Attachment Case

Attachment means an affectional bond or tie between an individual and an attachment figure, usually the caregiver. Attachment is an emotional bond that develops in the first year of a human's life. Attachment is what makes human babies cling to their caregivers for safety and comfort. This bond is formed by hours of interaction with their primary caregivers, forming a close relationship. Attachment becomes evident at about six months. Babies that have formed this bond will usually smile and giggle when interacted with and are usually more melancholy when the caregiver is not insight. Infants learn in their first year that their primary caregivers can be counted on, forming what Erik Erikson calls Basic Trust. This is first stage in Erikson's Psychosocial Stages. This stage is formed by the caregiver meeting the infant's needs. Infant's needs who are not met, develop what Erikson calls Mistrust. Infant's that develop Basic Trust are more likely to be secure with themselves and others, more enthusiastic about the world, and generally more motivated. Infant's that are unable to form this bond maybe because of an insensitive, unresponsive, or even absent caregiver develops what Erikson calls Mistrust. These infants tend to be fearful with other children, explore less and are unable to adapt to new situations quickly. Around seven to twelve months attachment behavior becomes more intense, reaches its peak and then declines during the second year of life.

Mary Ainsworth introduced the concept of the Secure Base and developed a theory of a number of attachment patterns in infants: secure attachment, avoidant attachment and anxious attachment. Mary Ainsworth conducted an experiment called the "Strange Situation". Where mother and child were brought into a room to see how the children would react to different situations. Ainsworth found that secure children were more outgoing, explored, and calmed quickly when the mother left. Ambivalent/Resistant children didn't wander to far from their mother and got very upset when she left the room. Still when the mother came back they were very upset and angry that she had left. Avoidant children were completely unattached to their mother not caring whether she left or stayed. This explained the importance of attachment.

Children around the age of two should start becoming more independent. The child will start refusing everything. "No" will be their favorite word, while they are trying to assert their independence. This is where the term "Terrible two's" comes into play. At this stage the Caregiver will start disciplining the child which will be new to them and often creates difficulties. The "Terrible two's" generally only last until the child has learned the behaviors and attitudes common to their families culture. This process is called Socialization. If the child does not acquire his or hers independence, or if the primary caregiver belittles the toddlers efforts, the child will start to question his or her own ability to succeed in the world and feel ashamed. Erikson called these two possible outcomes "Autonomy versus shame and doubt". Both the needs for autonomy and socialization can be met if the caregiver gives the toddler a balance between independence and rules and regulations. Some research indicates that not forming attachments during early childhood may also lead to problems in adult years such as, loneliness, a decreased sense of happiness and