PSYC332 - Ch6 (mary ainsworth & attachment styles)

mary ainsworth & attachment styles

objects relations theory

mary ainsworth

• emphasizes early childhood experiences

• children develop unconscious representation of significant objects in their environment

  • the kind of attachment children feel w/ parents influences ability to develop meaningful attachments w/ significant others as adults

  • according to attachment theory, infants who experience loving, secure relationships w/ parents develop unconscious working models for secure, trusting relationships as adults

Attachment theory

mary ainsworth/bowlby

describes attachment relationships b/w infants & caregivers

1. secure attachment

   • mothers attentive & responsive

   • helps infant understand that mother is responsive & accessible even if not physically present

2. anxious

   • mothers are not partic attentive or responsive to childs needs

3. avoidant

   • mothers not very responsive to child

   • child becomes aloof & emotionally detached

Adult attachment styles

research indicates that

• secure adults describe positive relations w/ parents & warm & trusting family environment

• anxious-avoidant ppl recall little parental support

• avoidant ppl describe their relationship w/ family members as distrustful & emotionally distant

secure attachment

adults who are comfortable w/ closeness & who don’t overly concern themselves about being abandoned

• tend to seek out & are comfortable w/ intimate relationships

anxious-ambivalent attachment

adults who are comfortable w/ closeness but fear abandonment

avoidant attachment

adults who are not comfortable w/ closeness & don’t fear abandonment

• shy away from close relationships

disoriented/fearful attachment

adults who are not comfortable w/ closeness & fear abandonment