The adolescent stage can be described as a time where there is a loss of innocence and a preentry into adulthood. A large part of being an adolescent is beginning that process of stepping out into the
Discussion 1: Attachment Theory
The adolescent stage can be described as a time where there is a loss of innocence and a preentry into adulthood. A large part of being an adolescent is beginning that process of stepping out into the world and learning about oneself as a unique and autonomous individual. This movement out into the world is contingent upon the knowledge that this young person will have a safe and secure home to return to at the end of the day. If a traumatic loss or event has occurred in the adolescent’s life, there may be no safe base to which this individual can return. Attachment theory teaches us that a young person’s ability to attach/engage with peers, family, and other potential support systems is an important aspect of the developmental process. During the adolescent stage of development, assessing attachment styles is important because it provides a window into how the adolescent relates to others, which allows the clinician to choose the appropriate intervention.
For this Discussion, choose either the program case study for the Bradley family or the course-specific case study for Brady.
Respond to at least two colleagues who identified a different case and provide feedback on client attachment style and exhibiting behavior.
The following are the original Post to which responses are needed:
AshH
RE: Discussion 1 - Week 4
COLLAPSE
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Attachment theory:
Attachment theory emphasizes the importance of an interaction between a parent or caregiver and the child that leads to emotional bonding. Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2016) describe four factors that contribute to an attachment and these include "significant amount of time spent together, alert reactions to the child's needs and the provision attentive care, the caregivers emotional responsiveness and depth of commitment to the child, and being readily available in a child's life over a long period of time" (pg. 149). Internal working models (IWM) are affected by attachments and can become generalized overtime to represent the nature of relationships and if others are trustworthy or deserving of care resulting in the guidance of a child's expectations and behaviors (Gross, Stern, Brett, & Cassidy, 2017).
Application to Tiffani:
In the case of Tiffani, she described having happy memories for the first years of her life indicating a secure attachment, but starting around the age of eight, she developed insecure attachments with her parents when they began to use drugs and she was left to take care of herself most of the time (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014a). Tiffani also experienced sexual abuse until the age of 14 from people she was supposed to be able to trust and this resulted in her running away from home and meeting Donald. Because she did not have secure attachments, Donald telling her that he would keep her safe and take care of her resulted in her creating a secure attachment with him because she was seeking proximity, safety, protection, and a secure base. She felt that Donald had saved her from a situation that she was fearful of and also felt that her parents did not do enough to protect her from Nate and Jimmy (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014a). Donald provided a secure and safe attachment at a time of distress in Tiffani's life, so she associates him as a caregiver despite how he has treated her and the situations she was put in.
Resources:
Gross, J. T., Stern, J. A., Brett, B. E., & Cassidy, J. (2017). The multifaceted nature of prosocial behavior in children: Links with attachment theory and research. Social Development, 26(4), 661-678.
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014a). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
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CTran
RE: Discussion 1 - Week 4
COLLAPSE
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The attachment theory proposes that children develop a biologically driven attachment to seek comfort and protection from caregivers in times of threat (Gross et. al., 2017). In the case of 16-year-old Tiffani Bradley, she develops an attachment to her pimp, Donald. Due to the broken relationship Tiffani developed with her parents due to their substance use and troubled marriage, as well as the sexual molestation she endured at the hands of her uncle, Tiffani felt protected in the arms of her pimp, Donald.
For the first 8 years of her life, Tiffani had an appropriate level of attachment to her parents as her caregivers. However, due to the eventual combination of domestic violence and substance usage, Tiffani no longer felt safe under the care of her parents in their home. Therefore, running away from home felt like the right thing to do for Tiffani. In a time of opportunity, Donald was her hero and new safe place. Since she endured years of experience neglect from her parents and repeated molestation from her uncle, Tiffani began seeing what Donald was doing to her (ie: pimping her out, hitting her, and his controlling behavior) was normal. Due to the negative actions Tiffani witnessed with her parents, she has not been able to see that what Donald did to her is also negative, so she still feels a sense of attachment to him.
References:
Gross, J. T., Stern, J. A., Brett, B. E., & Cassidy, J. (2017). The multifaceted nature of prosocial behavior in children: Links with attachment theory and research. Social Development, 26(4), 661–678.
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
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