Attachment Theory

Posted: February 26th, 2022

Attachment Theory: A Psychological Explanation for the Emotional Bonds and Relationships Between People

Attachment theory is a psychological theory that explains how people form emotional bonds and relationships with others, especially their primary caregivers. Attachment theory was developed by John Bowlby, a British psychoanalyst who studied the effects of separation and loss on children. Bowlby proposed that humans are born with an innate need to form attachments with others, which serve as a source of security and comfort. Attachment theory also suggests that the quality of these early attachments influences one’s personality, behavior, and mental health throughout life.

According to attachment theory, there are three main components of the attachment system: the attachment figure, the attachment behavior, and the internal working model. The attachment figure is the person who provides care, protection, and support to the child. The attachment behavior is the action that the child takes to seek proximity and contact with the attachment figure, especially in times of stress or danger. The internal working model is the mental representation that the child develops of themselves, the attachment figure, and their relationship, based on their experiences and interactions.

Bowlby identified four stages of attachment development in children: pre-attachment, attachment-in-the-making, clear-cut attachment, and goal-corrected partnership. These stages describe how children’s attachment behaviors and internal working models change as they grow older and more independent. Bowlby also recognized that children may develop different types of attachment styles depending on how responsive and consistent their caregivers are. These attachment styles are: secure, avoidant, anxious-ambivalent, and disorganized.

Secure attachment is characterized by trust, confidence, and emotional regulation. Securely attached children feel comfortable exploring their environment and seeking comfort from their caregivers when needed. They have a positive view of themselves and others, and they can cope well with stress and adversity.

Avoidant attachment is characterized by detachment, indifference, and emotional suppression. Avoidantly attached children avoid or reject their caregivers and prefer to be alone. They have a negative view of themselves and others, and they tend to minimize or deny their feelings and needs.

Anxious-ambivalent attachment is characterized by clinginess, insecurity, and emotional instability. Anxiously attached children are overly dependent on their caregivers and fear being abandoned or rejected. They have a mixed view of themselves and others, and they tend to exaggerate or amplify their feelings and needs.

Disorganized attachment is characterized by confusion, fear, and disorientation. Disorganizedly attached children show contradictory or inconsistent behaviors towards their caregivers, such as approaching and avoiding them at the same time. They have a distorted view of themselves and others, and they often experience dissociation or trauma symptoms.

Attachment theory has been widely applied to various fields of psychology, such as developmental psychology, social psychology, clinical psychology, and counseling psychology. Attachment theory helps us understand how our early relationships shape our later relationships, as well as our sense of self, our emotions, our coping skills, and our mental health.

References:

Bowlby J (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment And Healthy Human Development. New York: Basic Books.

Fraley RC (2010 – Essay Writing Service: Write My Essay by Top-Notch Writer). A Brief Overview Of Adult Attachment Theory And Research. Retrieved from https://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/attachment.htm

Mcleod S (2023). Attachment Theory In Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/attachment.html

Van Ijzendoorn MH & Sagi-Schwartz A (2008 – Affordable Custom Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay from Pro Writers). Cross-Cultural Patterns Of Attachment: Universal And Contextual Dimensions. In J Cassidy & PR Shaver (Eds.), Handbook Of Attachment: Theory Research And Clinical Applications (pp. 880-905). New York: Guilford Press.

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