Introduction to psychology

1. By Group One
Md Shahrol Yoga(presenter)
Muhammad faidzal Bin Sani
Norlaila mohd samli
Sarina mohamed zamri
Suzyanna othman
Rohana Mydin

2.  Attachment is an emotional bond to another
person. Psychologist John Bowlby (1907-
1990)was the first attachment theorist, describing
attachment as a "lasting psychological
connectedness between human beings" .
 According to psychologist Mary Ainsworth(1913-
1999), attachment "may be defined as an
affectional tie that one person or animal forms
between himself and another specific one – a tie
that binds them together in space and endures
over time."

3.  The theory was firstly developed by John Bowlby in 1969. Bowlby
believed that an individuals attachment style was developed during
childhood and was influenced by the child’s relationships with their
primary care givers. He also held the belief that the attachment style
would be durable into adulthood and would influence the way that
individual related to others throughout their lifespan (Bowlby, 1969)
 Mary Ainsworth was another influential attachment theorist who is
known for her ‘strange situation’ experiments. Ainsworth would
observe the attachment styles of children by placing the child in a
new environment and record their reactions to their primary care
givers exiting the room and then returning (Tracy & Ainsworth, 1981).

4. John Bowlby (1907-1990)
Bowlby believed that the earliest bonds formed by
children with their caregivers have a tremendous impact
that continues throughout life. According to
Bowlby, attachment also serves to keep the infant close to
the mother, thus improving the child's chances of survival

5. Ainsworth was a Bowlby’s colleague who expanded the
attachment theory. She said attachment is not just a connection
between two people; it is a bond that involves a desire for
regular contact with that person and the experience of distress
during separation from that person.

6. There are four key components of attachment:
 Safe Haven: When the child feel threatened or afraid, he
or she can return to the caregiver for comfort and
soothing.

Secure Base: The caregiver provides a secure and
dependable base for the child to explore the world.

Proximity Maintenance: The child strives to stay near
the caregiver, thus keeping the child safe.

Separation Distress: When separated from the
caregiver, the child will become upset and distressed.

7.  Bowlby also suggested the quality of this attachment relationship is
strongly influenced by experiences and repeated interactions
between the infant and the primary caregiver. The success of the
attachment bond depends on the caregiver's ability to understand
and respond to the infant's physical and emotional needs.
 When caregiver and baby are in sync with each other, a secure
attachment is formed. Baby feels safe knowing the caregiver will
always be there when needed. It was found, through studying
children raised in institutions prior to being doubted that after the
sensitive period, this first attachment relationship can develop, but
with greater difficulty. Hazan and Shaver have also produced
evidence that securely attached infants go on to have stable, secure
adult relationships, as Bowlby's theory predicts.

8.  In her 1970's research, psychologist Mary Ainsworth
expanded greatly upon Bowlby's original work. Her
groundbreaking "Strange Situation" study revealed the
profound effects of attachment on behaviour. In the
study, researchers observed children between the ages of 12
and 18 months as they responded to a situation in which they
were briefly left alone and then reunited with their mothers.
 Based upon the responses the researchers observed, Ainsworth
described three major styles of attachment: secure
attachment, ambivalent-insecure attachment and avoidant-
insecure attachment.

9. Secure Attachment
 Securely attached children exhibit distress when separated
from caregivers and are happy when their caregiver returns.
Remember, these children feel secure and able to depend on
their adult caregivers. When the adult leaves, the child may be
upset but he or she feels assured that the parent or caregiver
will return.
 When frightened, securely attached children will seek comfort
from caregivers. These children know their parent or caregiver
will provide comfort and reassurance, so they are comfortable
seeking them out in times of need.

10. Ambivalent Attachment
 Ambivalently attached children usually become very
distressed when a parent leaves. This attachment style is
considered relatively uncommon, affecting an estimated 7-
15% of U.S. children.
 Research suggests that ambivalent attachment is a result of
poor maternal availability. These children cannot depend on
their mother (or caregiver) to be there when the child is in
need.

11. Avoidant Attachment

Children with an avoidant attachment tend to avoid
parents or caregivers. When offered a choice, these
children will show no preference between a caregiver
and a complete stranger. Research has suggested that
this attachment style might be a result of abusive or
neglectful caregivers. Children who are punished for
relying on a caregiver will learn to avoid seeking help
in the future.

13.  What happens to children who do not form secure attachments?
Research suggests that failure to form secure attachments early in life
can have a negative impact on behaviour in later childhood and
throughout the life. Children diagnosed with oppositional-defiant
disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD) or post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) frequently display attachment problems, possibly due
to early abuse, neglect or trauma. Clinicians suggest that children
adopted after the age of six months have a higher risk of attachment
problems.
 While attachment styles displayed in adulthood are not necessarily the
same as those seen in infancy, research indicates that early attachments
can have a serious impact on later relationships. For example, those
who are securely attached in childhood tend to have good self-
esteem, strong romantic relationships and the ability to self-disclose to
others. As adults, they tend to have healthy, happy and lasting
relationships.

14.  In conclusion, the attachment theory has been found to be an influential theory
used in explaining interpersonal relationships throughout an individual's life.
 The latest attachment theory states that individuals can be classified into four
attachment styles based on the two dimensions of anxiety and avoidance. Anxiety
refers to attitudes towards the self and avoidance refers to attitudes towards others
(Cassidy, 2000). The four attachment styles are the
secure, preoccupied, dismissing avoidant and fearful avoidant attachment styles .
 The four proposed attachment styles, secure, preoccupied, dismissing and fearful
avoidant have been explored, examining the impacts on the individual of being
each style.
 Finally the durability of attachment styles throughout the lifespan has been
questioned, with theories opposed and theories for the idea that attachment styles
are stable. Due to the contradictory and solid research conducted by each
opposing argument, no clear theory is more accurate.

15.  Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and Loss. London: The Hogarth Press.
 Cassidy, J., & Maryland. U. (2000). Adult romantic attachments: A developmental
perspective on individual differences. Dept of Psychology, Review of General
Psychology, 4(2), Special issue: Adult attachment: 111-131.
 Fraley, C. R. (2002). Attachment stability from infancy to adulthood: Meta-Analysis and
dynamic modeling of development mechanisms. Personality and Social Psychology
Review, 6, 123-151.
 Harlow, H. F., & Suomi, S. J. (1970). Nature of love: Simplified. American
Psychologist, 25(2), 161-168.
 Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process.
Interpersonal Relations and Group Processes, 52, 511-524.
 http://www.simplypsychology.org/mary-ainsworth.html
 http://www.reference.com/motif/science/summary-of-bowlby's-attachment-theory

16. From Group One
Md Shahrol Yoga(presenter)
Muhammad Faidzal Bin Sani
Norlaila Mohd Samli
Sarina Mohamed Zamri
Suzyanna Othman
Rohana Mydin