Object Relations, Dependency, and Attachment: A Theoretical Review of the Infant-Mother Relationship

Abstract

3 theoretical approaches to the origin and development of the infant-mother relationship are reviewed: psychoanalytic theories of object relations, social learning theories of dependency (and attachment), and an ethologically oriented theory of attachment. "Object relations," "dependency," and "attachment," although overlapping, are seen to differ substantially. Among the concepts in regard to which there are significant intertheoretical differences, the following are discussed: genetic "biases," reinforcement as compared with activation and termination of behavioral systems and with feedback, strength o f attachment behavior versus strength of attachment, inner representation of the object, intra-organismic and environmental conditions of behavioral activation, and the role of intra-organismic organization and structure. Finally, the relation between theory and research methods is considered.

The association between childhood trauma, parental bonding and depressive symptoms and interpersonal functioning in depression and bipolar disorder

“…Associations between poor parental bonding (affectionless control) and poorer mental health outcomes have been previously reported (Parker, 1979;Parker et al 1982;Joyce, 1984). There are a number of theories which highlight the importance of early attachment relationships for later psychological development including attachment theory (Bowlby, 1979), object relations theories (Klein, 1952;Ainsworth, 1969) and cognitive theories (Beck, 1967;Segal, 1988).…”

The Importance of Shared Environment in Infant-Father Attachment: A Behavioral Genetic Study of the Attachment Q-Sort.

“…Furthermore, the AQS allows not only for the measurement of attachment security but also for various other constructs because only a subset of the behavioral descriptions are meant to index security. Waters and Deane (1985) included a contrasting construct, dependency, in order to test the relation between attachment security and temperamental dependency (Ainsworth, 1969).…”

Representação mental e mudança terapêutica: uma contribuição da perspectiva psicanalítica da teoria das relações objetais

“…As pesquisas sobre o apego iniciaram-se a partir do trabalho de Bowlby (1969) e Ainsworth (1969) que denominou a ligação entre o bebê e a figura materna como vínculo de apego. Esta ligação não estaria somente determinada por aspectos de dependência física e psicológica do bebê em relação à figura materna, mas também por padrões comportamentais de origem biológica, estabelecidos num sistema de ações voltadas para a manutenção da proximidade entre a criança e sua mãe e consequente formação de vínculo afetivo.…”