Analysis of Theory Worksheet

Use this worksheet to help you apply a theory as a lens to the case study for your assignments. Fill in the column on the right with all applicable information, then consider it a reference for applying the theory. You must submit this worksheet, where indicated, in appropriate assignments. Then, you will compile the worksheet for your Theories Study Guide (that you can use for the licensure exam) at the end of the course: Analysis of Theory Worksheet.

Name of theory	Attachment Theory
Author or founder	John Bowlby; expanded by Mary Ainsworth
Historical origin of theory	Attachment theory, developed toward the middle of the 20th century, grew out of Bowlby’s research into early childhood development and psychoanalysis. It emphasizes early caregiver-child relationships as central to emotional and social development.
Basic assumptions	Human beings are wired to attach for survival and emotional sustenance. Early relationships shape internal working models of self and others, influencing lifelong interpersonal dynamics.
Underlying assumptions	Secure attachment offers a “safe base” for exploration and development, while insecure or impaired attachment is a factor for emotional distress and relationship problems.
Key concepts	Attachment, secure and insecure attachment (avoidant, anxious, disorganized), internal working models, safety base, separation distress, and emotional regulation.
Foci/unit of analysis	The primary focus is on the attachments between children and their caregivers and their impact on development and behavior throughout life.
Philosophical or conceptual framework	Draws on psychoanalytic and developmental psychology frameworks to bring together biological instincts and relational experiences.
Strengths of theory	It provides a clear model that connects early experiences to later emotional and relational capacities. It is empirically validated and applies across the lifespan and cultures.
Limitations of Theory	It may overestimate early childhood influences when not  controlling for later life changes; it does not address broader social and cultural factors.
Common criticisms	Perceived as potentially deterministic, there is a risk of pathologization of attachment insecurity, and it is challenging to  measure internal working models directly.
When and with whom it would be appropriate to use the theory/model	It is beneficial for those with trauma, abuse, neglect, and family-of-origin issues or relational issues, particularly with children, adolescents, and adults struggling in relationships.
Consistency of theory/model with social work principles	It aligns well with principles of empathy, respect for client experiences, and the importance of relationships in healing.
Identification of goodness of fit with ethical principles	Promotes client-centered care and nonjudgmental understanding of behavior rooted in early experiences.
Ways in which theory/model informs research methods	Attachment theory informs research methods by guiding in-depth qualitative interviewing to investigate an individual’s relational history and emotional experiences with caregivers. It affirms the validity of quantified tools like “attachment style questionnaires” for assessing patterns of attachment behavior and security.
Implications for social work practice	It focuses on establishing trust, trauma-informed care, and family-based interventions to restore attachment bonds and develop emotional safety.

 

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Application of Attachment Theory to a Case Study II
*** As you have read, theory guides the conceptualization of the client’s problem and how social workers assess and intervene relative to the problem. However, theory can also shape the self-reflective questions social workers ask themselves. Clients often come to social workers under stress or distress. This then affects how the social worker responds and thus the client-social worker relationship.

As a result, Foley, Nash, and Munford (2009) employed attachment theory as a “lens in which to view the reflective process itself and to gain greater understanding and empathy for what each social worker within each unique social work-client relationship can access of that relationship for reflection” (pp. 44).

This week, you will apply attachment theory to the case study you chose in Week 2. In other words, your theoretical orientation—or lens—is attachment theory as you analyze the case study.

To Prepare

• Review the same case study you selected from last week’s Assignment. (Remember: You will be using this same case study throughout the entire course.)
• Use the Analysis of a Theory Worksheet to help you dissect the theory. Use this tool to dissect the theory, employ the information in the table to complete your Assignment, and then keep it to add to your Theories Study Guide in Week 11.
• Review attachment theory and the following article listed in the Learning Resources: Foley, M., Nash, M., & Munford, R. (2009). Bringing practice into theory: Reflective practice and attachment theory. (ATTACHED)
  

  Analysis of Theory Worksheet

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION:
Submit a 1- to 2-page case write-up that addresses the following:

• Summarize the assumptions of attachment theory in 2–3 sentences.
• Identify the problem in your chosen case study to be worked on from an attachment theory perspective.
• Explain how attachment theory defines and explains the cause of the problem in 1–2 sentences.
• Develop two assessment questions that are guided by attachment theory that you would ask the client to understand how the stress or distress, bond, and/or environment is affecting the client.
• Identify two interventions to address the problem. Remember, the theory should be driving the interventions. In other words, you would not identify systematic desensitization since this is not an intervention guided by attachment theory.
• Write one self-reflective question that is influenced by attachment theory that you can ask yourself to gain greater empathy for what the client is experiencing.

*Submit also, as a separate document, your Week 3 Analysis of a Theory Worksheet.

Be sure to:

• Identify and correctly reference the case study you have chosen.
• Use literature to support your claims.
• Use APA formatting and style.
• Remember to double-space your paper.