THEORIES OF

ATTACHMENT
S
DUCE MARIA ABIGAIL ALTO
JASTIO
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 ATTACHMENT
THEORY
Attachment theory is focused on the relationships and
bonds between people, particularly long-term
relationships, including those between a parent and
child and between romantic partners.
 BRITISH PSYCHOLOGIST JOHN BOWLBY WAS THE
FIRST ATTACHMENT THEORIST, DESCRIBING
ATTACHMENT AS A "LASTING PSYCHOLOGICAL
CONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS."1
BOWLBY WAS INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE
SEPARATION ANXIETY AND DISTRESS THAT
CHILDREN EXPERIENCE WHEN SEPARATED FROM

How the THEIR PRIMARY CAREGIVERS.

Attachmen SOME OF THE EARLIEST BEHAVIORAL THEORIES

SUGGESTED THAT ATTACHMENT WAS SIMPLY A
LEARNED BEHAVIOR. THESE THEORIES PROPOSED
t Theory THAT ATTACHMENT WAS MERELY THE RESULT OF
THE FEEDING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHILD
Developed AND THE CAREGIVER. BECAUSE THE CAREGIVER
FEEDS THE CHILD AND PROVIDES NOURISHMENT,
THE CHILD BECOMES ATTACHED.

WHAT BOWLBY OBSERVED IS THAT EVEN FEEDINGS

DID NOT DIMINISH THE ANXIETY EXPERIENCED BY
CHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE SEPARATED FROM
THEIR PRIMARY CAREGIVERS.2 INSTEAD, HE
FOUND THAT ATTACHMENT WAS CHARACTERIZED BY
CLEAR BEHAVIORAL AND MOTIVATION PATTERNS.
WHEN CHILDREN ARE FRIGHTENED, THEY WILL
SEEK PROXIMITY FROM THEIR PRIMARY CAREGIVER
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE BOTH COMFORT AND CARE.
 ATTACHMENT IS AN EMOTIONAL BOND WITH ANOTHER
PERSON. BOWLBY BELIEVED THAT THE EARLIEST BONDS
FORMED BY CHILDREN WITH THEIR CAREGIVERS HAVE
A TREMENDOUS IMPACT THAT CONTINUES THROUGHOUT
LIFE. HE SUGGESTED THAT ATTACHMENT ALSO SERVES
TO KEEP THE INFANT CLOSE TO THE MOTHER, THUS
IMPROVING THE CHILD'S CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.

BOWLBY VIEWED ATTACHMENT AS A PRODUCT OF

Understandin
EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES.3 WHILE THE BEHAVIORAL
THEORIES OF ATTACHMENT SUGGESTED THAT
ATTACHMENT WAS A LEARNED PROCESS, BOWLBY AND
OTHERS PROPOSED THAT CHILDREN ARE BORN WITH AN

g INNATE DRIVE TO FORM ATTACHMENTS WITH

CAREGIVERS.

Attachmen THROUGHOUT HISTORY, CHILDREN WHO MAINTAINED

PROXIMITY TO AN ATTACHMENT FIGURE WERE MORE

t LIKELY TO RECEIVE COMFORT AND PROTECTION, AND

THEREFORE MORE LIKELY TO SURVIVE TO ADULTHOOD.
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF NATURAL SELECTION, A
MOTIVATIONAL SYSTEM DESIGNED TO REGULATE
ATTACHMENT EMERGED.

SO WHAT DETERMINES SUCCESSFUL ATTACHMENT?

BEHAVIORISTS SUGGEST THAT IT WAS FOOD THAT LED
TO FORMING THIS ATTACHMENT BEHAVIOR, BUT
BOWLBY AND OTHERS DEMONSTRATED THAT
NURTURANCE AND RESPONSIVENESS WERE THE PRIMARY
DETERMINANTS OF ATTACHMENT.
 ATHE CENTRAL THEME OF
ATTACHMENT THEORY IS
THAT PRIMARY CAREGIVERS
WHO ARE AVAILABLE AND
The Theme RESPONSIVE TO AN
of INFANT'S NEEDS ALLOW
THE CHILD TO DEVELOP A
Attachment SENSE OF SECURITY. THE
Theory INFANT KNOWS THAT THE
CAREGIVER IS DEPENDABLE,
WHICH CREATES A SECURE
BASE FOR THE CHILD TO
THEN EXPLORE THE WORLD.
 Ainsworth's "Strange Situation"
In her 1970s research, psychologist Mary Ainsworth expanded greatly
upon Bowlby's original work. Her groundbreaking "Strange Situation" study
revealed the profound effects of attachment on behavior. In the study,
researchers observed children between the ages of 12 and 18 months as
they responded to a situation in which they were briefly left alone and
then reunited with their mothers.4

Based on the responses the researchers observed, Ainsworth described

three major styles of attachment: secure attachment, ambivalent-insecure
attachment, and avoidant-insecure attachment. Later, researchers Main
and Solomon (1986) added a fourth attachment style called disorganized-
insecure attachment based on their own research.5

A number of studies since that time have supported Ainsworth's attachment

styles and have indicated that attachment styles also have an impact on
behaviors later in life.
Maternal Deprivation Studies
Harry Harlow's infamous studies on maternal deprivation and social isolation
during the 1950s and 1960s also explored early bonds. In a series of
experiments, Harlow demonstrated how such bonds emerge and the powerful
impact they have on behavior and functioning.6

In one version of his experiment, newborn rhesus monkeys were separated

from their birth mothers and reared by surrogate mothers. The infant monkeys
were placed in cages with two wire-monkey mothers. One of the wire
monkeys held a bottle from which the infant monkey could obtain nourishment,
while
the other wire monkey was covered with a soft terry cloth.

While the infant monkeys would go to the wire mother to obtain food,
they spent most of their days with the soft cloth mother. When
frightened, the baby monkeys would turn to their cloth-covered mother for
comfort and security.

Harlow's work also demonstrated that early attachments were the result of
receiving comfort and care from a caregiver rather than simply the result of
being fed.
 The Stages of Attachment
INDISCRIMINATE DISCRIMINATE MULTIPLE ATTACHMENTS
PRE-ATTACHMENT
ATTACHMENT ATTACHMENT
STAGE
After approximately
Between 6 weeks of age At this point, from
From birth to 3 months, 9 months of age,
to 7 months, infants begin about 7 to 11 months of
infants do not show any children begin to
to show preferences for age, infants show a
particular attachment to form strong
primary and secondary strong attachment and
a specific caregiver. emotional bonds with
caregivers. Infants preference for one
The infant's signals,
develop trust that the specific individual. They other caregivers
such as crying and caregiver will respond to will protest when beyond the primary
fussing, naturally their needs. While they separated from the attachment figure.
attract the attention of still accept care from
primary attachment This often includes
the caregiver and the others, infants start
figure (separation
baby's positive distinguishing between the father, older
anxiety), and begin to
responses encourage the familiar and unfamiliar siblings, and
people, responding more display anxiety around
caregiver to remain grandparents.
close. positively to the primary stranger (stranger
s
caregiver.
 Factors That Influence Attachment

Opportunity Quality
for caregiving:
attachment: When caregivers respond quickly and
consistently, children learn that they can
Children who do not have a primary care depend on the people who are responsible
figure, such as those raised in orphanages, for their care, which is the essential
may fail to develop the sense of trust needed foundation for attachment. This is a vital
to form an attachment. factor.
 Patterns of Attachment
AMBIVALENT AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENT SECURE ATTACHMENT:
ATTACHMENT:
Children with an avoidant These children display a Children who can depend on
These children become very
attachment tend to avoid confusing mix of behavior, their caregivers show
distressed when a parent
parents or caregivers, showing seeming disoriented, dazed, or
leaves. Ambivalent distress when separated and
no preference between a confused. They may avoid or
attachment style is joy when reunited. Although
caregiver and a complete resist the parent. Lack of a
considered uncommon, the child may be upset, they
stranger. This clear attachment pattern is
affecting an estimated 7–15% feel assured that the
attachment style might be a likely
of U.S. children. As a result caregiver
result of abusive or neglectful
linked to inconsistent caregiver will return. When
of poor parental availability, caregivers. Children who are
behavior. In such cases, frightened, securely attached
these children cannot depend punished for relying on a
parents may serve as both a children are comfortable
on their primary caregiver to caregiver will learn to avoid
source of comfort and fear, seeking reassurance from
be there when they need seeking help in the future.
leading to disorganized caregivers.
them.
behavior.
 The Lasting Impact of Early Attachment

RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT FAILURE TO FORM SECURE ATTACHMENTS EARLY IN LIFE CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON BEHAVIOR IN LATER CHILDHOOD AND THROUGHOUT LIFE.9

CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER (ODD), CONDUCT DISORDER (CD), OR POST-
TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) FREQUENTLY DISPLAY ATTACHMENT PROBLEMS, POSSIBLY DUE TO EARLY
ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR TRAUMA. CLINICIANS SUGGEST THAT CHILDREN ADOPTED AFTER THE AGE OF 6 MONTHS HAVE
A HIGHER RISK OF ATTACHMENT PROBLEMS.

WHILE ATTACHMENT STYLES DISPLAYED IN ADULTHOOD ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME AS THOSE SEEN IN
INFANCY, EARLY ATTACHMENTS CAN HAVE A SERIOUS IMPACT ON LATER RELATIONSHIPS. THOSE WHO ARE SECURELY
ATTACHED IN CHILDHOOD TEND TO HAVE GOOD SELF-ESTEEM, STRONG ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE
ABILITY TO SELF- DISCLOSE TO OTHERS.

CHILDREN WHO ARE SECURELY ATTACHED AS INFANTS TEND TO DEVELOP STRONGER SELF-ESTEEM AND BETTER
SELF- RELIANCE AS THEY GROW OLDER. THESE CHILDREN ALSO TEND TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT, PERFORM
BETTER IN SCHOOL, HAVE SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND EXPERIENCE LESS DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.
 REFERRENCES
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Bowlby J. Attachment and loss: Retrospect and prospect. Am J Orthopsychiatry.
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Draper P, Belsky J. Personality development in the evolutionary perspective. J Pers.
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Ainsworth MD, Bell SM. Attachment, exploration, and separation: Illustrated by the behavior of one-year-olds
in a strange situation. Child Dev. 1970;41(1):49-67. doi:10.2307/1127388
Main, M. & Solomon, J. (1986) Discovery of a new, insecure-disorganized/disoriented attachment pattern. In
T. B. Brazelton & M. Yogman (Eds), Affective development in infancy , pp. 95-124. Norwood, New Jersey:
Ablex.
Harlow HF. The nature of love. American Psychologist. 1958;13(12):673-685. doi:10.1037/h0047884
Schaffer HR, Emerson PE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL ATTACHMENTS IN INFANCY. Monogr Soc Res Child
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1964;29:1-77. doi:10.2307/1165727
Lyons-ruth K. Attachment relationships among children with aggressive behavior problems: The role of
disorganized early attachment patterns. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(1):64-73. doi:https:10.1037/0022-
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Young ES, Simpson JA, Griskevicius V, Huelsnitz CO, Fleck C. Childhood attachment and adult personality: A
life history perspective. Self and Identity. 2019;18:1:22-38, doi:10.1080/15298868.2017.1353540
THANK YOU!!!!