Peer Influences and Early Attachment

Peer Influences and Early Attachment

In accordance to the present thinking with regard to the development of children, an individual’s social life and its quality is instilled at the age of three. This statement makes it clear on the imperative influence of caregivers in early childhood. In better understanding the effects which these caregivers posts to young children, we can evaluate the implication of the attachment theory. According to this theory which has been backed by various researchers, interactions with our early caregivers are the main determinant for our future capability in building cognitive abilities and emotional bonds with other people.

By the time a child reaches 3 years, he or she either feels secure or insecure in their attachments with the caregivers. Those that feel secure normally have responsible caregivers who regularly meet their requirements in terms of safety, food, and affection. In their adolescent and subsequent adulthood phases, such children eventually develop a lasting emotional relation with other people.

Three types of early attachments are extant, these include: ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Each of these attachments is exhibited in the following ways.

Avoidance: This occurs when the caregiver depress a child’s expression of distress or affection. In this situation, a child is discouraged on expressing his or her own feelings, further dampening the child’s capability in feeling to be loved by others. Children in this situation normally withdraw themselves from social interactions and even become uncomfortable with regard to their feelings or intimacy during their adulthood.

Ambivalent: This attachment takes place in the case when caregivers provide comfort to children but irregularly. While they may appropriately respond to these children’s needs, other times they don’t or act opposite. With such type of care, the young children become uncertain on whether, the caregiver will be willing to give them what they require or not. In their adolescence stage and subsequently adulthood, they gradually fail to trust people and are at this time risk of eating and mood disorders.

Disorganized: This type of attachment occurs when either the child’s needs are explicitly not met or they are abused. This form of attachment subsequently leads to delayed development, aggressive or disruptive behavior, or social withdrawal. Adolescents or adults who encountered disorganized attachments in their childhood become vulnerable to disorders and problems associated with their mental health or personality aspects. Their interactions with other members of the society are in most cases short lived or chaotic.

It is acknowledged that our style of attachment encountered in early childhood stays in our entire lifespan. There are however times when individuals could learn alternative behavior and ways of thought in improving their relations with other people. It is good to understand that early childhood is just a time when these children grow rapidly, but it is also a time of mental development. Cognitive abilities that are associated with memory, reasoning, thinking and problem solving continue to develop in the entire childhood phases. Coming to adulthood, cognitive abilities helps these individuals in organizing and interpreting information (Fernald_,_{1995). Since establishing a strong attachment is so important to children, parents and caregivers ought to deliberate on ensuring that there children receive the type of care which encourages such strong attachments. There are numerous opportunities which you may employ in forming secure attachment to your children.}

Reference

_{Fernald, A. (1985). “Four-month old infants prefer to listen to motherless” Infant Behavior and Development,}

_8,_181-182.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

(2010) “Abuse, Neglect, Adoption & Foster Care Research: National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being” (NSCAW), 1997-2010. Available from: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/abuse_neglect/nscaw/index.html