Lesson Notes

Lesson 9.4a  Attachment: The Importance of Bonding

In this lesson you will learn about attachment, defined as an affectional bond that grows with time. From the moment a baby is brought into this world they begin to form attachments to significant figures in their life. Whether that is the mother, father, or grandparents for example, the bond that babies form at this time can have an important impact on their later development.

John Bowlby is seen by many researchers as the person who brought the role of attachment to the forefront. Bowlby emphasized that infants are innately predisposed to forming bonds with others. The work of Konrad Lorenz reiterated this importance with his study on baby ducklings. Lorenz concluded that imprinting (an innate critical period for attachment) happens in other species as well. Harry Harlow took this theory even further, concluding that the type of bond was just as important. Harlow found that comfort contact was an important aspect of the attachment process. Finally, Mary Ainsworth’s studies differentiated between types of attachment. She found that there are three categories: Securely attached, Avoidant, and Anxious/Ambivalent. Each of these types of attachment resulted in different developments of children.

Lesson 9.4b  Parenting Styles: Their Effect on Development

This lesson looks at the research of Diana Baumrind. Baumrind’s research made significant contributions parenting by identifying different styles that parents may have and how a particular style can effect the development of their children. Parents need to understand that they have a significant role in the development of their children and that poor parenting can have dramatic effects.

Although Baumrind’s research offers us important information to how parents have a direct influence on the development of their children, some researchers suggest that her research ignores the impact of the child’s temperament, expectations, and the level of parental warmth as factors.