Cupboard love
[2] Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis, was the first to suggest that attachment is a result of the mother fulfilling her infant's physiological needs.
[4] Approximately four million years ago, humans were governed by instinctive behaviors, where they learned how to live in difficult conditions.
Similarly, Freud hypothesized that the infant is also guided by an instinctive nature, forming a bond with the person who will ensure their survival.
She suggested that the phase of extra-uterine symbiosis (events characteristic of a mother infant relationship, including crying, sleep, feeding, etc.)
[5] Her research deduced that an infant is naturally self-centered, only communicating with the mother to satisfy its needs and produce a pleasurable state of being.
In 1965, she defined true object relations as the later stage in development where "the baby perceives his/her mother as a person separate from himself.
[5] During the postnatal period, the baby enters a phase called the "symbiotic envelope" where their primary task is to separate from the mother, instead of forming a relationship of attachment.
Instead, she suggested that mother-infant interactions, such as smiling, babbling and playing, do not fulfill the infant's physiological needs, as the baby's self and non-self awareness is not fully developed.
Psychoanalyst John Bowlby argued that the cupboard love theory overemphasized the positive aspects of the infant-mother relationship.
His research aimed to expand on initial studies and perspectives on attachment to include the nature and emotional dynamic of the child's tie to his mother.
[2] The foundation of his research inferred that our ability to form attachment is based on a genetic blueprint, allowing the mother to interact and communicate with her infant.
In addition, Bowlby also strongly debated the idea of monotropy; the scenario where the infant will only form attachment with one person.
Mary Ainsworth supported the cupboard love theory early in her career, but was later swayed otherwise by Bowlby and his studies focused on ethology.
Sigmund Freud's research also highlighted the significance of an emotional bond between the infant and caregiver in developing a child's superego.
[11] Her results led to the identification of four key dimensions of maternal care: sensitivity - insensitivity, cooperation - interference, acceptance - rejection, and accessibility - ignoring/neglecting.
[10] Her experimental research provided empirical evidence, validating Bowlby's hypothesis on the infant attachment process with their primary caregivers.
"[9] The child begins the process of attachment in early infancy, eventually relying on the caregiver for feelings of comfort and safety.
[9] The infant feels safe to explore and interact with strangers while the mother is nearby, preferring her company when distressed.
Synchronized routines play a significant role in the development of interactional synchrony, predictors for quality attachment.
Today, there is a range of data illustrating that fathers are highly involved in their infant's life, but play a different role than the mother.
[9] Mothers are more like to hold, talk, and soothe the infants, whereas fathers provide physical stimulation and unpredictable games.
Sigmund Freud theorized that an infant's instinctual needs for food, security, and oral sexual gratification are all satisfied by the mother.
The Behaviorism theory rose in popularity during the 20th century, as it had roots in science, focusing on objective observation and measured outcomes.
[19] The term "cupboard-lover" refers to someone who will only profess their love, or act endearingly for the sake of gain from another person.
