What Are a Baby 4 Types of Attachment Styles
What are the different types of attachment?
10 Jul , 2020 - Behavioral Wellness, Weblog, Developmental Health
In developmental psychology 'attachment theory' explores the emotional bond between one human being and some other (mostly betwixt caregiver and infant).
During the first six months' of a baby's life, the caregiver must exhibit adequate nurturing to their newborn to establish a close bond. If a healthy bond cannot be established during the infant's early developmental stage – it tin lead to several emotional problems for them after on.
What is Attachment Theory?
John Bowlby, psychologist and psychoanalyst, proposed the zipper theory throughout the 1950s and 1960s and made notable contributions to the field of psychotherapy for his work on attachment.
Although Bowlby did not dispute the possibility of children forming multiple bonds with different people, he still upholds the view that since it is the first connection established, the bond between mother and infant is the strongest of all.
Attachment theory examines how the caregiver-child bond develops and its bear on on consequential development. Throughout his piece of work in the 1930s, Bowlby worked as a psychiatrist at a London clinic where he treated mentally ill children.
During this time, Bowlby recognised the of import dynamic between parent and child and how securely this dynamic can impact social, emotional and cerebral development. He before long discovered that early infant separation could lead to later maladjustment, and thus attachment theory was developed.
Bowlby describes attachment equally:
"Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another person across time and infinite."
(Ainsworth, 1973: Bowlby, 1969)
Exploring the parent-kid relationship further, Bowlby and his colleague James Robertson researched a group of small infants. They found that when separated from a parent, the children consistently displayed signs of distress.
This inquiry conflicts with 'behavioural theorists' who suggest that when a child is fed – separation anxiety dissipates.
Bowlby and Robertson observed that children were unable to be comforted when a parent was absent regardless of whether they were fed or not.
Bowlby and Robertson'southward research goes against behavioural theory which states that children attach to the mother through feeding.
Interestingly, attachment doesn't have to be reciprocal and is it possible for ane person to be attached to another without it being reciprocated. Co-ordinate to Bowlby, attachment is distinguished past specific behaviours from children, such every bit seeking closeness to an zipper figure when feeling upset or threatened (Bowlby, 1969).
Attachment and Evolution
Bowlby argued that zipper is a biological process and went on to say that all infants are born with an 'attachment gene' which allows them to discharge what is called 'social releasers' ensuring that when the child cries, clings to an zipper figure, or even smiles that they receive the attending and care they crave.
Interestingly, the same 'attachment gene' that children are born with is as well present within the parent, and it is this that propels a caregiver to protect and look after a child.
'Monotropy' is a term signifying i primary attachment effigy, a concept developed past Bowlby alongside his attachment theory. He concluded that if a successful 'monotropic' bond isn't formed for whatever reason, then negative consequences could occur.
Bowlby identified four types of zipper styles: secure, anxious-ambivalent, disorganised and avoidant.
Secure Attachment
The secure attachment style signifies a warm and loving bond between parent and child. The child feels loved and cared for and develops the ability to course healthy relationships with those around them.
Children with secure attachment styles are active and demonstrate confidence in their interactions with others.
Those who develop secure zipper styles in babyhood are likely to acquit this healthy fashion of bonding into machismo and take no problem building long-term relationships without fright of abandonment.
Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment
Broken-hearted-ambivalent children tend to distrust caregivers, and this insecurity oftentimes means that their environment is explored with trepidation rather than excitement.
They constantly seek approval from their caregivers and continuously detect their environs for fear of beingness abased.
Those who developed under the 'anxious-ambivalent' attachment fashion, tend to deport what they accept learned into adulthood, and very often feel unloved by their partners whilst finding it difficult to express love and connectedness themselves.
People who developed attachments under this style are usually emotionally dependent in adulthood.
Avoidant Zipper
Children who have developed nether the 'avoidant' style have learned to take that their emotional needs are probable to remain unmet and go on to grow up feeling unloved and insignificant.
They ofttimes struggle with expressing their feelings and find information technology hard understanding emotions – in machismo; they tend to avert intimate relationships.
Disorganised Attachment
Disorganised attachment is a combination of avoidant and anxious zipper, and children that fit into this grouping frequently display intense anger and rage. They may pause toys and behave in other volatile ways – they also have difficult relationships with caregivers.
Children developed nether the 'disorganised' attachment mode, tend to avoid intimate relationships as adults and can very easily explode and have a difficult time controlling their emotions.
Strange State of affairs
In the 1970s, developmental psychologist Mary Ainsworth did a study on infants between the ages of ix-eighteen months former; the study observed zipper security in children within the paradigm of caregiver relationships.
This involved eight short episodes (lasting around 3 minutes) where a mother, child, and stranger are introduced, separated so reunited.
This observational written report was titled 'strange situation' and was adult by Ainsworth and Wittiq in 1969.
Using the strange situation model, Ainsworth studied i to two-year-olds to determine the styles of zipper and the nature of attachments displayed between mother and child.
The ready was conducted in a small room with one way glass so that the children could be easily observed. Ainsworth's sample of children represented 100 middle-grade American families.
In short episodes, the children, mothers and experimenters were observed in the post-obit viii scenarios:
- Experimenter, mother and baby
- Female parent and baby lonely
- A stranger joins the mother and infant
- The mother leaves stranger and infant alone
- Mother comes back, and the stranger departs
- Mother also departs, leaving the baby completely solitary
- Stranger comes back
- Stranger leaves and female parent returns
Subsequently the study, Ainsworth scored each of the responses and grouped them into four interaction behaviours: closeness and contact seeking, maintaining contact, avoidance of closeness and contact, resistance to contact and proximity. These interactions were based on two reunion episodes during the observation.
Zipper Style Results
From the observational report, Ainsworth (1970) identified three attachment styles; secure (type B), insecure-avoidant (blazon A) and insecure-ambivalent/resistant (type C).
Secure Attachment: Type B
Fortunately, the bulk of children in Ainsworth'south 1970'south representative sample, belonged to the 'secure attachment' style. Children belonging to this mode found information technology easy to demonstrate confidence towards caregivers and tended to use these 'monotropic' zipper figures as a base to explore their surround.
These infants are easily reassured by chief caregivers and children who develop under this style are nurtured and are given encouragement from caregivers, assuasive them a prophylactic platform to develop securely.
Insecure Avoidant: Type A
Children who fall under the avoidant style tend not to expect to their caregiver when exploring their environment. They also don't reach out to the attachment figure in times of distress.
Such children are likely to have a caregiver who is insensitive and rejecting of their needs ( Ainsworth, 1979).
Insecure Ambivalent/Resistant: Blazon C
The final attachment manner (insecure ambivalent) is when a child exhibits ambivalent behaviour towards his/her caregiver. The child is not hands comforted past the caregiver and often demonstrates clingy and dependent behaviour towards an attachment figure yet nonetheless rejects them in times of interaction.
When exploring their environment, the child displays difficulty in separating from the attachment figure. Ainsworth concluded that this behaviour is due to a lack of consistency delivered from caregiver to child.
Ainsworth's Conclusion
Ainsworth's 'maternal sensitivity' hypothesis suggests that the 'sensitivity' the caregiver demonstrates towards a child determines the style of attachment that is developed. In short, sensitive mothers are more than likely to be gentle and compassionate to a child'due south needs, and this sensitivity tin can atomic number 82 the babe to develop more than secure attachments.
Mothers who lack sensitivity (such every bit those who demonstrate impatience) tin event in children developing insecure attachments.
Children with sensitive caregivers are associated with being securely fastened, and those with inconsistent caregivers are often associated as having insecure clashing attachments. Inconsistency is when two parents often ignore or even reject a child'southward needs while at other times – the child's needs are met.
In situations where parents demonstrate apathy or are in any mode unresponsive towards a child, this frequently results in the kid condign independent from the caregiver; they too tend not to seek help from attachment figures in times of distress. The attachment figure may also withdraw from helping during difficult tasks (Stevenson-Hinde & Verschueren, 2002) and is often unavailable during times of emotional distress.
According to Ainsworth, this type of parenting can often lead to children becoming insecurely avoidant.
Fiona Yassin is the International Clinical Director at The Wave Clinic. Fiona is a Swain of A.P.C.C.H., a fellow member of F.D.A.P. and I.A.Eastward.D.P. Currently studying C.Due east.D.S., Fiona is an Accredited Clinical Supervisor (U.Due north.C.M.) and Accredited Child and Family Trauma Professional.
With a specialist involvement in Eating Disorders and Borderline Personality Disorders, currently enjoying advanced training in the Psychiatry for Women throughout the Lifespan, Massachusetts Psychiatry Section. The Wave Clinic provides residential and outpatient consultations for Children, Teenagers, Immature Adults and Families.
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Attachment theory
What Are a Baby 4 Types of Attachment Styles
Source: https://thewaveclinic.com/blog/what-are-the-different-types-of-attachment/
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