Secondary attachment figure and students` self-actualization : a case of Mahad Mawaridussalam Medan

Abstract

This study is to investigate the secondary attachment figure and self-actualization among the students of the Ma’had Mawaridussalam - Medan. This qualitative study employed interview, observation and document analysis as instrument for data collection. The interview session conducted with five students of the Ma’had who sit at fifth and sixth form (secondary level) and whose the students’ age around fifteen to nineteen years old, hence categorized into adolescent or teenager age. The results show that the secondary attachment figure evolves into three kinds of attachment are; attachment to teachers, attachment to peers and attachment to senior students. These three kinds of attachment have influenced the students’ academic, skill, and emotional-moral development such as pertaining to the school academic achievement, life skill and social skill. In this sense, the secondary attachment figure is a teacher who has played the role in shaping students’ personality through environment setting, empowering students’ actualization, motivation and counselling.