Attachment and Its Role in Development

By: Eliza StaggHadley Hege

What is the Attachment Theory?

John Bowlby started the work after World War II

• Interdisciplinary study:• Psychological• Ethological• Evolutionary

• Impacts long-term relationships between humans

• Most important tenet is an infant needs

• To form a relationship with at least 1 primary caregiver. Develops over the 1st year

• It is a fundamental need to feel socially connected without it normal social/emotional development do not occur

Bowlby’s Belief

In a child’s early years the mother helps the child learn to self-regulate

This is done by the mother acting as the child’s ego and superego: Orients space and time Provides and maintains environment Balances the infants impulses by permitting or restricting them

“Gradually he learns these arts himself, and as he does, the skilled parent transfers the roles to him. This is a slow, subtle and continuous process, beginning when he first learns to walk and feed himself, and not ending completely until maturity is reached. . . . Ego and super-ego development are thus inextricably wound up with the child’s primary human relationships.” Bowlby

Four Characteristics of Attachment

Maintenance- A want to be near the person/people we are attached to

Safe Haven- Caregiver is a source of safety and comfort

Secure Base- Caregiver is a source of safety which enables the child to explore knowing he can return to safety if distressed

Separation Distress

- Anxiety arises when

the caregiver is absent

Attachment with Infants

Four stages of attachment:

1. Preattachment stage- birth to 6 weeks, caregiver is close, baby attracts and responds positively

2. Attachment in the making- 6 weeks to 6-8 months, develops sense of trust, responds more familiar, doesn’t protest separation

3. Clear-cut Attachment- 6-8 months to 18-24months, separation anxiety protests

4. Formation of Reciprocal Relationship-18mo to2 years, increased understanding caregiver will return, more knowledge of language and symbols

The Patterns of Infant Attachment

Type Pattern Definition

A Insecure/Avoidant Infant avoids connecting with its caregiver.

B Secure Infant receives comfort & confidence.

C Insecure-resistant/ Infants anxiety is ambivalent apparent, becomes very

upset with separation but struggles with the reunion.

D Disorganized Marked by infants inconsistent reaction to

the caregiver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH1m_ZMO7GU

What If Attachment Doesn’t Happen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDh1C-PubYQ

Adult Attachment Styles and It's Role In Romantic Relationships

 Adult relationships are influenced by earlier attachment patterns.

 Cindy Hazed and Phillip Shaver applied the attachment theory (Bowlby and Ainsworth) to adult relationships in the late 1980’s.

 They had found that there was similarities between the child and caregiver relationship and adult relationships such as: Both feel safe when the other is near and

responsive. Engage in physical contact. Share discoveries with one another. Anxiety arises when the other is not accessible.

Adult Attachment

Bowlby believes that mental representations are a function of their care giving experience.

That being said, in looking for a romantic relationship adults seek out similar experiences they had from the previous primary caregiver.

Secure Attachment

 When others respond positively to an infant it carries on throughout life. Securely attached people tend to think positively about themselves, others, and their relationships.

Securely attached adults tend to have longer relationships, more trust, commitment and interdependency than those that express anxious-preoccupied and avoidant attachment styles.

Likely to go to their partner as a secure base or safe haven when exploring the world.

They are able to depend on each other for support.

Insecure Anxious-preoccupied Attachment

Typically, adults with an anxious preoccupied attachment style tend to have low self-esteem.

In a romantic relationship they seem to be overly dependent of their partner, seeking high levels of intimacy and approval.

Want to have very close relationships but fear that the other doesn't want to get as close as they'd like and don't value them as much.

Unlike securely attached adults, they often doubt and blame themselves for the lack of ressonsiveness.

Insecure Avoidant Attachment

Dismissive-avoidant: Tend to surrpress their feelings, and usually do not have a tough

time doing so. Although they are very good at hiding what they really feel,

research on stress levels and heart rate shows that they do indeed feel distressed when talking about the loss of a romantic partner.

Fearful-avoidant: Aren't able to come accross in an as cool, defensive manner like

the dismissive-avoidant adult can. Proceed into a romantic relationship not totally cut off but with

caution. Don't usually have very much trust for their partner and may

not believe that they deserve their partners responsiveness.

 Attachments formed in infancy and early childhood influence romantic relationships in adulthood.

Though it may be evident that the attachment behavioral system is a property in romantic relationships, not all romantic relationships are genuine attachment relationships.

Conclusion

Works cited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_in_adults

http://internal.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfarley/attachment.htm

Bretherton, Inge (2012). The Origins of Attachment Theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/Attachment%20-%20Bowlby%20%26%20Ainsworth.pdf

Cherry, Kendra (2012). Attachment Styles. About.com Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://psychology.about.com/od/loveandattraction/ss/attachmentstyle.htm

Stassen Berger, Kathleen (2010). Invitation to the Life Span. New York: Worth Publishers

EdTraining Games (January 26, 2011). Secure, Insecure, Avoidant & Ambivalent Attachment in Mothers & Babies. Retrieved November 20, 2012 from, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH1m_ZMO7GU

TVOParents (November 28, 2010) What Happens When Attachment Doesn’t Happen?. Retrieved November 20 2012 from, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDh1C-PubYQ

GreenbaumWilkinson (March 31, 2012) The Role of Attachment in Infancy on Later Mental and Physical Health. Retrieved November 20, 2012 from, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bul1meciGE