Theory of Attachment

Based on the theory of attachment, what behaviors would a nurse attempt to stimulate when working with parent to promote health attachment?Please include 400 words in your initial post with two scholarly articles by Wednesday midnight and 200 words in two answers to your peers by Saturday midnight.

Full Answer Section

       
  1. Responsiveness: Nurses can guide parents to be responsive to their infant's emotional needs. This involves providing comfort, reassurance, and affection when the infant is distressed or upset. By demonstrating empathy and understanding, parents can help their infants develop a sense of trust and security.
  2. Engagement: Nurses can encourage parents to engage actively with their infants. This involves talking to them, playing with them, and providing opportunities for exploration. By engaging with their infants, parents can help them develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills.
  3. Availability: Nurses can emphasize the importance of being available to their infants, especially during times of distress. This involves minimizing separations and ensuring that the infant feels safe and secure in the caregiver's presence.
  4. Positive Reinforcement: Nurses can provide positive reinforcement to parents for their efforts to promote attachment. This involves praising parents for their sensitivity, responsiveness, and engagement with their infants. By recognizing and rewarding positive behaviors, nurses can encourage parents to continue their efforts to build a strong attachment relationship.
Scholarly Articles:
  1. Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and Loss: Vol. 1 Attachment. Basic Books. This classic text by John Bowlby outlines the theory of attachment and its importance for child development.
  2. Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of Attachment: Assessed in the Strange Situation and Related Procedures. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. This book presents research on the different attachment styles that can develop between infants and their caregivers.
By promoting these behaviors, nurses can help parents create a nurturing and supportive environment for their infants, which can have lasting benefits for the child's development.  

Sample Answer

       

The theory of attachment posits that infants form strong emotional bonds with their primary caregivers, which are crucial for their social, emotional, and cognitive development. These bonds, known as attachments, are formed through consistent and responsive caregiving.

To promote healthy attachment between parents and infants, nurses can attempt to stimulate the following behaviors:

  1. Sensitivity: Nurses can encourage parents to be sensitive to their infant's cues and respond promptly to their needs. This involves paying attention to the infant's facial expressions, body language, and vocalizations