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What Is Mary Ainsworth´s Attachment Theory?

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Mary Ainsworth’s study on attachment theory continues to be widely discussed today. If a child has been mistreated by a primary caregiver, how does that affect the child? When a child is raised in an abusive household, it has an impact on the child’s life. What do they do? Where do they turn? If their primary caregiver is proven untrustworthy, who can the child trust? Furthermore, how does the child cope? The environment children are raised in has an immense impact on their lives. According to Ainsworth, “attachment refers to an affectional tie that one person forms to another specific individual… attachment is thus discriminating and specific” (Salande & Hawkins, 2016). Without an attachment to an adult, a child has no guidance or direction in life. Therefore, if a child grows up in an unstable family structure, this child is more likely to develop an insecure attachment style in adulthood. Attachment theory confirms the importance of human relationships and their consequences for individual development (Schneider, 1991). As one continues to grow into an adult, it is important to have one to look up to for guidance, no matter what the situation may be. …show more content…

There are four different types of adult attachment styles: secure anxious/preoccupied, dismissive, and fearful. The secure attachment style falls under its own category, whereas the other three are subcategories under of insecure attachment. To determine attachment styles, participants were given surveys about their security in romantic relationships. The survey had two critical variables: attachment related anxiety and attachment related avoidance. Participants who scored high on attachment related anxiety and attachment related avoidance are described as having fearful-avoidant attachment style. Individuals who score low on both scales are described as having secure attachment styles (Fraley,

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The secure attachment style is given to a child when they have comforting and consoling parents, that way the child can later go to them when they are in need. On the other side of the spectrum, Ainsworth names another attachment style insecure avoidant; a child is insecure avoidant when they receive no response or concern from their mother or father figures and they learn that they need to rely mostly on themselves in times of need. A mix of the two is given the name insecure preoccupied, or insecure anxious, and this attachment style happens when sometimes the mother or father are present when the child needs help, so they receive some contact; the child yearns for attention, but rarely gets a reciprocating

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What is the attachment theory? , The attachment theory is a

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Ainsworth’s descriptions of attachment were found to be related to relationship development. Specifically, adults with avoidant tendencies tend to be relatively uninterested in romantic relationships, have a higher breakup rate than secure adults (Shaver & Brennan, 1992), and grieve less after a breakup (Simpson, 1990). Anxious adults are obsessed with their romantic partners and form extreme jealousy (Collins, 1996; Hazan & Shaver, 1987). Relationships with a partner who has an anxious attachment have a higher rate for breakups as well.

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Although we are studying theories, some of them appear to explain human behavior and personality with certain accuracy. John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth theories of attachment can also explain what happens to people when attachment to their parents or caregivers is healthy or potential problems that could occur due to detachments. They suggest that individuals raised with secure attachments to their primary caregivers help them to feel secure; moreover, these children appear to be more socially skilled and less likely to experience major emotional disturbances. However, failure to form healthy attachments, especially mother-child, could serve as a descriptive mechanism for many negative psychological outcomes later in the life of an individual,

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His idea of the theory was that when infants became attached to adults whom are responsive and sensitive during the social interactions and form a maintained caregiving relationship during the 6 months to 3 years of life (McLeod). Without the development of attachment, children could suffer from serious impairments both psychological and social. This process establishes various forms of attachment, which in the future will guide the thoughts, feelings, and expectations in children as adults in their future relationships. In this paper, there will be explanations, examples, and other psychologist discussing their attachment theories. There are four different style of attachment in adults; Secure, Dismissive, Preoccupied, and Fearful-Avoidant.

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Three or more secondary attachment figures in addition to the primary attachment figure can promote self-esteem in children, and is a psychological protective factor that can reduce the probability of mental health problems in the future.” (P.119, Attachment Theory: How to help young children acquire a secure

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The term attachment is used widely when focusing on children’s early relationships. An attachment can be thought of as a unique emotional tie or bond between a child and another person which usually is an adult. Research shows that the quality of these bonds or attachments will shape a child’s ability to form other relationships later on in life. In the 1950’s a theorist John Bowlby identified that children and young people’s mental health and behaviour could be linked to separation from a child’s primary carer. He also identified that young children can show separation anxiety if their primary carer is not there for them.

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Hong and Park (2012) noted in their 2012 paper Impact of attachment, temperament, and parenting on human development that insecure attachments are one of many risk factors for psychopathology, and that insecure children may possess fewer social skills and less developed communication skills when compared to securely attached contemporaries. These children will also have much higher levels of anxiety, even under normal circumstances, and be unable to achieve peak performance due to the frequency of their anxiety (Hong, Park 2012). These findings support the notion that the attachments a child forms with their parents can have a detrimental affect on the child. In this case, insecurely attached children were more likely to develop anxiety disorders, which could very well inhibit them forming healthy relationships as adults. Additionally, these findings indicate that these children could very well benefit from the intervention programs that Murphy (2017) discusses, such as at the University of

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From the time we began talking in class about attachment styles and what they look like, I have been fairly certain about what my attachment style is. I believe I have a secure attachment style, but with ambivalent tendencies. This attachment style impacts every part of my life, especially my relationships with God and others. I consider myself a securely attached person, but my life has also produced some insecure attachment issues that I am still working through. Relational beliefs that come from my secure attachment style include the beliefs that I am worthy of love and capable of receiving love, that others are trustworthy and available to be there for me and display love.

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When a parent responds to the requirements of their child, this results in secure attachment (Doinita and Maria 2015). Howe (2011) identifies Insecure, ambivalent attachment when the parent’s attention appears inconsistent and unpredictable to the child. Insecure, avoidant attachment happens when the parent appears to be hostile, violent or rigid and indifferent to the child’s feelings. Disorganized attachment is the most complex form of attachment is one where the carer sends conflicting signals, sometimes coming off as rigid or hostile and other times as loving and compassionate (Howe,

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American psychologist Harry Harlow studied His attachment theory during the 1960’s. The attachment theory was first examined in the 1950’s by John Bowlby and James Robertson. The theory of attachment initiated as Bowlby started contemplating the type of bond between a mother her and child. Harlow’s experiments on attachment query whether the provision of food or comfort is more vital in the creation of infant-mother attachment.

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Attachment is very important in a child’s life, but if a child is not attached to anyone it can make their future very hard. “Abused and neglected children (in or out of foster care) are at great risk for not forming healthy attachments to anyone. Having at least 1 adult who is devoted to and loves a child unconditionally, who is prepared to accept and value that child for a long time, is key to helping a child overcome the stress and trauma of abuse and neglect,” Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption and Dependent Care (2000). Developmental Issues for Young Children in Foster Care. AAP News & Journals Gateway.

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Securely attached children have the capacity to be connected with their and others emotions and can talk about it easily. They are aware of the main elements of positive relationship building and are capable of building relationships with certain expectations. They have better coping mechanisms and have healthier way of relieving their pain and trauma. Insecure attachment is found in the children who weren't able to establish a mutual relationship with their primary caretaker or parent. It can be caused by various reasons: if the child is never sure if he his needs are going to be met, or if the parent is going to respond with anxiety, stress or if the parent is going to just ignore the needs.

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The paper mainly focuses on the conceptual framework of Attachment theory as well as attachment style of a client with Self-esteem issues that helps in the case formulation and treatment plan in Cognitive Behavioural Theory (CBT). Attachment style can be explained as an emotional connection of one person with another. The aim of this research study is to evaluate an association between attachment theory and cognitive behavioural approaches, explicitly pointing out similarities as well as differences between both. For the research analysis, qualitative research methodology has been selected for which distinctive previous researches, books and journal article resources has been examined as the gathered evidences are based on attachment theory

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In LeVine and Norman’s article, they break down the assumptions that Karen makes off of American studies and instead investigate the analyses made by Klaus and Karin Grossmann, who study a group of German children using the same model with the Strange Situation. What arises from both of these texts is that there is not necessarily one attachment that is

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