Attachment in Adolescence and Adulthood

This essay focuses on the attachment observed in individuals during their adolescence and adulthood period, discussing the changes in attachment and its impact on various aspects of life.

Running Head: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
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1. Attachment in adolescence and adulthood:
Introduction:
Attachment in the adulthood is changed from infants to adulthood. The transition of the
change in the attachment is due to the change neurological, sexual, cognitive and physiological
changes in the body of an individual (Jones et al., 2018). This essay mainly focusses on the
attachment that has been observed in the attachment of an individual in their adulthood and
adolescence period.
Discussion:
Formation of Attachment is defined as the process of development which is continued
from the infancy to adulthood. The attachment of a human is modified with respect to increase in
the age of the individual. Adolescence or adulthood is considered as the development in the
neurological, socio-physiological and cognitive properties of an individual (Hojat, 2016).
Attachment behavior of an individual has been established during the infancy and this behavior
enhances the attachment of an individual for the whole life. In the adolescence periods, the
attachment of the individual to their parents starts reducing gradually. It happens, because the
individual starts spending less time with the parent. In this period, the majority of the attachment
is observed to the partners with whom they are involved in a romantic relationship and with
friends. These attachment changes that has been observed in the adolescence period pose an
impact on the social and personal life, stress control, professional relationship, psychological and
physiological health and the cognitive properties. In order to evaluate the attachment of an
individual in their adult hood, attachment theory has been used. These theory have its root in

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wide range of the fields includes, developmental psychology, psychoanalytic theory, etiology
and evolution (Ainsworth et al., 2015).
The attachment in the adulthood have been influenced by the transition of an individual
from early childhood to adult hood. The major aim of an individual during the adulthood is to
define themselves and to identify their own identity. The change in the adulthood which have
main priority of the mental, social and the biological changes of the body. Adult hood is
considered as the last phase in the neurological change. Apart from these, sexual changes has
also been determined in the adulthood. All of these changes have impact on attachment of the
adulthood. In the adolescence period, the relationship apart from the family get more condensed
and the individual wants independency from their own parents (Szepsenwol et al., 2017). They
start believing that their parents are interfering much in their life and is taking away their
freedom and identity and due to this, they start considering their parents as danger which
increases the conflict among the individual and the parents. As sexual development in this period
is enhanced, hence safety and breeding is also considered as a concern as an adulthood
attachment. In some cases, it is observed that all the Adolescents who had established secure
attachment in their infancy period, such individuals have more chances to develop a healthier
relationship during their puberty periods, whereas the individual who had not established secure
and protected relationship in their early childhood periods, have a negative impact on the
attachment with other individual in their adult hood (Gross et al., 2017). Adolescents who have
established dismissing attachment behavior, they often behave defensive. Such person have the
habit of being dominant and do try to control other individuals as well as do not trust anyone
easily. Adolescents who have unorganized behavior attachment, they usually feel lonely and
have low self-respect and confidence.

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Conclusion:
From the above essay, it can be concluded that with the increasing age of an individual,
their attachment with the family reduces and the attachment is increased with the romantic
partners and friends. The observed change is due to the change in the neurological, sexual,
physiological and the psychological properties of the individual.
2. Critical periods in psychological development:
Introduction:
Physiological development is the development of an individual based on the cognitive
properties, emotional and intellectual development (Ryan & Deci, 2017). Critical periods of the
physiological development is defined as the period of the physiological development which is
characterized by the change in the neurological properties and is also considered as the
maturation periods (Fuhrmann, Knoll & Blakemore, 2015). The essay mainly focusses on the
critical periods of the physiological development.
Discussion:
Physiological development is defined as the development of a human beings based on the
cognitive, intellectual, emotional and the social function and capabilities (Newman & Newman,
2017). There are seven stages of the physiological development which includes, infancy, early
stage of childhood, middle stage of the childhood, adolescence, early stage of adulthood, middle
stage of adulthood and the last stage is the old age (Moore, Persaud & Torchia, 2018). Out of all
the stage of the physiological development, maturation stage of an organism which is early and
middle adulthood is considered as one of the most critical period in the physiological
development of an individual.

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During the critical period of an individual, the nervous system of an organism becomes
extremely sensitive to the external stimuli especially environmental stimuli (Hilker et al., 2016).
This external stimuli help the individual to acquire new trait and skill to achieve success in the
future. If any individual do not receive the appropriate stimuli, it can lead to delayed
development of function in an individual. These functions are dispensable to the individual’s
survival. Delayed development of such function have negative impact on the future of the
individuals and hinders the personal as well as professional development of the individual.
Critical period of an individual is also related to the ability of an individual to acquire
learning skill such ability to learn their first language fluently. According to Bjorklund & Causey
(2017), individuals who have passed their critical period of the physiological development have
less ability to acquire the fluency in their first language.
Critical period of an individual is defined as the period of the physiological development,
where the neurological changes occurs within the body. These critical periods is differentiated
among the strong critical periods and the weak critical periods. After the weak critical periods,
learning of an individual is still possible but if the individual crosses the strong critical period of
the physiological development, learning becomes impossible (Staddon, 2016).
For example, the critical period of the human physiological development is binocular
vision which is developed during the first three to eight months. Other critical periods of the
human physiological development has been identified as vestibular and the hearing system (Lim
& Brichta, 2016).
Critical period of the physiological development occurs in the prenatal brain of the
individual. It begins in the early childhood and is continued till the adolescent period and the

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adult hood period. The two major factors which influences the beginning of the critical period in
the physiological development of an individual are, cellular events which include, internal
change in human body at cellular and molecular level and the sensory practice such as visual,
auditory and vestibular development (Kenney, Wilmore & Costill, 2015).
The child who are born with physical and mental illness face problem in the
physiological development during the critical period. They are not able develop cognitive
properties and are also not able to mature certain milestone.
Conclusion:
From the above essay, it can be concluded that critical periods of the physiological
development is considered as the maturation stage of an individual. Critical period of the
physiological development also plays an important role in the learning skill of an individual.
From the essay it can be stated that, if the critical period of the human development is passed, it
becomes difficult for the individual to acquire that particular skill.
3. Etiological perspectives of separation anxiety disorder:
Introduction:
Separation anxiety disorder is a type of anxiety disorder which is more frequently
observed in the children of age 3 years and above. The children who has been suffering from the
Separation anxiety disorder have the fear of being separated from their loved and closed ones. By
considering the Etiological perspectives of the disorder it can be stated that the risk factor which
are involved for the disorder are stress, temperaments, family history and environmental issue
(Posavac & Posavac, 2019). This essay focus primarily on the etiology of the disorder.

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Discussion:
Separation anxiety disorder is defined as a mental illness where the individuals suffers
from excessive fear and worry about being apart from the family member, the care taker, parents
or whom the child is most involved or attached with. The disorder is mostly observed in the
children of age 3 years and above or in the children of preschool age (Mroczkowski et al., 2016).
The child who has been suffering from the Separation anxiety disorder poses the fear of
getting separated from their closed ones and the loved ones. In such children, recurrent anxiety
about being separated has been observed. Apart from these, excessive worry or distress has been
observed. They overthink regarding the separation from their loved ones such as being
kidnapped or lost. Due to this, they refuse to stay away from their parents for longer time.
Excessive worry, fear and anxiety lead to lack of sleep, recurrent nightmares, headaches,
stomach pain and other pain has been observed (Vaughan et al., 2017).
This order is associated with the panic attacks, panic disorder and anxiety disorder. The
Etiological factors which are responsible for the separation anxiety disorder are, stress,
temperaments, family history and environmental issue.
According to Javitt and Javitt (2018), separation anxiety disorder is said to be triggered
by the biological and genetic factors. The brain secretes neurotransmitter that helps in
transferring message and expresses the feeling of an individual. Dopamine and serotonin are the
are the type of neurotransmitter which when released in the brain, the person feels anxious.
Apart from these, the family history of an individual also plays an important role in
causing the separation anxiety disorder. The disorder can be inherited from the parents to the
children. Along with the family history, the family condition is also responsible for causing the

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disorder. For example, if the parents or the closed one remain excessive tensed around the
children it can create anxiety among the children. In addition, divorce of the parents also leads to
anxiety among the children (Baldwin et al., 2016).
The environmental factors such as, divorce, death in the family or illness can trigger
anxiety among the children. Sometimes death of the pet also might give rise to anxiety among
the children, as they are usually very much attached to their pets. In children going or moving
away to the school also cause anxiety. It is also observed that, there are certain children who are
more prone to such anxiety disorder. These temperaments are also responsible for causing the
disorder among the children. Such children usually get anxious due to small modification or
alteration in the environment.
It is observed that such anxiety traits are present among approx. all the children.
However, if the proper care of the children is not taken it can lead to separation anxiety disorder.
Conclusion:
From the essay it can be concluded that, separation anxiety disorder is more common
among the children of the preschool age. Such children usually live in the fear of getting
separated from their parents and closed ones. In the essay, the risk factor which are involved for
causing the disorder are described in detail.
4. Cognitive and behavioural approaches to atypical development
Introduction:
Atypical development is defined as the abnormal development or delayed development in
an individual. Atypical development in a children occurs due to pre mature birth or the
complication during the pregnancy (Karmiloff-Smith, 2018). Cognitive and behavioural

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approach helps the individual to reduce the physiological and psychological development which
is caused due to the delayed development of an individual (Scott, 2015). This essay primarily
focusses on the behavioural approach and the cognitive approach which help in the management
of the individual suffering from atypical development.
Discussion:
Atypical development of an individual is defined as the developmental process of the
individual which do not follow the normal course of development. It includes learning difficulty
as well as other mental disability in the individuals. Atypical development of an individual cause
delay in the normal development in an individual (Karmiloff-Smith, 2018).
The delay in the normal development is observed among the children who have the
family medical history of such disorders. Complication during the pregnancy or the premature
birth is also considered to be responsible for atypical development of an individual. Atypical
development of an individual leads to delay in the development and creates barrier for the
children to develop milestone (Haywood & Getchell, 2019).
Cognitive and behavioural approach is one of the most effective approach in order to deal
with the individuals who has been suffering from such delayed developmental disorder.
Cognitive and behavioural approach helps the individual to become more aware of the negative
interpretations made by them and also the behavioural pattern which makes the individual to take
distorted decision (Dryden, 2017). Cognitive and behavioural approach helps the individual to
reduce physiological distress in the individual who has been suffering from atypical
development.

9DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
According to Zeanah, (2018), the faulty thought process of an individual is responsible
for the atypical development. These development will make the individuals to thought negative
among themselves. Such individuals usually have bad or negative expectation related to their
future and sometime negative image of the world.
According to the cognitive approach, the atypical development of an individual is caused
due to the atypical thinking and behaviour of the individual. Cognitive approach states that each
and every individual interact with the world by their mental representation (Kenett et al., 2018).
If the mental representation of an individual is inappropriate, then the interaction will also be
distorted which ultimately have an impact on the emotions and behaviour of the individual.
If the cognitive of an individual is healthy, it leads to normal behaviour. The people
suffering from atypical development have faulty cognition which leads to abnormal behaviour in
the individual. Behavioural approach helps in determining the behavioural change of the
individual who have been suffering from atypical development. In the individual suffering from
atypical development, negative behaviour have been observed (Friedman, Koenig & Thase,
2016). Faulty cognition or the irritational thoughts is supposed to give rise to the cognitive
errors.
The aim of the cognitive property is to alter or challenge the negative thinking of the
individual which may describe the mental illness associated with the delayed development
(Bateman & Fonagy, 2019). The cognitive behavioural therapy also aims to improve the
behaviour of the person who has been suffering from atypical development.

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Conclusion:
From the above essay it can be concluded that, atypical development is the
developmental process which delays the normal development in an individual. From the essay, it
can be stated that the cognitive approach helps the individual to reduce the negative thinking and
the physiological distress and the behavioural approach helps in enhancing the behaviour of the
individual which reduces the psychological distress.

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