Attachment Theory: The Mother’s Influences Across The Child’s Lifespan
Keywords:
Attachment; Attachment Theory; Human Development; Foetus; Adulthood; Developmental Milestone.
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to elucidate the nature of Attachment that exists between mother or caregiver from the lenses of Attachment Theory; explained the tenants of Attachment Theory as it’s relates to Human Development from foetus to adulthood, and the levels and characteristics of attachment existing between mother and/ or caregiver figures.
This study discovered that the child diversifies its attachment needs to individuals based on needs and satisfaction of those needs as the child grows from one developmental milestone to another.
The study concluded that the child’s Attachment with parents or caregiver is not maintained throughout lifespan, ever it is characterised based on needs.
References
REFERENCES
Saracho, O.N. (2021). Theories of Child Development and Their Impact on Early Childhood Education and Care. Early Childhood Educ J (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-021-01271-5
Lai, Y.-H., & Carr, S. (2018). A Critical Exploration of Child-Parent Attachment as a Contextual Construct. Behavioral Sciences, 8(12), 112. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/bs8120112
Flores, P.A. Crystal Day, Heather Richard & Angelique Horace (2007) Promoting Mother-Child Attachment: Review of the Past and Recommendations for Future Intervention, NHSA Dialog, 10:3-4, 129-142, DOI: 10.1080/15240750701741702
Ainsworth, M.D.S. (1979). Attachment as Related to Mother-Infant Interaction. Advances in the Study of Behavior. Academic Press, Volume 9,1979, pages 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-3454(08)60032-7.
You and Your Hormone. Hormones of pregnancy and labour. March 2021. https://www.yourhormones.info/topical-issues/hormones-of-pregnancy-and-labour/22.
Uvnäs-Moberg K. (1996). Neuroendocrinology of the mother-child interaction. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 1996 May-Jun;7(4):126-31. doi: 10.1016/1043-2760(96)00036-7. PMID: 18406738.
Klaus, M. (1998). Mother and infant: early emotional ties. Pediatrics. 1998 Nov;102(5 Suppl E):1244-6. PMID: 9794962.
Moore E.R., Anderson G.C., and Bergman N. (2007). Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007;(2) [PubMed]
Bowlby, J. (1970). Controvacial Issues. Attachment and Loss: Volume I. Attachment; Basic Books, Inc.: New York, NY, USA.
Bowlby, J. (1972) Child Care and the Growth of Love. Pelican Books Inc.: New York, NY, USA, . pg 195.
Jackson, S. (2021) 5 Theories of Child Development. Online Psychology Degree. https://www.onlinepsychologydegree.info/lists/5-theories-of-child-development/
Mikulincer, M.; Shaver, P.R. (2014). Mechanisms of Social Connection: From Brain to Group; Mikulincer, M., Shaver, P.R., Eds.; American Psychological Association: Washington, DC, USA, 2014; ISBN 1-4338-1415-3.
Sroufe, L.A.E. (1977). Attachment as an Organizational Construct. Child Dev. 1977, 48, 1184–1199. [CrossRef]
Mikulincer, M., Shaver, P.R., Sapir-Lavid, Y., and Avihou-Kanza, N. (2009). What’s inside the minds of securely and insecurely attached people? The secure-base script and its associations with attachment-style dimensions. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 2009, 97, 615–633. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Cassidy, J. and Kobak, R.R. (2001). Avoidance and its relationship with other defensive processes. In Clinical Implications of Attachment; Erlbaum: Hillsdale, NJ, USA, 2001; pp. 300–323.
Cassidy, J. and Shaver, P. R. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Main, M. (1990). Cross-Cultural Studies of Attachment Organization: Recent Studies, Changing Methodologies, and the Concept of Conditional Strategies. Hum. Dev. 1990, 33, 48–61. [CrossRef]
Lai Y. and Carr S. (2018). A Critical Exploration of Child-Parent Attachment as a Contextual Construct. Behavioral Sciences. Published: 11 December 2018
Ainsworth, M.D.S. (1967). Infancy in Uganda: Infant Care and the Growth of Love; Johns Hopkins Press: Oxford, UK, 1967.
Erikson, E. H. Eight Ages of Man in Child and Society, Pequin Books, England.
Owens G., Crowell J.A., Pan H., Treboux D., O’Connor E., and Waters E. (1995). The Prototype Hypothesis and the Origins of Attachment Working Models: Adult Relationships with Parents and Romantic Partners. Monogr. Soc. Res. Child Dev. 1995;60:216–233. doi: 10.2307/1166180. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Fraley, R.C., and Shaver, P.R. (1999). Loss and bereavement: Attachment theory and recent controversies concerning “grief work” and the nature of detachment. In: Cassidy J., Shaver P.R., editors. Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications. Guilford Press.; New York, NY, USA: 1999. pp. 735–759. [Google Scholar]
Shaver P.R., Belsky J., and Brennan K.A. (2000). The adult attachment interview and self-reports of romantic attachment: Associations across domains and methods. Pers. Relatsh. 2000;7:25–43. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2000.tb00002.x. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Sukys S., Lisinskiene A., and Tilindiene I. (2015). Adolescents’ Participation in Sport Activities and Attachment to Parents and Peers. Soc. Behav. Personal. Int. J.2015;43:1507–1517. doi: 10.2224/sbp.2015.43.9.1507. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Furman, W. (1989). The development of children’s social networks. In: Belle D., editor. Wiley Series on Personality Processes. Children’s Social Networks and Social Supports. John Wiley & Sons; Oxford, UK: 1989. pp. 151–172. [Google Scholar]
Carr, S. (2009). Adolescent-parent attachment characteristics and quality of youth sport friendship. Psychol. Sport Exerc. 2009;10:653–661. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.04.001. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Hazan C., and Zeifman D. (1994). Sex and the psychological tether. In: Bartholomew K., Perlman D., editors. Advances in Personal Relationships, Vol. 5. Attachment Processes in Adulthood. Jessica Kingsley; London, UK: 1994. pp. 151–178. [Google Scholar]
Allen, J.P. (2008). The attachment system in adolescence. In: Shaver J., Cassidy P.R., editors. Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications. Guilford Press; New York, NY, USA: 2008. pp. 419–435. [Google Scholar]
Schachner, D.A., Shaver P.R., and Gillath O. (2008). Attachment style and long-term singlehood. Pers. Relatsh. 2008;15:479–491. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2008.00211.x. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Johnson, S.M. (2019). Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals, Couples and Families. New York: The Guildford Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-1462538287.
Vinney, C. (2019). What Is Attachment Theory? Definition and Stages. ThoughtCo, October 23, 2019. https://www.thoughtco.com/attachment-theory-4771954#:~:text=Bowlby%20specified%20four%20phases%20of,avoidant%20attachment%2C%20and%20resistant%20attachment
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. New York: Basic Books.
Grossmann, K., Grossmann, K. E., and Waters, E. (2005). Attachment from infancy to adulthood: The major longitudinal studies. New York: Guilford Press.
Sroufe, L. A. (2005). Attachment and development: A prospective, longitudinal study from birth to adulthood. Attachment & Human Development, 7(4), 349-367.
Bowlby, J. (1979). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. Tavistock Publications.
Gillath, O., Karantzas, G. C., and Fraley, R. C. (2016). Adult attachment: A concise introduction to theory and research. Academic Press.
Mikulincer, M., and Shaver, P. R. (2016). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change. Guilford Press.
Sroufe, L. A., Egeland, B., Carlson, E. A., and Collins, W. A. (2005). The development of the person: The Minnesota study of risk and adaptation from birth to adulthood. Guilford Press.
Saracho, O.N. (2021). Theories of Child Development and Their Impact on Early Childhood Education and Care. Early Childhood Educ J (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-021-01271-5
Lai, Y.-H., & Carr, S. (2018). A Critical Exploration of Child-Parent Attachment as a Contextual Construct. Behavioral Sciences, 8(12), 112. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/bs8120112
Flores, P.A. Crystal Day, Heather Richard & Angelique Horace (2007) Promoting Mother-Child Attachment: Review of the Past and Recommendations for Future Intervention, NHSA Dialog, 10:3-4, 129-142, DOI: 10.1080/15240750701741702
Ainsworth, M.D.S. (1979). Attachment as Related to Mother-Infant Interaction. Advances in the Study of Behavior. Academic Press, Volume 9,1979, pages 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-3454(08)60032-7.
You and Your Hormone. Hormones of pregnancy and labour. March 2021. https://www.yourhormones.info/topical-issues/hormones-of-pregnancy-and-labour/22.
Uvnäs-Moberg K. (1996). Neuroendocrinology of the mother-child interaction. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 1996 May-Jun;7(4):126-31. doi: 10.1016/1043-2760(96)00036-7. PMID: 18406738.
Klaus, M. (1998). Mother and infant: early emotional ties. Pediatrics. 1998 Nov;102(5 Suppl E):1244-6. PMID: 9794962.
Moore E.R., Anderson G.C., and Bergman N. (2007). Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007;(2) [PubMed]
Bowlby, J. (1970). Controvacial Issues. Attachment and Loss: Volume I. Attachment; Basic Books, Inc.: New York, NY, USA.
Bowlby, J. (1972) Child Care and the Growth of Love. Pelican Books Inc.: New York, NY, USA, . pg 195.
Jackson, S. (2021) 5 Theories of Child Development. Online Psychology Degree. https://www.onlinepsychologydegree.info/lists/5-theories-of-child-development/
Mikulincer, M.; Shaver, P.R. (2014). Mechanisms of Social Connection: From Brain to Group; Mikulincer, M., Shaver, P.R., Eds.; American Psychological Association: Washington, DC, USA, 2014; ISBN 1-4338-1415-3.
Sroufe, L.A.E. (1977). Attachment as an Organizational Construct. Child Dev. 1977, 48, 1184–1199. [CrossRef]
Mikulincer, M., Shaver, P.R., Sapir-Lavid, Y., and Avihou-Kanza, N. (2009). What’s inside the minds of securely and insecurely attached people? The secure-base script and its associations with attachment-style dimensions. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 2009, 97, 615–633. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Cassidy, J. and Kobak, R.R. (2001). Avoidance and its relationship with other defensive processes. In Clinical Implications of Attachment; Erlbaum: Hillsdale, NJ, USA, 2001; pp. 300–323.
Cassidy, J. and Shaver, P. R. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Main, M. (1990). Cross-Cultural Studies of Attachment Organization: Recent Studies, Changing Methodologies, and the Concept of Conditional Strategies. Hum. Dev. 1990, 33, 48–61. [CrossRef]
Lai Y. and Carr S. (2018). A Critical Exploration of Child-Parent Attachment as a Contextual Construct. Behavioral Sciences. Published: 11 December 2018
Ainsworth, M.D.S. (1967). Infancy in Uganda: Infant Care and the Growth of Love; Johns Hopkins Press: Oxford, UK, 1967.
Erikson, E. H. Eight Ages of Man in Child and Society, Pequin Books, England.
Owens G., Crowell J.A., Pan H., Treboux D., O’Connor E., and Waters E. (1995). The Prototype Hypothesis and the Origins of Attachment Working Models: Adult Relationships with Parents and Romantic Partners. Monogr. Soc. Res. Child Dev. 1995;60:216–233. doi: 10.2307/1166180. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Fraley, R.C., and Shaver, P.R. (1999). Loss and bereavement: Attachment theory and recent controversies concerning “grief work” and the nature of detachment. In: Cassidy J., Shaver P.R., editors. Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications. Guilford Press.; New York, NY, USA: 1999. pp. 735–759. [Google Scholar]
Shaver P.R., Belsky J., and Brennan K.A. (2000). The adult attachment interview and self-reports of romantic attachment: Associations across domains and methods. Pers. Relatsh. 2000;7:25–43. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2000.tb00002.x. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Sukys S., Lisinskiene A., and Tilindiene I. (2015). Adolescents’ Participation in Sport Activities and Attachment to Parents and Peers. Soc. Behav. Personal. Int. J.2015;43:1507–1517. doi: 10.2224/sbp.2015.43.9.1507. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Furman, W. (1989). The development of children’s social networks. In: Belle D., editor. Wiley Series on Personality Processes. Children’s Social Networks and Social Supports. John Wiley & Sons; Oxford, UK: 1989. pp. 151–172. [Google Scholar]
Carr, S. (2009). Adolescent-parent attachment characteristics and quality of youth sport friendship. Psychol. Sport Exerc. 2009;10:653–661. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.04.001. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Hazan C., and Zeifman D. (1994). Sex and the psychological tether. In: Bartholomew K., Perlman D., editors. Advances in Personal Relationships, Vol. 5. Attachment Processes in Adulthood. Jessica Kingsley; London, UK: 1994. pp. 151–178. [Google Scholar]
Allen, J.P. (2008). The attachment system in adolescence. In: Shaver J., Cassidy P.R., editors. Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications. Guilford Press; New York, NY, USA: 2008. pp. 419–435. [Google Scholar]
Schachner, D.A., Shaver P.R., and Gillath O. (2008). Attachment style and long-term singlehood. Pers. Relatsh. 2008;15:479–491. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2008.00211.x. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Johnson, S.M. (2019). Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals, Couples and Families. New York: The Guildford Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-1462538287.
Vinney, C. (2019). What Is Attachment Theory? Definition and Stages. ThoughtCo, October 23, 2019. https://www.thoughtco.com/attachment-theory-4771954#:~:text=Bowlby%20specified%20four%20phases%20of,avoidant%20attachment%2C%20and%20resistant%20attachment
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. New York: Basic Books.
Grossmann, K., Grossmann, K. E., and Waters, E. (2005). Attachment from infancy to adulthood: The major longitudinal studies. New York: Guilford Press.
Sroufe, L. A. (2005). Attachment and development: A prospective, longitudinal study from birth to adulthood. Attachment & Human Development, 7(4), 349-367.
Bowlby, J. (1979). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. Tavistock Publications.
Gillath, O., Karantzas, G. C., and Fraley, R. C. (2016). Adult attachment: A concise introduction to theory and research. Academic Press.
Mikulincer, M., and Shaver, P. R. (2016). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change. Guilford Press.
Sroufe, L. A., Egeland, B., Carlson, E. A., and Collins, W. A. (2005). The development of the person: The Minnesota study of risk and adaptation from birth to adulthood. Guilford Press.
Published
2023-11-18
How to Cite
Olaofe, A., & Princess Odumosu, H. (2023). Attachment Theory: The Mother’s Influences Across The Child’s Lifespan. Pedagogi: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 23(2), 174-181. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24036/pedagogi.v23i2.1583
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Article
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