The Child in the Middle

Essay # 45356

Psychology
Psychology > Child and Adolescent
Psychology > Theory

An examination of the longitudinal effects of childhood attachment upon adult romantic relationships.

2,260 words () | 8 sources | APA | 2003 | Australia

Published on: Oct 19, 2003

Paper Summary:

The romantic relationships we engage in may well be a product of early experiences with primary caregivers according to modern attachment theorists (Hazan & Shaver, 1987 and Fraley & Shaver, 1998). Based upon an ethological viewpoint, attachment theory promotes survival and safety of the species. This biological need for safety and protection motivates the infant to attach itself to the primary caregiver through attention seeking behavior. Over time these behavior forms a true emotional bond between the caregiver and the infant which is believed to influence further relationships along the lifespan into adulthood (Berk, 2000). The laboratory based assumption that adult attachment styles evolve from childhood experiences is challenged within this paper and methodological limitations visited within contemporary studies. Difficulties within naturalistic observation is also addressed and cross-cultural validity examined.

From the Paper:

"Attachment theory began in 1969 with a student of the psychoanalytic discipline, John Bowlby (Berk, 2000). He hypothesized that emotional development stemmed from early childhood bonds formed between the primary caregiver and the infant. From an evolutionary perspective attachment is a human survival mechanism; innately built into infants? genotype to provide protection and safety. Subsequent to birth infants perform behaviours that initiate the first stage of attachment (eg. crying, smiling or making eye contact), these behaviours are innate biological mechanisms that aim to keep the primary caregiver in close proximity. Reinforcement is then given by the caregiver in response to these behaviours initiating the most important reinforcement schedule of the child's life (Lyddon & Sherry, 2001)."