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Four Attachment Theories

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Attachment Analysis There are four main attachment theories according psychologists Ainsworth and Bowlby. These attachments are secure, insecure-resistant, insecure-avoidant, and disorganized-disoriented. In the prompt, there are two toddlers (Sam and Maria) that experience varying attachment qualities. These toddlers are put into the Strange Situation in which the researchers will observe how they act before, during and after the primary caregiver’s absence. Sam and Maria display several attitudes during this experiment, including distress, joy, anxiety, curiosity and anger. By assessing the actions and attitudes of the toddlers, I can determine what attachment they have to their respective caregivers. In the first scenario of the Strange Situation, the 18 month old toddler (Sam) exhibits secure attachment. Sam’s exploratory tendencies are characteristic of secure attachment. It is a sign of trust and reassurance when the toddler looks back at his mother. He is …show more content…

According to Ainsworth, children with insecure-resistant attachment are unsure when/if their mothers will attend to his or her needs. This schema causes the toddlers to act distressed when the mothers leave and become angry when they return. Maria is anxious, clingy, and does not explore much while the mother is present. This temperament is the insecure part of insecure-resistant attachment. She cries and becomes distressed when the her mother leaves the room, and a stranger is introduced. Maria displays a strong sense of stranger anxiety in this situation. Finally when Maria’s mother returns, Maria becomes angry and does not want to be soothed or held. This attitude would be the resistant part of the insecure-resistant attachment. These characteristics of insecurity, anxiety distress and ambivalence are essential aspects of the insecure-resistant

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