Subjects:
According to Kagan (1978) an attachment is “an intense emotional relationship that is specific to two people that endures over time and in which prolonged separation from the partner is accompanied by stress and sorrow”. But this is only a definition.
Our first attachment acts as a protype for all later relationships. Even though Kagan definition applies to any attachment, the crucial first attachment is usually taken to be our mother. The attachment process can be divided up into several phases, which are: The Pre-attachment phase, The Discriminate attachment phase, The Discriminate phase and The Multiple attachment phase.
The Pre-attachment phase lasts until about 3 months of age. From about 6 weeks babies develop an attachment to other humans begins. This is shown through behaviours such as nestling, gurgling, and smiling which are directed to just about anyone.
The Indiscriminate attachment phase lasts until around seven months of age. From about 3 months infants begin to discriminate between familiar and un- familiar people. They will allow stranger to handle and look after them without becoming noticeably distressed.
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According to Bowly, the father is of no direct emotional significance to the young infant but only of direct value as an emotional and economic supply for the mother. Similarly, six-year-olds who are insecurely attached to their mothers are more likely to be reported by their teachers as having behaviour problems in school. Parents who nurture:
Plan and engage in activities that bring mutual enjoyment with their children.
Give significance to their children's place in the family by discussing their births and how their names were selected.
The following parental behaviours can be used to develop more specific outcome objectives based for programs focusing on the nurture outcome area. This Discriminate attachment phase occurs when an infant can tell consistently the difference between its mother and other people. Nurturing has both direct and indirect impacts on children.
Listen more responsively to their children.
Nurturance has so consistently been found to be important in the raising of children that some researchers refer to it as the "super-variable" in parenting. Later research showed that when the mother had other qualities such as rocking, providing, warmth and food the attachment was even stronger.
Show respect for each member of the family including children. In Bowbly’s view mothering is useless for all children if delayed until after 2½ to 3yrs and for most children if delayed until after 12months. Similarly, Dix (1991) found evidence that the more positive the emotions parents experience and express the more favourable is the care giving environment for children. In their study, fathers who developed and maintained warm relationships, compared with those that did not, experienced greater success in terms of preventing future drug involvement.
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