Secure Attachment and Human Development

This assignment delves into the significance of secure attachment in human development. It examines how various types of attachments form at different developmental stages and their impact on forming strong relationships. The paper also discusses potential disadvantages of secure attachment, such as overdependence and weakened problem-solving skills. Finally, it emphasizes the crucial role of adult attachment theory in shaping individual development throughout the lifespan.

Human Development across
the life span

Contents
INTRODUCION...................................................................................................................................3
TASK....................................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCION
The development term can be defined as the systematically and continuous changes
occurring in action and behaviour of an individual. These changes in behaviours are largely
influenced by the personal experiences of a person during its developmental stages of life
span (Gardiner, Mutter and Kosmitzki, 1998). The individual goes through numbers of stages
developing different behaviour in his nature because of changing internal as well as external
aspects in individual life. There are many type of attachment that is expressed by a person
during his department. Among which secure attachment shown between the parent and the
infant is most important aspect for development of human. This creates a strong relationship,
important for self-identification and confidence in life.
In this report the various stages of human development across life span of individual
is discussed along with studying different kind of attachment formed between the person at
various stages of development. Importance of the secure attachment is also discussed along
with highlighting some of the negative points of the statement and adult attachment theory.
TASK
Secure attachment can be studies specifically during different stages of life a person.
A child person is totally depended on others for all his work and at the age of adolescence
they become some protective and start hiding things then and become somewhat mature. At
the age of adulthood a person need mental support and this is a age of hard work were they
always need a hand with them.
J. Bowlby is the first person who gives an view on the attachment theory which
describes the changes and development of human based on different attachment forms by
other people during their life span. The various types of attachments defined by the J. Bowby
in his adult attachment ther is secure attachment which is formed by emotional relations
individual with others, avoidant attachments which disintegrates an person from specific
person or society, ambivalent attachment which is inconsistent in relations formation,
disorganised attachment which shows depressed or angry phase of an individual (Craig,
1996). The various type of attachment followed in the life span of an individual especially in
development of infant state of mind during his various developmental stages are as follows:
Secure attachments- 65% of the infant and the person follows this types of attachment
during his their development across complete life style. In this type of attachment formation

the children feels secured and happy. The explorative behaviour of the infant can be seen
through formation of emotional attachment with family members and leads to faster
development of child. Mother or parent at this stage of development of infant is more
sensitive towards the needs and desires of child. Mother is quick in accomplishing her duties
and consistent with her responsibilities towards infant. Mother shows emotional and caring
relation of attachments with child. In this the child is having expectation that his needs and
wants will be met (Carstensen, 2006).
Avoidant attachment- This particular type of attachment shows that child is not happy
and not explorative in nature. The infant is emotionally distant from parent and mother as the
other is disintegrated with children development and not emotionally attached in
accomplishing the needs and wants of child.
Ambivalent attachment- This is followed by about 10 to 155 of the population
different developmental stages across life span in various situations and condition. This is a
mixture of behaviour expected by individual that infant is anxious and angry because of
inconsistent behaviour of mother. Mother is sometime attached while sometimes neglects the
child hence the infant do not rely on the other to meet their needs and desires.
Disorganised attachment- While this can be evidenced by the depressed behaviour
shown by the children as the mother is not responsive towards children. The infant is not
strategic in accomplishing his needs from others (Rutter and Rutter, 1993).
One of the major issues related with the attachment theory is that its nature versus
nurture of infant or individual during his life span. Nature is the traits or genetics that is
inherited from the parent to their child. Genes and some behaviour is passed on by parent to
infant during his birth and developmental stages. While Nurture is the personality or
behavioural changes that are brought by the infant while interacting with external
environment and exterior society people (Lamb and Sutton-Smith, 2014). As per views of J.
R. Harris this can be observed that child brings up new changes in his action learning from
peer to fit in the external environment. This the major issues of the adult attachment theory
given by J. Bowlby.
For an example J. R. Harris evidenced that the parent learn children how to speck and
infant learns the parent language with accent. While interacting outside the children standards
learning peer’s language consistently without interpretation and without development of their
accent. This states that the nurture and nature are two aspects of development of infancy
during various stages of life span.
As we come to the different stages of life our way of attachment changes as a child
we are able to separate from parent but as a adult we have trusting lasting relationship with
the securely attached people. As adult we tend to have good self- esteem but as children we
seek comfort from parents when we are frightened. When we are adult we are more
comfortable in sharing feelings with friends and parents but when we are children in
exchange of sharing we meet with positive emotions from parents. When we are child we

prefer our parents over strangers as they are the one with whom we spends our most of the
time. But as adult we seek out social support or believes in interacting with new people.
As everything has its pros and cons so the secure attachment for infants development goes
on the same track. So,the pros of the secure attachment were as follows :
 It is the best foundation for healthy,physical,emotional,intellectual and social
development.
 It develops a curiosity in infants for learning and they always feel safe and supportive
in their work. They can freely share their problems and situations and can strongly
counter them.
 It also helps them in learning as suggestions from different people give them new
points of learning.
 They are socially constructive and less aggressive in their behaviour.
 They are more creative and focused in their work.
 More persistent in meeting life's challenges and learn things more easily.
 It strengths infants ability to create a new social networks and develops a positive
bond and healthy relationship
These are some if the benefits driven from secure attachment in individuals growth
followed during infancy stage of his life span (Coie and Dodge, 1998). 65% population
follows secure attachment at the stage of infants development throughout the life span just
because of it's advantages.
As positivity is followed by negativity and negativity is big hurdle in the infant's
development and growth through secure attachment which makes them to take a step back
and think for other options.
 Secure attachment's biggest disadvantage is that they are not punished for the sake of
attachment. So there are chances of children's taking advantage of situation like
indulging in wrongful acts.
 They become overly dependent on others for their every small work.
Secure attachment makes a child weak. As they are always dependent on others for
their decisions (Coie and Dodge, 1998).
 The thinking power on them become weak . Not able to find a solution of their
problem by themself.
CONCLUSION
The discussion over the above discussed subject matter i.e. human development
across different stages of individual life can be ended with concluding that most of the infant
develops secure attachment with other people including parents which are important for
formation of strong relationship in society. This can be evidenced from the above discussion
that various types of attachments are formed between the individual at different stages of his
development. The human development goes through consequent changes. This statement
goes through that “Secure attachment was once viewed as essential for infant development”.
It has been evidenced that and proven recently that the most significant aspect for formation

of strong and successful relation with other people in society, contribute in identification and
recognition of self esteem and self identity strongly and secure attachment bring higher
confidence in the actions and behaviour to accomplish goals of life confidently. The adult
attachment theory plays significant role in development of individual differently at various
stages of the life span.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Gardiner, H.W., Mutter, J.D and Kosmitzki, C., 1998. Lives across cultures: Cross-cultural
human development. Allyn & Bacon.
Craig, G.J., 1996. Human development. Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Carstensen, L.L., 2006. The influence of a sense of time on human
development. Science. 312(5782). pp.1913-1915.
Rutter, M. and Rutter, M., 1993. Developing minds: Challenge and continuity across the life
span. New York, NY, US: Basic Books.
Lamb, M.E. and Sutton-Smith, B. eds., 2014. Sibling relationships: Their nature and
significance across the lifespan. Psychology Press.
Coie, J.D. and Dodge, K.A., 1998. Aggression and antisocial behavior.
Lamb, M.E. and Sutton-Smith, B. eds., 2014. Sibling relationships: Their nature and
significance across the lifespan. Psychology Press.
Heckhausen, J., Wrosch, C. and Schulz, R., 2010. A motivational theory of life-span
development. Psychological review. 117(1). p.32.
Kail, R.V. and Cavanaugh, J.C., 2015. Human development: A life-span view. Cengage
Learning.
Grusec, J.E. and Hastings, P.D. eds., 2014. Handbook of socialization: Theory and research.
Guilford Publications.
Kreppner, K. and Lerner, R.M. eds., 2013. Family systems and life-span development.
Psychology Press.
Champagne, F.A., 2010. Epigenetic influence of social experiences across the
lifespan. Developmental psychobiology. 52(4). pp.299-311.