University of Department of Psychology PS1114 Discovering Psychology: The Science Behind Human Behavior Coursework Essay 2 How is attachment style related to stress, and what are the social and...

University of Department of Psychology
PS1114 Discovering Psychology: The Science Behind Human Behavior
Coursework Essay 2
How is attachment style related to stress, and what are the social and emotional outcomes of infant attachment in childhood?
Date: 10/02/2022

Word Count: 1084
How is attachment style related to stress, and what are the social and emotional outcomes of infant attachment in childhood?
A care giver or a parent plays many roles in an infant or child’s life such as providing food, shelter, love, comfort, teaching and grooming or simply just being there for them. The presence of a caring parent or a care giver gives security, safety, comfort and love to the infant. This routine interaction between the care giver and the infant/ child leads to attachment. Attachment is the first emotional bond formed between an infant and care giver by means of which the care giver takes care of all the primary needs of the infant. Such interactions lay the foundation of emotional, psychological and social development in infant. Attachment theory was proposed in 1960s by British psychologist john Bowlby and was carried forward by American Canadian psychologist Mary Ainswoth to study attachment behaviors in infants and children (Bretherton, 1992).
Neuroscientists believe that attachment is a primal need that triggers the neural network in the brain to stimulate brain/ intellect development in infants and children and to foster that process also release hormone oxytocin. The experiences gained early in childhood influence the infant’s ability to form secure and stable relationship with others later in life. A child becomes less fearful or stressful when the care giver or the parent makes them believe that they are there for them. This inculcates a feeling of trust in child and they reciprocate the same trust in others when they grow up.
Attachment creates a mental representation in the mind of infant or the child such that it starts to associates a comforting feeling in the presence of caregiver. This establishes a coping mechanism in infants such...