An Evalution of the Attachment Theory Essay - 13038 Words

THE ATTACHMENT THEORY AN EVALUTION OF THE ATTACHMENT THEORY WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN CARE Gail Walters Dissertation Social Work BA (HONS) Manchester Metropolitan University Tutor: Pauline Black CONTENTS Pages Abstract 3 Acknowledgements 4 Statement of Ownership 5 Chapter1: Introduction 1. An†¦show more content†¦Theory based strategies help carers of Looked after Children to facilitate and rebuild secure attachments when they are supporting and working with children in care, or if they move placements for example, into an adoptive or foster family. These strategies help the carers manage and understand challenging behaviour that is often caused as a consequence of an insecure attachment. Attachment can be defined as a long-lasting bond that is developed by infants towards their parents and is described as ‘a positive emotional link between two people – a link of affection’. (Lindon,1998,35,Cited in Crawford et al, 2005). Attachment disorders can impact on a child’s developmental wellbeing throughout childhood and into adolescence. Evaluating the attachment theory can show different ways these disorders affect the relationship of the child and carer. British psychotherapist, John Bowlby (1907-1990) was recognized as the father of the attachment theory and advanced a multidisciplinary stance, which included psychoanalysis with ethnology and cognitive development. Bowlby (1969) wanted to understand more about the level of distress that occurred in infants when they were separated from their parents and how that experience impacted on their developmental wellbeing. There are strong associations between early insecure attachments and later negative vulnerabilities and problematical