Bowlby's Attachment Theory
Parents play a vital role in the social development of a child. Social development is the way in which children interact with their peers and how they progress within society. This develpment is highly determined on the parent’s role in the child’s early life and can sometimes have long term effects. There are many studies that have been carried out that support the theory that a parents role and parenting style can effect a child’s social development; Bowlby’s (1969) attachment theory, Mary Ainsworth’s strange situation procedure and Murray’s (1992) theory on maternal responsiveness play a crucial part in this theory.
British philosopher John Locke stated that all children were born as ‘empty vessels’. These ‘empty vessels’ acquire knowledge from interacting with other people. Parents have a big impact on the knowledge that children learn; this is done through social interactions with the child. Grossmann (2010) stated that children have been able to recognise their mother’s voice from birth and would prefer to look at their own mothers face rather than any other woman’s face, therefore this particular interaction between the mother and child would be crucial for the child’s social and emotional development. …show more content…
Bowlby (1969) believed that there are two types of attachments; Secure and insecure attachments. The type of attachment a child has formed will affect the way they develop socially and emotionally. According to Bowlby, children that have formed a secure attachment tend to use their parents a safe base and see their mother as responsive. However, children who have formed an insecure attachment may avoid their parents and explore their environment less. These children tend to be less dependent on their parents and show no signs of distress when their parents leave them
British philosopher John Locke stated that all children were born as ‘empty vessels’. These ‘empty vessels’ acquire knowledge from interacting with other people. Parents have a big impact on the knowledge that children learn; this is done through social interactions with the child. Grossmann (2010) stated that children have been able to recognise their mother’s voice from birth and would prefer to look at their own mothers face rather than any other woman’s face, therefore this particular interaction between the mother and child would be crucial for the child’s social and emotional development. …show more content…
Bowlby (1969) believed that there are two types of attachments; Secure and insecure attachments. The type of attachment a child has formed will affect the way they develop socially and emotionally. According to Bowlby, children that have formed a secure attachment tend to use their parents a safe base and see their mother as responsive. However, children who have formed an insecure attachment may avoid their parents and explore their environment less. These children tend to be less dependent on their parents and show no signs of distress when their parents leave them