The Emphasis of Secure Attachment

Is it possible to overemphasize the importance of secure attachment? Why or why not?

The importance of secure attachment cannot be overemphasized for a number of reasons. As a rule, secure attachment is based on trustworthy relationships between a child and a parent (or caregiver). This fact means that interaction between a child and his/her parents (or caregivers) is important for personality development of this child. Moreover, secure attachment contributes to establishing positive parental styles that help to create positive environment for learning new things (Berk, 2012). In other words, secure attachment produces healthy relationships between a child and his mother and father. This type of relationships affects emotional stability of a child. In their study, researchers found that emotional impact of separation is strong enough to change the behaviour of a child. They suggests that the child’s ability to create secure attachments with his/her caregivers depends on social environment that should support protection of the child’s best interests (Goldsmith et al., 2004). According to researchers, “attachment security provides a protective factor against psychopathology by buffering children from the harmful, long-term effects of psychological trauma” (Goldsmith et al., 2004, p. 2). There is much evidence taken from academic studies that children with secure attachments demonstrate good communication skills, have a capacity for self-control and self-regulation, and are effective in social interactions. Secure attachment helps to establish positive self-representations, strengthen self-reliance, as well as develop the proper adaptive coping skills (Waters et all., 2000). Research findings show that “strong social support structures might reduce the number or impact of negative experiences and thus increase stability; they could also attenuate links between negative experiences that occurred and attachment stability” (Waters et al., 2000, p. 688). This fact means that external support in necessary to protect the stability of secure attachment. Thus, it is impossible to overemphasize the importance of secure attachment. It is critical for parents and professionals in the area of child welfare to promote secure attachment in the child’s best interests.

References

Berk, L .E. (2012). Child development. 9th Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education. 

Goldsmith, D. F., Oppenheim, D., & Wanlass, J. (2004). “Separation and reunification using attachment theory and research to inform decisions affecting the placement of children in foster care,” Juvenile and Family Court Journal, Spring, 1-13.

Waters, E., Merrick, S., Treboux, D., Crowell, J., Albersheim, L. (2000). “Attachment Security in Infancy and Early Adulthood: A Twenty-Year Longitudinal Study,” Child Development, 71(3): 684-689.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

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"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

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freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
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"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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