Attachment Styles

Attachment Styles

Secure attachment Insecure Attachment Attachment Styles

Author: Hannah Ferrell

AI was used only for the purpose of summarization of authors own notes and usage of professional language.

Overview

Attachment is the initial bond formed between infants and their primary caregivers, is vital for emotional development, it is a "Special emotional relationships that involves an exchange of comfort, care, and pleasure” (Kendra Cherry 2023). This special relationship ensures the survival of vulnerable infants, emphasizing the constant presence of caregivers.

This type of bond does not happen by accident. Studies have shown that attachments are formed with individuals who respond quickly and appropriately to the baby's needs and interact with them regularly.

Attachment Behavioral System

The attachment behavioral system revolves around seeking security during times of stress, whether internal or external, such as hunger, fatigue, illness or other threatening stimuli. When activated, individuals seek protection, leading to feelings of safety and security once successful.

John Bowlby and Attachment Theory

John Bowlby is the primary founder of attachment theory and attachment styles. Bowlby was a psychiatrist working at a child's guidance clinic in London during the 1930's. His job was to treat emotionally trobled children and through his work there he discovered the importance of the child's relationship with their mother which eventually led to the development of the attachment theory. "Bowbly contended that the drive for proximity arises from an interconnected set of behavioral systems that collectively shape behavior. These include the attachment, caregiving and exploratory behavioral systems” (Mcleod 2024).

Attachment theory statets that depending on the quality of the initial attachment bond that is created between infant and caregiver, this determines the quality of their future relationships, how they relate to others and how they respond to intimacy.

While Bowlby was the forerunner in developing the science of attachment styles, future research has proved some of his theories to be false. One of Bowlby's ideas stated that infants are not born with the ability to discern between their caregiver and other adults but we now know that babies are born with some innate abilities to recognize their mother like her smell or voice.

Attachment Styles

Attachment styles stem from the quality of the initial bond and are defined by the behavior exhibited by an individual during thier interactions with others. There are two types of attachment styles, secure and insecure. There are also three sub-categories of insecure attachment.

Secure attachment results from responsive caregiving, fostering self-confidence and healthy relationship management. In contrast, insecure attachment, influenced by inconsistent emotional communication, may lead to difficulty managing emotions and building relationships.

It is important to note as well that the success of an attachment is not impacted by external factors such as wealth, education, race or culture. Personality and childhood experiences are primary factors in determining attachment success and style.

Insecure attachment has three different types of attachment within the broad category:

Anxious/ambivalent attachment
Avoidant-dismissive attachment
Disorganized attachment

Anxious or ambivalent attachment

Individuals tend to be overly needy, anxious and have low self esteem
Crave emotional intimacy but worry that others don’t want to be with them
May may feel embarrassed about needing constant attention or love
The need to be in an intimate relationship tends to take over
You fall very quickly for another individual and may become fixated on them
Observing boundaries is difficult and view space as threatening

Avoidant-dismissive attachment style

Distrusting of closeness and emotional connections
Don’t want to rely on others or have others rely on them
Difficult to tolerate emotional intimacy
Independence and freedom are very valuable
Tend to feel claustrophobic in romantic relationships
The closer someone becomes, the more you draw away
Often minimize other’s feelings or ignore them altogether

Disorganized/disoriented attachment style

Also referred to as fearful-avoidant style
Likely never learned to self soothe emotions
Relationships and the world around you feel frightening and unsafe
If abuse was present as a child, you may try to copy the same patterns as an adult
Intimate relationships are confusing
Often swing between emotional extremes in relationships
May tend to be insensitive towards partners, selfish, controlling and untrusting

Stages of Attachment

Developed by John Bowlby, the stages of attachment describe a process that children go through as they develope.

Asocial (0-6 weeks)

Very young infants
React positively to social and non social stimuli

Indiscriminate attachment (6 weeks - 7 months)

Babies will respond equally to any caregiver and will respond negatively when the individual removes their attention
Infants smile more at familiar faces

Specific attachment (7-9 months)

Children show more preference for a specific attachment figure and show fear towards strangers
Will react negatively when they are separated from their preferred caregiver

Multiple attachment (10 months - onwards)

Attachments are formed with many people (mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings and neighbors)
Children become increasingly independent
Attachment vary in their strength and importance