What´s Ainsworth's Attachment Theory?

Attachment theory suggests it is the quality of the relationship between the child and caregiver, which ultimately influences development (Sroufe & Seigel, 2011). Ideally, the child and caregiver should express attunement to one another (Sroufe & Seigel, 2011). Ainsworth’s Strange Situation experiment differentiated the securely attached child from the insecure child through the child’s reaction to the return of her caregiver after periods of separation (Sroufe & Seigel, 2011). The securely attached child “actively greet(s) and initiate(s) interaction with the caregiver upon reunion” (Sroufe & Seigel, 2011, p. 4). The securely attached child develops a positive “internal working model” (Schore & Schore, 2008, p. 12), influencing self-efficacy.

207). This is the case in the Avnet family. Both Barbara and Jon had experienced secure attachment relationships in childhood. Barbara furthered this pattern by raising three securely attached children of her own. Jacob recalls an experience in nursery school, which epitomizes the securely attached child. Jacob remembers Barbara dropping him off for the day and Alexandra holding him at the door of the classroom as he cried. When Barbara returned that afternoon, Jacob happily leapt into her arms, demonstrating secure attachment. This secure attachment allowed Jacob to adapt more comfortably to changing environments throughout childhood. Furthermore, “those with secure histories were more socially competent…” (Sroufe & Siegel, 2011, p. 5). This is the case with Lily, who demonstrated high levels of self-efficacy and resilience in adolescence. When peers bullied Lily in middle school, Lily stood up for herself and formed new friendships. In adulthood, Alexandra worked as a journalist in New York City. Though she experienced constant rejection in the competitive news world, she continued to pursue the career. Her resilience could be attributed to her early attachment experiences. In adulthood, all three Avnet children formed secure attachment relationships, as is common among individuals who experienced secure attachment in childhood (Shilkret & Shilkret, 2016). Thus

In this sense ritual plays a crucial role of defining the family’s culture. The Avnet family members maintain close ties through ritual and tradition. One explicit rule required the children to attend a family dinner on Sunday evenings. Similarly, Jon and Barbara expected the children to look out for one another. All these rules exist to keep the family together. The family is Jewish, but mostly by way of culture and tradition. Judaism also emphasizes the role of ritual, especially when it comes to values. One value, was particularly relevant—that of welcoming the stranger. The interpretation of this value changes across contexts, but the Avnet family took it to mean hospitality and generosity of spirit. Jon and Barbara regularly hosted large meals and gatherings, welcoming friends and members of the community into their home. Friends often stayed with the family for weeks or even months at time. The Avnet family further incorporated Jewish ritual into their lives through storytelling. Jon recalls an adage he once heard regarding the importance of storytelling over generations—“we tell stories to keep people alive”. Storytelling became a platform for Jon and Barbara to teach empathy. They questioned the children about the different emotions that the story characters would evoke. When the children were young, the questions and the answers were simple. As