The Joy of Being Close

Persuasive Essay # 116891

Child, Youth Issues
Psychology > Theory

A persuasive essay on the benefits of attachment parenting.

2,309 words () | 9 sources | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper outlines attachment theory as espoused by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth and then focuses on how Dr. William Sears promotes the "7 Baby B's" on parental attachment. The paper addresses public interest on the topic and devotes time to explaining the possibility of harming babies' brains by causing them stress. The paper goes on to show how a mother's bond promotes independence, improves the baby's behavior, advances development and is said to even make babies smarter. The paper concludes that listening to our instincts is perhaps the best thing that we can do to ensure our children a better start. Two graphs are included with the paper.

From the Paper:

"Every parent simply wants what is best for their children. When I first discovered my pregnancy, I was afraid that I would miss my single life and desire to be alone again. I certainly wasn't "prepared" for motherhood. However, the moment my son was given to me after birth, everything fell into place. Maternal instinct is not an old wives' tale. It is a scientific fact that there are chemicals produced in a mother's system after birth that fuel her desire to be close to her young. In this desire to keep our young ones close to us, to nurture and tend to their every need, science is finally beginning to prove that it is wise to succumb to Mother Nature."

Sample of Sources Used:

AskDrSears.com. (2006a). What attachment parenting is - The seven baby b's. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T130300.asp.
AskDrSears.com. (2006b). Bonding with your newborn. Retrieved August 5, 2009, from http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T101100.asp.
Bretherton, Inge. (1992). The origins of attachment theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Developmental Psychology, 28(5), 759-75. Retrieved August 5, 2009, from Education Resources Information Center database.
Devito, C., & Hopkins, J.. (2001). Attachment, parenting, and marital dissatisfaction as predictors of disruptive behavior in preschoolers. Development and Psychopathology, 13(2), 215-231. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from ProQuest Psychology Journals.
Parents.com. (2009). 5 baby bedtime mistakes to avoid. Retrieved August 6, 2009, from http://www.parents.com/baby/sleep/basics/5-baby-bedtime-mistakes-to-avoid/;jsessionid=JZDJ5KCQ5BQCQCQCEARR5VQ?page=1.