Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby Attachment Theory

attachment theory

attachment is an affectionate tie an infant forms with their parent

John Bowlby

proposed attachment theory influenced by Freud; believed that early childhood experience play an essential role in the development of personality and behavior

strange situation assessment

standardized lab procedure to identify differences in infant attachment that measures how a child responds to separations and reunions to assess the security of the attachment depicted in attachment theory

Strange Attachment Experiment: Procedure

1. mother and baby are introduced to the room

2. mother and baby alone and baby explores the room freely

3. stranger talks to mother, approaches and try to interact with the child and mother exits after three minutes

4. (first separation) stranger interacts with child as needed

5. (first reunion) mother comes back, greets the child at doorway and stranger exits

6. (second separation) mom leaves and baby is alone for three minutes

7. stranger comes back and interacts as needed

8. (second reunion) stranger leaves and mother comes back

proximity seeking behavior

greeting, approaching, clambering, leaning, vocal signals such as crying in the adults direction

proximity avoiding behavior

apply when an adult enters the room or tries to engage the child, involves turning or moving away from the adult

contact maintaining behavior

clinging, embracing, clutching, holding on, and resisting release and when contact is lost, they turn back, reach, and protest vocally

contact resisting behavior

angry, ambivalent attempts to push away, hit, or kick the mother who engages contact; squirm when picked up, push or throw toys

search behavior

based on the child’s reaction to the mothers departure including following the mother to the door, trying to open the door, banging on it, remaining oriented towards the door, glancing at it, going to the mothers empty chair or looking at it

secure attachment

children generally become upset when their caregivers leave and happy when they return, when frightened they seek their caregiver

ambivalent/anxious attachment

children are extremely suspicious of strangers and display considerable distress when separated from the caregiver, but do not seem reassured or comforted by the caregivers return

avoidant attachment

avoids parents and caregivers; avoidance is usually pronounced after a period of absence; children are indifferent to parental contact

disorganized attachment

show lack of clear attachment behavior; their actions and responses to caregivers are often a mix of behaviors including avoidance or resistance

consistency

parents that are consistent in caregiving are more likely to raise a securely attached child; inconsistency is linked to an anxious/ambivalent attachment style

responsiveness

secure attachment develops when parents responds to their child’s need; poor responsiveness is linked to avoidant attachment; children who believe their parents wont respond to their needs avoids turning to them for support and care

neglect/ abuse

people who are neglectful or abusive are linked to fearful/avoidant attachment; parents are inconsistent in how they respond