Infant-Mother Attachment and Eating Disorder Behavior Essay

Mary S. Ainsworth was fascinated in the association between infants and their mothers that she later coined the theory of infant-mother attachment. According to Ainsworth, there are three evident attachment patterns that will develop, secure, anxious and avoidant infants. Ainsworth felt it was substantially necessary for a child to transition out from a mother’s attachment and vulnerability to autonomy and independence as a factor in normal development in personality. One of the key points of Ainsworth security theory is that infants need to â€Å"develop a sense of direction and secure dependence on parents† before leaving the nest into a strange and unfamiliar situation (Bretherton, 1992). According to Ainsworth, â€Å"Familial security in the†¦show more content†¦In order for children to thrive, infants need to experience healthy nurturing relationships with their mother or caregiver. Nevertheless, without a mother infant attachment bond the growth and d evelopment of personality would be non-existent to the infant or child. For the explanation if attachment, family factors do play an imperative role for positive development in a mother infant attachment bond. Studies show that an individual who has a healthy relationship with parent s will have a positive or nurturing relationship with their peers (Richters Walters, 1991). Individuals who are alienated growing up are more prone to the development of eating disorders or self-harm behaviors that had negative experiences growing up in a house hold with conflicts, or the lack of socialization skills (Richters Walters, 1992). Relationship between attachment and eating disorders Many theorists believe that family dynamics of those suffering from eating disorders may have contributed to their illness. For instance, anorexic families have sought to be closely related, with perfectionistic attitudes, and higher socioeconomic status. Cole-Detke Konak (1996) described anorexic families as dependent on their child which results in the sufferer being tired to their needy parents by stopping their daughter from actually developing her own autonomy and sense of separation into the world. According to attachment theory, disordered eating behaviors and the attempt to controlShow MoreRelatedRelation: Infant Mother Attachment and Eating Disorders1510 Words   |  7 Pageslinks between infant mother attachment and eating disorder behavior. Throughout this paper the two main theorists that are looked at are Mary S. Ainsworth and John Bowlby. Mary S. Ainsworth’s framework of attachment theory began in Uganda, while studying individual difference in infant behav ior, which is known as the Strange Situation. John Bowlby coined the theory of infant mother attachment based on object relations psychoanalytical theory and the conceptualization that infants need healthy maternalRead MorePsychological Theories, Freudian, Object Relational, And The Main Components Of Attachment And Object Relations Theory1660 Words   |  7 PagesIn this paper, the author will delineate the following developmental theories, Freudian, Object Relational, and the main components found in Attachment. The main theorists that will be addressed include, Sigmund Freud, John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, and some work of Melanie Klein. The author will provide a detailed explanation on attachment and object relations theory and how it can be incorporated with a client who is suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and how the impact of development correlates withRead MoreEssay on Attachment Theory2562 Words   |  11 Pagesbetter insight of attachment theory Mary S. 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