom to take independent decisions without having to ask anyone else or receive permission
It is believed that secure attachments in childhood will lead to resilience and autonomy later in life.
Resilience is the ability to overcome setbacks and disappointments without giving up or being demoralised
Autonomy is the freedom to take independent decisions without having to ask anyone else or receive permission
Task 1
Paired activity
> What is the impact of having a secure attachment on an individual?
> Work in pairs – one of you needs to look at resilience and one of you look at autonomy
> How do each of them impact on the individual?
> How can professionals ensure that these aspects are encouraged? Think about what attachments they may form and how it may hinder the service user.
> Apply your work to a case study
Paired activity
> What is the impact of having a secure attachment on an individual?
> Work in pairs – one of you needs to look at resilience and one of you look at autonomy
> How do each of them impact on the individual?
> How can professionals ensure that these aspects are encouraged? Think about what attachments they may form and how it may hinder the service user.
> Apply your work to a case study
Task 2
Individual task
> Explain attachment theory. Explain the four types of attachment – briefly. For three types of attachment apply to a case study and say why you think they have this form of attachment – use your case study sheet
> What is the impact of having secure attachments?. Resilience – how by having a secure attachment will someone become resilient. Autonomy – how by having a secure attachment will someone become autonomous
> How the professionals can encourage the development of resilience and autonomy? E.g. autonomy – allowing the service user to be involved in decisions and empowering them to believe they can make good decisions.
Individual task
> Explain attachment theory. Explain the four types of attachment – briefly. For three types of attachment apply to a case study and say why you think they have this form of attachment – use your case study sheet
> What is the impact of having secure attachments?. Resilience – how by having a secure attachment will someone become resilient. Autonomy – how by having a secure attachment will someone become autonomous
> How the professionals can encourage the development of resilience and autonomy? E.g. autonomy – allowing the service user to be involved in decisions and empowering them to believe they can make good decisions.