Early Attachment and Development

Bowlbys Attachment Theory holds that emotional attachment in infants occurs in their first year of development and is observed with their mother, father, or primary caregiver. Bowlby argues that it is associated with the attachment behaviors, such as sucking, crying, following, smiling, and clinging, as a means to protect themselves and increase the childs chances of survival and adults inclined to respond to these signals. According to Bowlby, there are four attachment phases: the pre-attachment phase, attachment in making, clear-cut attachment phase, and formation of a reciprocal relationship (Sullivan et al., 2011). The pre-attachment phase occurs from inception through the first two months of life. During the first months, the infants are inherently interested in and are responsive to engagement by anyone provided by anyone besides their primary caregiver since they do not have a fear of strangers. Caregivers responded to the innate signals of the child, and provided they are responsive...

At this stage, children begin to prefer some ca4regivers and use expressive signals compared to others, such as vocalizing and smiling. Further, this preference is also evident for some caregivers, since the child develops stranger anxiety. There is also an expectation of a response from a caregiver when...…engaging their parents since their response is not desirable, become self-reliant, and cover-up negative emotions. Disorganized-insecure attachment occurs when the parents ridicule, reject or frighten their child. Consequently, rather than feel secure and cared for, such children feel fear and heightened anxiety.

Sullivan et al. (2011) argue that attachment styles are critical at the early stages of life since neuroses in adults can be explained by aberrant attachment experiences. According to Bowlby, children use parents as a secure base since their caregiver offers protection and a sense of safety to the child; thus, they can explore and develop other relationships (Hong & Park, 2012). Attachment is a core component of the childs survival mechanism and leads children to…