Sir Richard Bowlby

Children & Disrupted Attachment

Hear the Inside Story of Attachment Theory

Sydney: Thursday 3 November 2011

Attachment theory, formulated by Richard's father John Bowlby, has led to a new understanding of child development. Children develop different styles of attachment based on experiences and interactions with their caregivers. Four different attachment styles have been identified in children: secure, anxious-ambivalent, anxious-avoidant, and disorganized. Attachment theory has become the dominant theory used today in the study of infant and toddler behavior and in the fields of infant mental health, treatment of children, and related fields.

Throughout life the emotional bonds a child forms with significant attachment figures colour their perceptions and interpretations of events throughout their life. Disruptions to these bonds cause attachment issues and are often the cause of social, emotional, behaviour and mental health problems. During this full-day conference, Richard will outline the development of primary and secondary attachments and examine the psychological coping mechanisms used by babies, toddlers and young children who experience disruptions to attachment relationships.

During the past twenty years there has been a marked increase in the number of babies and toddlers experiencing daily separation from their primary attachment figure. This problem has received scant attention partly because the consequences often do not show up for years, and the connection between discontinuity of care in the early years and later aberrant behavior is not made. Furthermore the message is disturbing that this may be endangering our children, and for many, guilt-producing. Sir Richard will examine the conditions under which babies and toddlers can maintain secure attachments during non-parental daycare, and the psychological defences they use when unable to terminate their attachment seeking response. This is fundamental material for those managing or working in childcare or in child mental or health care as well as all parents. He will also be presenting the latest findings concerning fathers and their role in forming satisfactory attachment and the implications of government policies for attachment issues as a whole.

The proper development of the infant cortex depends on one-to-one loving care. The psychological neurological evidence is clear that the trend in two parents working and childcare centres is not adequate for the healthy development of a young child’s mind.

About Sir Richard Bowlby

Sir Richard Bowlby is internationally renowned for the lectures he gives to health care professionals using video material and personal insights to promote a much broader understanding of his father's (John Bowlby) formulation of attachment theory. He supports a range of organisations that address challenging attachment issues, and is seeking ways to help the general public benefit from a better understanding of attachment relationships.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, in Australia, to hear Sir Richard Bowlby share his wisdom and life's work as the son of the forefather of Attachment Theory. This will be his first trip to Australia from the UK to speak. Register now before all tickets are sold.

For a further insight into Sir Richard Bowlby's work from his lecture at the 2010 PTI World Congress:
CLICK HERE TO WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEO

Attachment Theory and Daycare

A basic understanding of attachment theory is central to appreciating the impact of discontinuity of care. The basic precept is that an infant instinctively behaves in many ways to maintain proximity to her primary caregiver and feels most secure when in close proximity to that person. Attachment between infant and caregiver begins to form early in the infant's life as the caregiver responds in a nurturing manner to the infant's signals - with breast or bottle, singing or cooing, holding and rocking. Slowly, the infant learns that a particular caregiver provides her with a safe, predictable, and comfortable world. Attachment begins to form and grow. In the mind of the infant, it is the beginning of the development of trust--the primary developmental task of the pre-verbal years. The attachment that forms provides a secure base from which the child feels free to explore the larger social and physical world. Early lack of positive caregiving causes later social consequences, since the type of attachment that forms between child and caregiver serves as a prototype for later social relationships.

When caregivers change, it is impossible to prepare the very young because they cannot communicate verbally. "I love you," or "I'll be back later," means nothing to the infant. The despair of the young one who feels deserted is real despair, even if the desertion is no more than a parent's routine departure for work.

Infants who learn they cannot trust may feel that adults are replaceable, love is uncertain, and human attachment is a dangerous investment. They may create internal working models forecasting an unpredictable, unreliable, and untrustworthy world, and be left with wounds that are difficult, perhaps impossible, to heal. A therapeutic reparative experience is initially based on trust—and these children have not learned to trust. Indeed, more recent findings from the world of neuroscience show that the brains of these children are not "wired" to trust.

This problem has received scant attention partly because the consequences often do not show up for years, and the connection between discontinuity of care in the early years and later aberrant behavior is not made. Furthermore the message is disturbing, and for many, guilt-producing. People don't want to hear about it, and don't want to deal with the implications. It is easier to deny that a problem exists and to "attack the messenger" as sexist, regressive, or non-responsive to the realities of the day, than to admit we are endangering our children.

Conference Details

Registration

All fees are GST inclusive.

This will open up another window to register and complete payment securely via StickyTickets. Confirmation of registration along with a tax invoice will be emailed to all delegates.

Any Queries

Conference

Thursday 3 November 2011

Registration

*If booking 2 or more
Register by 31 July 2011

Register by 2 Nov 2011 (unless sold out)

Extra seating has been arranged but still limited availability so book now!

All fees are GST inclusive.