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John Bowlby (1907–1990) was a British developmental psychologist of the psychoanalytic tradition. He was responsible for much of the early research conducted on attachment in humans. At an early age, in accordance with upper-middle-class British tradition, he was sent to a boarding school -- the experience of which propelled him to study mother-child attachment relations. See Attachment theory.

Study on attachment and separation

With James Robertson he identified three stages of separation response amongst children:

1. Protest to the mother figure for re-attachment (related to separation anxiety)
2. Despair and pain at the loss of the mother figure despite repeated protests for re-establishment for relationship. (related to grief and mourning), and
3. Detachment or denial of affection to the mother-figure. (related to defence).

These phases are universally seen in children who go through separation, either by loss of parent/s due to death, divorce or through boarding school. Bowlby identified that infants need one special relationship for internal development.

"No variables have more far-reaching effects on personality development than a child's experiences within the family. Starting during his first months in his relation to both parents, he builds up working models of how attachment figures are likely to behave towards him in any of a variety of situations, and on all those models are based all his expectations, and therefore all his plans, for the rest of his life." (J. Bowlby, Attachment and Loss (1973, p.369))

Use of Bowlby's theory in Practice

Attachment Theory as become the dominent theory used today in the study of infant and toddler behavior and in the fields of infant mental health, treatment of children, and related fields. Several evidence-based and effective treatments are based on attachment theory including Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy(Becker-Weidman & Shell, 2005). Nearly all mainstream programs for the prevention and treatment of disorders of attachment attachment disorder. For example, the Circle of Security Program, (Dr. Robert Marvin, University of VA) is one such early intervention program with demonstrated effectiveness. Dr. Marvin and Dr. Siegel (University of California) both also endorse Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy

See also

Reactive attachment disorder

Attachment theory

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy

Selected bibliography

• Bowlby, J. (1960) Separation anxiety. International Journal of Child Psychoanalysis 4t: 89-113.
• Bowlby, J. (1973) Separation: Anxiety & Anger. Vol. 2 of Attachment and loss London: Hogarth Press; New York: Basic Books; Harmondsworth: Penguin (1975).
• Cassidy, J., & Shaver, P., (Eds.), Handbook of Attachment Theory Research and Practice, NY: Guilford Press. ISBN 157230-087-6
• Holmes, J. (1993) John Bowlby and Attachment Theory. Routledge; ISBN 0415077303
• Robertson, James and Joyce (1989) "Separation and the Very Young" Free Association Books
• Zeanah, C., (Ed.) (1993) Handbook of Infant Mental Health. Guilford Press, NY; ISBN 0898629969

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