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Considering the theory which you have read in this article, write critical review and answer, why you agree with this article described below

Assessment Guide

Requirements for Assignment, 750 words

Part 1 400 words

Requirements

The quality of the infant-parent attachment is a powerful predictor of a child’s later social and emotional outcome and a normally developing child should develop an attachment relationship with any caregiver who provides regular physical and/or emotional care, regardless of the quality of that care is which inherently is sad. Because of these children develop attachment relationships even with the most neglectful and abusive caregiver. Therefore, the question is never, ‘is there an attachment between this parent and this child?’ But, instead, the question is, ‘what is the quality of the attachment between this parent and this child?’

Part 2 350 words (critical review of Article)

  • considering the theory which you have read in this article, write critical review and answer, why you agree with this article described below

  • be sure to support any claims and/or assumptions you make using the academic literature you researched.

  • in the end of this Assignment – part 2, you must add minimum 2 questions and to give a chance a writer of this article to reply.

  • REFERENCES ALL TOGETHER IN THE END OF THIS ASSIGNMENT

Article for Part 2 of this Assignment

Attachment theory from an evolutionary perspective posits the innate mother-infant relationship as a reciprocal interaction that is paramount to the fragile new-born infant’s survival, with the formation of self-identity, overall psychological well-being and development of interpersonal skills as an adult (Gervai, 2009). Bowlby believed maternal attachment in infancy and childhood to be fundamental to how an individual builds an understanding of their environment and the ‘scripts’ from which direct relationships with others throughout their lifetime (Malekpour, 2007). Ainsworth posits secure base attachment behaviour occurs when the caregiver meets both the physiological and psychological needs of the infant; as the child learns that the mother represents a place of safety and nurture (Boyd and Bee, 2006). The first attachment in a human’s life forms the basis for all other relationships, a concept supported by both Freud and Erikson with the establishment of trust (Gross, 1996). It is critical to note that abused children will still demonstrate strong attachments with abusive parents, driven by the anxiety of rejection; empirically evidenced in studies by Rosenblum and Harlow (1963), as cited in Gross (1996); the infant monkeys still sought proximity by clinging to the ‘abusive’ cloth monkey mothers who had repeatedly rejected them by blasting them with air, this was then further replicated with ‘rejected’ mother monkeys, revealing similar results.    

Emotional regulation is shaped in early childhood through observation and modelling of the behaviours of close family members and peers who present as role models to the child (Arnett, 2012). A meta-analysis of studies of n= 28, 097 children evidenced positive parenting styles as critical in reducing adolescent relational aggression (R.A), with both strict and detached parenting exacerbating incidences of R.A; critically, paternal psychologically controlling parenting yielded positive association to R.A whereas the maternal aspect of this parenting style did not (Kawabata, Alink, Tseng, van IJzendoorn, and Crick, 2011). A study of 380 adolescents in Tehran, evidence cultural differences as bearing influence on findings in maternal authoritarian parenting style, which uncovered a positive correlation for aggression, however, both the authoritative and indulgent forms bore negative correlations (Lotfi Azimi, Vaziri, and Lotfi Kashani, 2012).

Evaluation of attachment theory reveals a gender bias as the emphasis is upon the mother-infant dyad, ignoring the importance of father-child attachment particularly in females; it is theorised that girls forge perceptions and expectations of male behaviours based upon their interactions with their fathers in childhood (Hetherington, 1972). The 1972 study is potentially unreliable when one considers the difficulty in extrapolating factors that hold any significance for generalization from a sample size of only 24 girls (Faber and Fonseca, 2014). By the age of 5 years, children can differentiate emotional responses and the reason for the evocation of different emotions (Arnett, 2012). One therefore suggests, the 1972 study still yields credence, as the findings indicated that where the divorced father left the family home, in those females, there occurred higher rates of delinquency and proximity seeking behaviours toward males; conversely, daughters whose fathers had died displayed none of the adverse behaviours; instead appearing introverted and reluctant to interact with males (Hetherington, 1972). Furthermore, contemporary studies strongly indicate that paternal absence is a precursor to premature sexual activity and pregnancy in teenage girls, however, other contributing factors include personality, socio-economic stressors, conflict between family members and poor parenting (Ellis et al., 2003). 

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Attachment Quality, Development, and Critical Review of Attachment Theory

Part 1 Quality of Infant–Parent Attachment and Later Development

Attachment theory proposes that human beings are biologically predisposed to form emotional bonds with caregivers in early life. These bonds are not optional or selective in a simple moral sense, but a developmental necessity shaped by survival needs. A key point in the literature is that attachment will form even in conditions of neglect or abuse, which raises an important and often uncomfortable truth: the presence of attachment does not automatically indicate healthy caregiving.

From this perspective, the central issue in developmental psychology is not whether attachment exists, but the quality of that attachment. A child may develop an attachment to any consistent caregiver who provides physical or emotional proximity, even when care is inconsistent, neglectful, or harmful. This is because attachment behaviour is driven by the infant’s need for security, not by an evaluation of caregiving quality.

Early work by John Bowlby emphasised that early caregiver relationships form internal working models, which are mental representations that guide future relationships. These models influence how individuals perceive trust, safety, and emotional availability in later life. Similarly, research by Mary Ainsworth introduced the concept of the “secure base,” showing that sensitive and responsive caregiving leads to secure attachment, where the child feels confident exploring the world while maintaining emotional security.

However, when caregiving is inconsistent or abusive, children may still form strong attachments, but these are often classified as insecure or disorganised. This is not a failure of attachment formation, but rather an adaptation to unpredictable caregiving environments. The child remains emotionally bonded to the caregiver because separation threatens survival needs, even when the caregiver is also a source of fear or distress.

This paradox is supported by animal studies such as those by Harlow (1963), where infant monkeys continued to cling to surrogate mothers even when those surrogates provided discomfort. These findings suggest that attachment behaviour is driven more by proximity-seeking mechanisms than by caregiving quality itself.

Long-term outcomes of attachment quality are significant. Secure attachment is associated with better emotional regulation, stronger peer relationships, and healthier stress responses. In contrast, insecure attachment patterns are linked to difficulties in emotional control and social functioning. Emotional regulation is also shaped through observation and modelling of caregiver behaviour, meaning early relationships influence how children learn to manage emotions in later life.

Therefore, the key developmental question is not whether attachment exists, but how securely or insecurely it is formed, and how this shapes later psychological and social outcomes.

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Because all children form attachments, even in poor conditions. What really matters is whether that attachment is secure, insecure, or disorganised, as this shapes later emotional development.

Yes. Attachment is driven by proximity needs, not quality of care. Children may still cling to abusive caregivers because separation feels more threatening than staying.

It is when a child feels safe with a caregiver, trusts them, and uses them as a secure base to explore the world.

Early attachment creates “internal working models” that influence trust, emotional closeness, and expectations in later relationships.