CHILD DEVELOPMENT, ATTACHMENT, EMOTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Order Description
Exploration and Application of Attachment Theory
Assignment 1
Weighting: 40%
Length: 3000 words (+/- 10%)
Child development, attachment, emotions and relationships
It would appear from the literature that attachment theory provides useful insights into the early and life span development of humans. The normal development of
attachment and hence its associated developmental phenomena is disrupted in children who have been abused and neglected.
Task
Construct a written response to the following questions, in essay format and of high academic standard. Your essay is to provide critical analysis in response to the
following:

· Explain your understanding of attachment theory in developmental terms
· Outline what might disrupt attachment in children, using relevant literature in support.
• What disrupts attachment?
• What can disrupted attachment look like?
• What impact does culture have on attachment? How might we consider and interpret attachment styles in cultures with differing parenting and child rearing practices
• How might attachment look in a more authoritarian or patriarchal culture?
• Consider collectivist cultures and individualist cultures and how this might be reflected in attachment.
•

· Discuss the Impact of disrupted attachment on the behavioral, emotional and relational outcomes in children? Use literature to support your discussion.
• What are the potential impacts of each harm type (emotional, physical, and psychological) on attachment?
• Consider how these impacts might differ between each harm type?
• Consider the cumulative impact of a combination of harm types and how this might disrupt attachment?
• What does the research say about singular and multiple harm types and the impact on attachment?
· Critically analyse the implications for professional practice and what recommendations would you suggest to guide the helping practices of those working with
children with attachment difficulties?
• How might this influence human services or social work practice

Note 1. You can use your current or future professional context to guide your response to this task. If you are a teacher then think in terms of how the attachment
difficulties might manifest in the classroom or other school environment. If you are a guidance or school counsellor what might be the implications for your
counselling practice? If you are supporting families, care givers or foster families, what might be the implication in that setting? (Use – Human services or Social
work settings)

Note 2. Attachment theory is not without its critics so ensure you are considering all perspectives in your response.