Attachment Theory

A term paper submitted to the High School English Department as a partial requirement for English IV

PHATRICIA B. RAMOS
IV-St. Pius IV

to

MRS. BEROSIL
October 28, 2011

INTRODUCTION

Connection. It is the first word that comes in my mind whenever I hear the word attachment. Attachment Theory. At first, I dont know anything about this theory. But as I make a research about this, I can say that I have learned, not many things, but I have learned that this theory explains the lasting psychological connectedness between human beings that impacts behavior from the cradle to the grave. THE THEORY In short, this theory states the relationship that exists between the mother and her infant. It also focuses on how attachments are formed in the very earliest months and years of life. Specifically, it makes the claim that the ability for an individual to form an emotional and physical "attachment" to another person gives a sense of stability and security necessary to take risks, branch out, and grow and develop as a personality. Who are the proponents? At first, it was a work of John Bowlby. Then Mary Ainsworth supported him by joining Bowlby in his experiments.

It is not surprising that during infancy and early childhood these functions are either not operating at all or are doing so most imperfectly. During this phase of life, the child is therefore dependent on his mother performing them for him. She orients him in space and time, provides his environment, permits the satisfaction of some impulses, and restricts others. She is his ego and his super-ego. Gradually he learns these arts himself, and as he does, the skilled parent transfers the roles to him. This is a slow, subtle and continuous process, beginning when he first learns to walk and feed himself, and not ending completely until maturity is reached. . . . Ego and super-ego development are thus inextricably bound up with the childs primary human relationships. (Bowlby, 1951, p. 53)

As John Bowlby said, when a mother gives birth to her infant, the infant becomes independent to the mother until the infant grows up and gets ready to be an independent person. The mother protects her child, provides her child with everything he needs, teaches him good morals, and takes care of her child. As well as her child. When he gets older, he will eventually take care of her aged mother. He will protect her like she protected him when he was a child.

How can some apply this theory to real life or how can they observe this to real life? It is simple. If you have a daughter or a son, try to leave her behind. Of course leave them with a guardian. What will you feel? Youll feel sadness, misery or depression. Ive been researching about this theory for months. And I have learned that every infant needs a mother for their own safety and happiness. Although this theory is not yet proven, we can see through every child that they are reliant to their mother or their caretaker. I have also discovered that as every infant grow up, they develop an attachment to another people that they meet. And when they grow an attachment to that person, they will be dependent with each other. They will gain trust, compassion and maybe, love.

RECOMMENDATION: When you were a child, do you remember crying whenever your mother will go away? Do you remember following her until she orders you to stay there and wait for her? Do you remember sitting on a chair waiting for her to go home? Do you remember being excited when you two will go to the zoo or amusement park? Do you remember being happy whenever she is home? These things. That is where the Attachment Theory takes place. It explains why children always find safety whenever they are with their mother. It also explains why mothers mourn and fret whenever their children are away. Although this theory is not yet proven, it explains further about the behavior of every child when they are with their mother or not. The purpose of this essay is finding about the Attachment Theory and why children behaves differently when their mother is around. By studying this theory, one can learn that there are reasons why children behave different without their mother. There are certain reasons that occurs when they are both separated. Like despair, grief and mourning, and detachment.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: http://psychology.about.com/b/2007/11/16/attachment-theory.htm http://psychology.about.com/od/loveandattraction/a/attachment01.htm

http://www.psychologistworld.com/developmental/attachment-theory.php John Bowlby and the Attachment Theory by Jeremy Holmes

The Origins of Attachment Theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth by Inge Bretherton