Attachment Theory

Definition of Attachment

An enduring emotional tie to a special person, characterized by a tendency to seek and maintain closeness, especially during times of stress.

Roots of Attachment Theory

• John Bowlby applied ethology to infants

• Influenced by Konrad Lorenz

• Infant’s innate behaviors are evolved responses which promote survival

Importance of Attachment

• Implications for infant's sense of security • Affects internal working model• Freud, Erikson, Behaviorists

described its impact on development

Bowlby’s Four Stages of Attachment

Preattachment phase • Birth - 6 weeks• Baby’s innate signals attract

caregiver • Caregivers remain close by when

the baby responds positively

Attachment in the Making

• 6 wks to 6-8 months• Develops a sense of trust that caregiver

will respond when signaled• Infants respond more positively to

familiar caregiver• Babies don't protest when separated

from parent

Clear-cut Attachment

• 6-8 months to 18-24 months

• Babies display separation anxiety

• Babies protest when parent leaves

Formation of Reciprocal Relationship

• 18 mo - 2yrs• Toddlers increase their understanding

of symbols and language improves• Toddlers understand that parents will

return

Factors which Affect Attachment

• Opportunity for attachment • Quality of caregiving

• respond promptly and consistently• interactional synchrony – the

sensitively tuned “emotional dance”• Infant characteristics

• infant's temperament, special needs, prematurity, or illnesses

More Factors which Affect Attachment

• Family circumstances• Stress can undermine attachment

• Parents’ internal working models• Parents’ own attachment

experiences• Parents’ ability to accept their past

Measuring the Quality of Attachment

• Mary Ainsworth researched • Designed the “strange situation”• A lab experiment with 8 different

episodes of separation and reunion• Attached infant will:• Use mother as a secure base• Be soothed by the mother during

the reunion

Secure attachment

• Uses caregiver as a secure base

• May show distress at separation, but the baby can be soothed at reunion

• 60-65% of North American children

Insecure-Avoidant Attachment

•Unresponsive to parent when she is present•Not distressed by parting• Avoids or slow to greet parent on return• 20% of North American children

Insecure-Resistant Attachment

• Infants remain close to parents and not eager to explore•Distressed by separation•During reunion, infants are both clingy and resistant • 12% of North American children

Disorganized/Disoriented Attachment

•No coherent strategy for handling separations or reunions• Baby looks dazed and confused• 5-10% of North American children