Wednesday, 20 August 2008 11:56

What is Attachment?

Written by Keiron Walsh
Rate this item
(2 votes)
attachment can be defined as: "...the strong, affectional tie we feel for special people in our lives that leads us to feel pleasure and joy when we interact with them and to be comforted by their nearness in time of stress" (Berk, 1998).  

 

In the context of developmental psychology, however, the focus is on attachments between infants and their caregivers. One of Psychology's most prominent attachment theorists, John Bowlby (1969), claimed:

“No form of behaviour is accompanied by stronger feelings than is attachment behaviour. Infants greet those with whom they are attached with joy, and become anxious, angry and sorrowful when they leave or threaten to leave”

 

Developmental Psychologists are interested in what characterises an attachment; whether attachments have to develop within a certain time; whether the quality of attachment is important; whether disruptions to attachment, such as short, long and permanent separations from attachment figures, have consequences for a person's development; and whether cultural variations in childcare have any impact on attachment. Unit 1 of the AQA-A A Level Psychology Specification examines some of these issues.

Follow this link for more on Attachment.



Last modified on Tuesday, 06 July 2010 08:42

1 Comment

  • Comment Link Laura Saunders Monday, 20 December 2010 12:11 posted by Laura Saunders

    ''We can not see the feelings that people have for each other, attachments though can be seen in the behviour of the 2 attached people'' - Maccoby

    The following behaviours have been identified as showing that an attachment exists:

    -Seeking proximity
    -Distress on seperation
    -Joy on reunion
    -General orientation of behaviour towards the other (Maccoby 1980)

    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Add comment


Keiron Walsh

Keiron Walsh

If you have any tips, suggestions or would like to contribute to the site, email me at this address.

Website: alevelpsychology.co.uk E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it