Attachment Theory and Social Constructivism in Child Social Work

Introduction: Theory and Social Work Practice

The profession of social work has a complex relationship with psychological and sociological perspectives. If a social work professional is to provide the assistance that clients need, it is necessary to use appropriate perspectives to understand and analyze the situations in question. This is particularly important when working with children, in which case life course development can provide a great deal of perspective regarding the individual's genetics, history, psychology, and interactions with others (Crawford and Walker 2010: 2). It is also important to understand, however, that no single theory can be used to the exclusion of others in order to fully understand a situation a child might face.

The optimal approach, therefore, is to begin with the theory or theories that seem to best describe the situation at hand, and then, over time, use these to lead to additional theories that might offer a more in-depth perspective. The case to be examined concerns a six-year-old girl, Lilly Jones. The primary psychological theory used to describe her situation will be attachment theory, as described by Howe (2011), while the sociological perspective used to supplement this will be the social constructionist perspective, as addressed by Hutchison and Charlesworth.

Attachment Theory and Lilly's Family Situation

Attachment theory, as described by Howe (2011: 6), has roots in ancient human survival tactics, where primary caregivers in early societies were often also those upon whom children relied for their safety and survival. Even today, a child who feels distressed or in danger will run to the person he or she feels closest to — most often, the mother. Howe illustrates this with a poignant example of a little boy playing boisterously with his uncle, but running to his mother as soon as he falls and is hurt, despite the obvious enjoyment derived from playing with his uncle.

Howe uses this example to demonstrate that, as human beings, it is our nature to seek social support when we are threatened or under stress. In particular, human beings seek out the protection and support of those in the same situation, or those whose emotional support they know they can rely on. Howe further points out that, for young children and babies, social exclusion can be not only particularly painful, but also frightening. This appears to be the case for Lilly Jones.

At six years old, Lilly's recent social and family problems appear to have created significant attachment challenges. Lilly's statement that her mother was admitted to hospital "with bruises" indicates that her mother was physically abused. This has removed the little girl's primary source of attachment and support from the family, contributing to her tendency towards crying episodes. Furthermore, this could also be the reason why she appears to be socially excluded at school. The lack of attachment and support has clearly led to her social and academic difficulties.

When examining the mother's situation, it appears that her own emotional problems and tendency to engage in abusive relationships have created a lack of emotional attachment to and care for her children. The fact that she worries about her children is, however, a positive sign, and this concern may have given Lilly a sense of attachment prior to her mother's hospitalization. For Lilly, it appears that the physical presence of her mother — regardless of emotional distance — provided the support she needed not only to care for her younger sister, but also to maintain relative consistency in her schoolwork and emotional stability. The visible and significant deterioration in her physical appearance, social attachments, and clothing since her mother's hospitalization indicates a loss of the attachment that her mother's presence at home had provided.

As for the rest of the family, it is clear that Lilly's older siblings have not cultivated a sense of care or emotional attachment that could serve as a substitute for their mother's presence at home. Instead, they are coping with their own situations — including teenage pregnancy and juvenile delinquency — which prevent them from providing the nurture and sense of attachment that Lilly needs. Lilly, on the other hand, has taken it upon herself to act as a substitute primary carer for her younger sister in the absence of adequate parental care.