Throughout this essay I will be discussing the significance of attachment theory for social work practitioners and how they can implement this to develop emotional functioning with younger children. In addition I will examine how the theory has changed and progressed since John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth first “attempts to examine the psychological effects of early relationships” ( Goldberg,2000, pg3) to more contemporary approach such as Michael Rutter’s book on “Maternal Deprivation reassessed” critiquing Bowlby and the development in neuroscience.
Attachment theory can be defined as a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings” (Bowlby 1969, p. 194). John Bowlby, “a British psychoanalyst’ work attempted to understand the …show more content…
Partial deprivation can result “anxiety” and “excessive need for love” (Bowbly 1951, pg.12) whereas complete can “cripple the capacity to make relationships”. Bowlby was very interested in why this occurred and observed test on animals as a way of making a …show more content…
In this study Bowlby split the forty four thieves into six character groups, normal, depressed, circular, affectionless and schizoid. The group with the most thieves was found with the affectionless with 14. In the case of Kenneth G age 12.11, he was fostered at 3 months when his mother was not able to look after. However at three and half his mother remarried and got custody of him again. Kenneth G was recorded in saying he ‘didn’t quite belong’ ( Bowlby,1946,pg.29) and when his sister was born stated ‘ another brat’. Furthermore the study showed “ he had resentment towards his mother and frequently blamed her for being taken away” ( Bowlby,1946,pg.29). The finally diagnosis of Kenneth was “ this boy had complete lack of normal affection” ( Bowlby,1946,pg.29). and being “actively cruel” by burning his sisters leg. Like the monkeys, Kenneth and the other affectionless children all went through the cycle of partial or complete deprivation and the group was as described ‘extremely shut in and isolated’ (Bowlby,1946,pg21). This could be important when working with children and family’s as knowing the characteristics of children suffering ‘maternal deprivation, such as being unengaged or unresponsive can give an insight into the
Attachment theory can be defined as a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings” (Bowlby 1969, p. 194). John Bowlby, “a British psychoanalyst’ work attempted to understand the …show more content…
Partial deprivation can result “anxiety” and “excessive need for love” (Bowbly 1951, pg.12) whereas complete can “cripple the capacity to make relationships”. Bowlby was very interested in why this occurred and observed test on animals as a way of making a …show more content…
In this study Bowlby split the forty four thieves into six character groups, normal, depressed, circular, affectionless and schizoid. The group with the most thieves was found with the affectionless with 14. In the case of Kenneth G age 12.11, he was fostered at 3 months when his mother was not able to look after. However at three and half his mother remarried and got custody of him again. Kenneth G was recorded in saying he ‘didn’t quite belong’ ( Bowlby,1946,pg.29) and when his sister was born stated ‘ another brat’. Furthermore the study showed “ he had resentment towards his mother and frequently blamed her for being taken away” ( Bowlby,1946,pg.29). The finally diagnosis of Kenneth was “ this boy had complete lack of normal affection” ( Bowlby,1946,pg.29). and being “actively cruel” by burning his sisters leg. Like the monkeys, Kenneth and the other affectionless children all went through the cycle of partial or complete deprivation and the group was as described ‘extremely shut in and isolated’ (Bowlby,1946,pg21). This could be important when working with children and family’s as knowing the characteristics of children suffering ‘maternal deprivation, such as being unengaged or unresponsive can give an insight into the