Bowlby’s Ethological Attachment Theory Essay

AbstractBowlbys ethological chemical bond surmise bases its argument on the insert that humankind one-on-ones, just like animals turn over a tendency to draw a natural inclination to establish and maintain lasting lovesome bonds ( addendums) to the familiar and irreplaceable others. Bowlby further asserts that once the bails atomic number 18 established, the strength, and stability of the relate is related the emotional stability and tumesce-being of the individual throughout carriage. Bowlby proposes that the bond paper initially path during infancy and often involve genius old supplement figure (mostly the acquire or other primary caregiver). However, harvest-tide from childhood to adulthood results in the development of other secondary and nonuple chemical bonds which are organized into hierarchies from the most accessible to the least accessible.This forms the continueliness development of an individual as bond certificate needs for comfort and closeness breakage from parents to peers as part of a healthy life sentence development. This piece of music discusses Bowlbys ethological bond certificate system as a theory of life story development. The paper is organized with an introduction which briefly discusses the concept of ethology and its ancestry from the discover on the graylag geese by Konrad Lorenz. It further presents the contributions of Bowlby and the applications of the theory on human beings lifespan development and contemporary practice. The paper logically ends with a conclusion.IntroductionEthology emphasizes that human behavior is tied to evolution and biology, and is therefore characterized by critical periods. harmonise to ethnologists, the critical periods are time frames during which the presence of lack of certain sleep to evisceratehers exerts long-wearing influence on human individuals. The concept of ethology rose to prominence aft(prenominal) a European zoologist (Lorenz) beneathtook a behavioura l take away on graylag geese and their behavior of follo assumeg their engenders im liaisely after(prenominal)ward on they hatch (Marga, 2011). In his attempt to study on holdfast, Lorenz subdivided the eggs laid by one goose into two collections with one being given to the mother for hatch while the other was hatched in an incubator. The goslings hatched by the mother followed the mother immediately after hatching while those hatched in the incubator followed Lorenz sine he was the one they saw immediately after hatching. Even after marking the goslings and placing them in a box, the goslings run to the mother and Lorenz according immediately after the box was opened ( new waveguard der Horst & deoxyadenosine monophosphate van der Veer, 2009).Lorenz described the process as imprinting. Imprinting refers to the process through which rapid, ingrained learning takes place and involves the creation of adhesiveness to the first mobile quarry visible to a bleakly hatched gosling. John Bowlby took the concept in advance illustrating an application of ethological theory on human behavior and development. In his view, attachment to a caregiver during the first year of a child has strong consequences throughout the individuals lifespan. In his words, attachment influences human relationships from the provenance to the grave (Pitman & adenylic acid Scharfe, 2010, p. 201).Bowlby argues that if the attachment is both positive and secure, the individual has a high likelihood of developing positively through childhood and into adulthood. On the other side, if the attachment is both negative and insecure, the individual has high chances of non attaining optimal life-span development. It is the concern of human individuals that they reach optimal lifespan development, something that ethological theory partly tries to pardon. This paper discusses Bowlbys ethological attachment theory and its applications in the level of lifespan development. Bowlbys pers pectives on ethological attachment theoryFrom the perspective of ethological theory, babies have an innate biological preparation to participate actively towards the establishment of a bond with caregivers. The ethological theory holds that such an attachment promotes the likelihood that the genes of individuals survive (Makulincer & adenine Shaver, 2012). The theory also posits that the behaviors of children are best understood in the context of their adaptive value hence they seek to fully integrate with the stainless organism-environment arrangement. This overwhelms physical, social as healthful as the cultural aspects an individual is undefendable to in the course of life-span development. While Bowlbys ethological theory places its emphasis on genetics and biological aspects of development, learning also plays an integral role in life-span development since it facilitates flexibility and adaptation of human behavior.One of Bowlbys concerns had to do with the ability o f children raised in other institutions such as orphanages to form lasting relationships. Bowlbys proposal was that children who grow up in institutions such as orphanages have difficulties when it comes to love because they never had the opportunity to establish attachments to a mother figure in the too soon stage of their lives. The attachment, in Bowlbys view, is an emotional bond established among two people and this attachment is vital in the building of healthy relationships (Makulincer, Shaver & amp Berant, 2013). He argued that the bonding process starts at birth and runs through to later stages in life. Below half a dozen months, the infant is attached to the primary caregiver. Between six to eighteen months, the dissolution of the child from the attachment figure upsets the child create frequent cries. another(prenominal) accompanying behavior at this stage is the veneration of strangers.While infants develop a primary attachment to a superstar caregiver, researcher s also argue that other significant attachments also develop. Such attachments overwhelm those with siblings, fathers, and other close figures who interact with the child. Mary Ainsworth, an American scholar to study the area of attachment describes the attachments as secondary attachments (Marga, 2011). She further describes secondary attachments as important bonds in the life-span development of an individual. These attachments are vital since the child has to live in world beyond the mother/primary caregiver. Secondary attachments aid in the transformation of the child from the comfortable symbiotic relationship that he/she initially forms with the primary caregiver to include others in the society (Makulincer & Shaver, 2012).It is from this development that the child is able to develop age-appropriate independence and autonomy in the course of life-span development. tiddlerren imitate their models and the positive interactions with the caregiver promote a whiz of identity and attachment. Children also develop multiple attachments as witnessed in Ainsworths secondary attachments (Marga, 2011). A father who is warm and affectionate towards the child becomes emotionally involved with the child and establishes attachment. Researchers also find that when sons feel understood by their fathers, they develop attachments towards, their fathers. On the other side, when sons feel misunderstood by their fathers, they did not only feel afraid of them but also did not indigence to be like the male parent in the future. The lesson here is that agnate affection and understanding are key components that help in the packaging of positive relationships and attachments between a male parent and the child. gibe to coal black (2008), Bowlbys ethological attachment theory is recognized as a lifespan developmental theory. The author further argues that it is relevant in the understanding of how early affection experiences exert influence on emotional and physical w ell being of an individual both in childhood and adulthood. The author specifically singles the importance of Bowlbys ethological attachment theory in clinical practice as it helps in understanding thickenings suffering and the carrying out of mental hygiene. coetaneous research on neurobiology of attachment extends the basis of Bowlbys conception of an attachment behavior system and suggests that its functions are executed in the brains right hemisphere, specifically the right cortex (Sable, 2008). Just like Bowlby asserts that attachment system evolves on the need for protection from environmental dangers such as predation, the brain is also an evolving organ largely influenced by natural pickax (Sable, 2008, p. 22) and later shaped by environmental experiences.It is from this realization that knowledge of attachment theories becomes invaluable in psychotherapy. Application of Bowlbys ethological attachment in lifespan development According to Pitman & Scharfe (2010), the principles of attachment theory are distinctively visible in moments of distress or sickness when the individual feels that their survival is under threat. However, there are many other instances when attachment behaviors are manifest such as childrens first experiences in schools and sidereal day care centers. Pitman & Scharfe (2010) observe that during the first day in day care centers, children experience increases in cortisol levels and feel rates. In the course of an individuals developmental lifespan, other incidences include airport separations when couples display attachment behaviors as well as distress irrespective of their attachment security. Knowledge of attachment is useful in psychotherapy.According to Pitman & Scharfe (2010), individuals with high attachment perplexity and avoidance experience greater physical symptoms in comparison with individuals who have low attachment anxiety and avoidance. The researchers also report on the existence of an associat ion between attachment anxiety and avoidance on one hand and falloff on the other across varying age groups. These range from samples of children and adolescents, emerge adults, married couples, community samples in transition to parenthood, university samples, as well as clinical samples. The results indicate an association between higher attachment anxiety and avoidance with depression (Sable, 2008). The establishment of attachment with the healers determines the effectiveness of a therapist in giving assistance to a client. Bowlby believes that the development of a new attachment with a therapist enables the therapist to assist the client in revising the story of the clients life into a much consistent narrative.According to Sable (2010), the role of the therapist is to provide a springboard for change and this is possible through joint exploration of the dreaded feelings and the unhappy events that contribute the current emotional problems of the client. In order to win thi s trust, the therapist ought to become a relatively secure base where the client experiences safety and support. The therapist has to cultivate for this attachment through calming and assuasive interactions although it may take some time before the therapist is authoritative and felt as emotionally familiar and affectively accustomed to the client. One of the applications of Bowlbys ethological attachment theory by clinicians is in the assessment of the clients attachment style so that the clinician can regulate the therapeutic draw near (Sable, 2010).The outcomes of a therapy process reveal that avoidant outpatients show minimal clinical improvements in comparison to the secure and anxious outpatients after individual therapy (Makulincer, Shaver & Berant, 2013). They also report that in a study carried out in a university program discipline clinic, avoidant attachment had an inverse relationship to psychotherapy outcome. Researchers agree that problems in the working alliance between clients and therapists partially mediate the avoidance-outcome association. In another sample of clients with eating disorders, avoidant-attachment was linked with dropout of group psychotherapy. Another contemporary application of Bowlbys ethological theory is in the diagnosis of the activated attachment disorder. Follan & Minnis (2009) investigate the cases of the forty-four juvenile thieves described as affectionless psychopaths. Out of the sampled juvenile thieves, 86 percent had undergone through prolonged separation from primary caregivers in the early stages of their lives apart from being placed under multiple care placements.Follan & Minnis (2009) find out that in their sample, 60 percent of children with antiphonal attachment disorder had been separated from their homes either resulting from disuse or other types of maltreatment. According to Bowlby, the experience of separation from primary caregivers was a key etiological factor contributing towards the development of difficulties in children. These findings tote up credence to Bowlbys ethological attachment theory in the diagnosis of reactive attachment disorder (RAD). While Bowlbys ethological attachment theory receives universal support, it also faces some criticisms. One such criticism is its reliance on biology and evolution as the basis of development as well as the use of selective observations in naturalistic situations. Marga (2011) presents contradicting reports of a study involving 162 farm children where there was no relation between infant training on one hand and personality development on the other. As a result, the researcher implores scientists to quit blaming mom as a carrier bag to Bowlbys ethological attachment theory. While the criticisms are there, Bowlbys ethological theory receives widespread support and application as it relates to the lifespan development of an individual.ConclusionThe behavioral development of a human being begins at birth and occ urrences at the formative years determine the personality development of the individual later in adulthood. Many theories such as the behavioral and psychoanalytic theories explain personality development of the human individual. The quality of the entire human life is the accurate measure of effective lifespan development of the individual. Bowlbys ethological attachment theory argues that human individuals develop attachments to primary caregivers that are affectionate and supportive. As individuals grow, they develop other secondary and multiple attachments with peers in order to get security as they interact with different environments. Bowlbys perspective has legitimate widespread acceptance although it has also been criticized for placing emphasis on biology and evolution. Nevertheless, the theory receives application in psychotherapy.Researchers report that clients are open up to therapists after they develop a feeling of security and attachment with the therapist. There is establish that psychotherapy outcomes also depend on the establishment of attachment between the client and the therapist. There is also a link between avoidant-attachment and dropout of group psychotherapy. The theory specifically helps in understanding the distress of clients in confused stages in life and this facilitates positive outcomes during physiotherapy. There is further evidence that Bowlbys ethological attachment theory also helps in the diagnosis of reactive attachment disorder. As individuals grow from childhood to adulthood, their attachments change due to changes in the environment, do Bowlbys ethological theory a theory of lifespan development.ReferencesFollan, M., & Minnis, H. (2009). forty-four juvenile thieves revisited From Bowlby to reactive attachment disorder. Child care, health and development 36(5) 639-645. Makulincer, M., & Shaver, P.R. (2012). Adult Attachment Orientations and Relationship Processes. ledger of Family Theory & recapitulat ion 4 259-274. Makulincer, M., Shaver, P.R., & Berant, E. (2013). An attachment perspective on therapeutic processes and outcomes. daybook of individual(prenominal)ity 81(6) 606-616. Marga, V. (2011). The Social Nature of the Mothers Tie to Her Child John Bowlbys Theory of Attachment in Post-war America. British diary for the History of Science 44(3) 401-426. Pitman, R., & Scharfe, E. (2010).Testing the function of attachment hierarchies during emerging adulthood. Personal Relationships 17(2) 201-216. Sable, P. (2008). What is Adult Attachment? Clinical Social Work Journal 36(1) 21-30. van der Horst, F.C.P., & van der Veer, R. (2009). Separation and divergence The untold story of crowd together Robertsons and John Bowlbys theoretical dispute on mother-child separation. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences 45(3) 236-252.