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Does Temperament Influence the Parent-Child Attachment Relationship?

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Dissertation(657.27 KB)

Date

2011

Authors

Supervisor

Shinkfield, Carol

Item type

Thesis

Degree name

Master of Health Science

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

This dissertation explores whether individual temperament influences the development of the parent-child attachment relationship. Temperament theory and attachment theory are explored, and neuro-scientific research is investigated in relation to the origins and impact of temperament and attachment in infant brain development. The research method used in this study is a modified systematic literature review, with the findings summarised but not quantified, as is the case in a more traditional literature review. A considerable amount of the literature clearly delineated each construct as a separately operating entity in the development of the infant. However, many researchers have investigated these constructs simultaneously and established that temperament and attachment are in fact interwoven and are bi-directional in nature; in other words, both exert their influence on development. This study shows that both parent and child are active participants in the parent-child attachment relationship, each bringing their individual contributions to bear on its development. The research implies that temperament does, therefore, exert its influence on the development of the parent-child attachment relationship. Furthermore, the findings clearly highlight that the parent/s have the greater resolve within the relationship and that difficulties in individual temperament styles are able to be mediated through a parent’s sensitivity and responsiveness to the infant’s signals and developmental needs.

Description

Keywords

Child, Attachment, Pyschotherapy, Temperament, Infant

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DOI

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Permanent link

https://hdl.handle.net/10292/1225

Collections

Masters Dissertations