With the theme of attachment in mind, the pPOD team were delighted to be joined together with over one hundred enthusiastic professionals in the latest in the series of the ‘Healthy Conversations’ conferences. Highly influential Professors in the field of attachment and child development were key speakers at the event which was hosted by The Healthy Start, Happy Start study in collaboration with North Central London Research Consortium (Noclor).

Professor Pasco Fearon from University College London kicked off the event with his fascinating presentation giving an overview of recent findings in the field of attachment.
Pasco discussed two key questions during his presentation:
Bowlby’s and Ainsworth’s Theories were used to describe the nature of attachment that a child can have with their parents.
Pasco covered attachment related constructs and early intervention and how these can have an impact on language, cognition and general development of the child.
Professor Fearon discussed how intergenerational transmission of attachment is weaker in clinical samples he also acknowledged the effect of socio-economic class and psychiatric illness. Further to this, Pasco discussed how attachment affects both externalising and internalising behaviours in young children. He emphasised that a disorganised attachment is most at risk of developing externalising behavioural problems.
Pasco discussed two key questions during his presentation:
- Is there evidence of intergenerational transmission?
- Does attachment have implications for a child’s long term development?
Bowlby’s and Ainsworth’s Theories were used to describe the nature of attachment that a child can have with their parents.
Pasco covered attachment related constructs and early intervention and how these can have an impact on language, cognition and general development of the child.
Professor Fearon discussed how intergenerational transmission of attachment is weaker in clinical samples he also acknowledged the effect of socio-economic class and psychiatric illness. Further to this, Pasco discussed how attachment affects both externalising and internalising behaviours in young children. He emphasised that a disorganised attachment is most at risk of developing externalising behavioural problems.
Next to speak was Professor Stephen Scott who is a Professor of Child Health and Behaviour at the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London. Attachment Beyond Infancy effectively proceeded Pasco’s insight into the earlier ages of attachment.
Stephens’s presentation gave contemporary viewpoints on parentings relationships; including how parenting habits can have an effect on other presentations of the child. Poor parenting can lead to changes in behaviour and emotions. These include decreased social and learning skills and emotional dysregulation. Poor parenting can also lead to developments of unhealthy habits in children such as intoxicant abuse and even heightened physiological responses in cortisol.
Stephens’s presentation gave contemporary viewpoints on parentings relationships; including how parenting habits can have an effect on other presentations of the child. Poor parenting can lead to changes in behaviour and emotions. These include decreased social and learning skills and emotional dysregulation. Poor parenting can also lead to developments of unhealthy habits in children such as intoxicant abuse and even heightened physiological responses in cortisol.
Marinus van IJzendoorn and Marian Bakermans-Kranenburg gave an insightful overview of the Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting (VIPP-SD), which is an attachment- based, home-based programme developed in the Netherlands to enhance parental sensitivity and discipline strategies. The programme is currently used in the Healthy Start, Happy Start study.
The programme is based upon Bowlbys/Ainsworth’s attachment theories and Patterson parent child coercive cycle theory. VIPP-SD is both standardised and individualised as interveners use the same manual. Video clips are taken of the parent and child; this enables parents to practice their observational skills and to reinforce parental sensitive behaviour.
VIPP has also been adapted to suit other target groups, such as VIPP-FC for children in foster care, VIPP-Auti for children with Autism and VIPP-Infant (for children under 12 months of age.
The programme is based upon Bowlbys/Ainsworth’s attachment theories and Patterson parent child coercive cycle theory. VIPP-SD is both standardised and individualised as interveners use the same manual. Video clips are taken of the parent and child; this enables parents to practice their observational skills and to reinforce parental sensitive behaviour.
VIPP has also been adapted to suit other target groups, such as VIPP-FC for children in foster care, VIPP-Auti for children with Autism and VIPP-Infant (for children under 12 months of age.
Author: Emily Pearson