Mary Ainsworth & John Bowlby (Attachment theory)

Mary Ainsworth (significant figure)

developmental psychologist

Mary Ainsworth was known for her

strange situation assessment and contributions to the area of attachment theory

in 2002 a review ranking the most eminent psychologist of the 20th century

Ainsworth was listed as the 97th most influential psychologist

According to Ainswoth a way a child behaves and during the separation and upon the mother's return

can reveal important information about attachment.

Ainsworth is famous for her

strange situation experiment she creates in the 1960s

the attachment theory was originally proposed by

John Bowlby in 1950s (influences by freud view of development and love)

Bowlby believed

that early childhood experiences played an essential role in the development of personality and behavior. 

According to the attachment theory

attachment is an affectional tie an infant forms with their parent.

the hallmark proximity-seeking behavior of attachment

is that the child would seek contact and maintain proximity with the attachment figure.

Some of the earliest behavioral theories suggested that attachment was

simply a learned behavior. These theories proposed that attachment was merely the result of the feeding relationship between the child and the caregiver. Because the caregiver feeds the child and provides nourishment, the child becomes attached.

bowlby observed

feedings didn’t diminish separation anxiety

bobbly found out attachments was

characterized by clear behavioral and motivation patterns.

when children are frightened they seek proximity from

their primary caregiver in order to receive both comfort and care.bo

bowl by believed that attachment was an enduring emotional connection between human humans beings he also believed

that evolutionary factors influenced attachment. Attachment, he believed, played a critical role in survival. By keeping children close to their caregivers, their caregivers are better able to respond to their needs, thus improving children’s chances of survival.

bowl by has a significant impact in developmental psychology which supports

that an infant’s behavior in relation to exploration, separation anxiety, stress, and fear of unfamiliarity can predict the child’s attachment style^​

attachment behaviors include proximity seeking behaviors such as

such as approaching, following, and clinging) and signaling behavior (such as smiling, crying, and calling).

to examine these attachment behavior patterns Ainsworth designed a method called

strange situation

strange situation experiment is a

standardized laboratory procedure created to identify differences in infant attachment.

(strange situation) it measures

how a child responds to separations and reunions with the parent to assess the early security of attachment depicted in the Attachment Theory.

(strange situation experiment)

Children between the ages of 12 and 18 months were briefly left alone in a room while the researchers observed their reactions. They were observed when the parent and child were together, when a stranger entered the room, when the parent briefly left the room, and when the parent returned.

Mary Ainsworth attachment theory test comprises 9 strange situation episodes in the following order (mothers were used in the original experiments)

Episode 1: mother and baby are introduced into the room

Mary Ainsworth attachment theory test comprises 9 strange situation episodes in the following order (mothers were used in the original experiments)

Episode 2: mother and baby are alone. the child explores the room freely

Mary Ainsworth attachment theory test comprises 9 strange situation episodes in the following order (mothers were used in the original experiments)

episode 3: stranger enters the room, talks with the mother, approaches the child, and tries to interact with the child. Mother exists the room after 3 minutes

Mary Ainsworth attachment theory test comprises 9 strange situation episodes in the following order (mothers were used in the original experiments)

Episode 4: (first separation) stranger remains in the room and interacts with the child when needed

Mary Ainsworth attachment theory test comprises 9 strange situation episodes in the following order (mothers were used in the original experiments)

episode 5: (first reunion) mother re-enters and greets the child in the doorway. stranger exists

Mary Ainsworth attachment theory test comprises 9 strange situation episodes in the following order (mothers were used in the original experiments)

episode 6: (second separation): Mother leaves again. baby is alone for 3 minutes

Mary Ainsworth attachment theory test comprises 9 strange situation episodes in the following order (mothers were used in the original experiments)

Episode 7: stranger re-enters and reminds in the room and interacts with the child when needed

Mary Ainsworth attachment theory test comprises 9 strange situation episodes in the following order (mothers were used in the original experiments)

episode 8: (second reunion) Mother returns and stranger leaves

An infants action was scored based on the following 5 types of behaviors toward the adults:

1. proximity seeking behaviors

An infants action was scored based on the following 5 types of behaviors toward the adults:

2. proximity-avoiding behaviors

An infants action was scored based on the following 5 types of behaviors toward the adults:

3. contact maintaining

An infants action was scored based on the following 5 types of behaviors toward the adults:

4. contact-resisting behaviors

An infants action was scored based on the following 5 types of behaviors toward the adults:

5. search behavior

proximity-seeking behaviors

include active behaviors such as greeting, approaching, clambering up, reaching, or leaning. Vocal signals such as crying in the adult’s direction are also proximity-seeking

proximity-avoiding behaviors

behaviors usually apply when an adult enters the room or tries to engage the child. They include ignoring, looking away, turning away, and moving away from the adult.

contact maintaining

After the baby has gained contact with the mother, they may show contact-maintaining tendencies.

These behaviors include clinging, embracing, clutching, holding on, and resisting release.

If they lose contact, they turn back and reach, and protest vocally.

contact resisting behaviors

include angry, ambivalent attempts to push away, hit, or kick the mother who tries to make contact. The child may squirm to get down when they’re picked up. They push or throw away toys when the mother tries to interfere with the playing.

Some babies may even scream angrily, throw themselves down, or kick the floor to protest.

search behavior

behavior was evaluated based on the child’s reaction to the mother’s departure.

These actions include following the mother to the door, trying to open the door, banging on it, remaining oriented to the door, glancing at it, going to the mother’s empty chair, or simply looking at it.

other behavior observed for the following responses and interactions

•Exploratory (Episodes 2-7)
How much does the child explore with or without the mother’s presence?

other behavior observed for the following responses and interactions

•Stranger anxiety (Episodes 3, 4, 7)
Does the child seek/avoid or maintain contact with the stranger?

4 main styles of attachment

1. secure attachment

4 main styles of attachment

2. anxious/ambivalent attachment style

4 main styles of attachment

3. avoidant attachment style

4 main styles of attachment

fearful/avoidant (disorganized attachment) attachment style

secure attachment

Children who are ______ generally become visibly upset when their caregivers leave and are happy when their parents return. When frightened, these children will seek comfort from the parent or caregiver

secure attachment

children readily accept contact initiated by a parent, and they greet the parent's return with positive behavior. While these children can be comforted to some extent by other people in the absence of a parent or caregiver, they clearly prefer parents to strangers.

Ambivalent Attachment

Children who are ____ tend to be extremely suspicious of strangers. These children display considerable distress when separated from a parent or caregiver but do not seem reassured or comforted by the parent's return.

Ambivalent Attachment in some cases

the child might passively reject the parent by refusing comfort or may openly display direct aggression toward the parent.

Avoidant attachment

Children with _______ tend to avoid parents and caregivers. This avoidance often becomes especially pronounced after a period of absence.

avoidant attachment

These children might not reject attention from a parent, but neither do they seek out comfort or contact. Children with an avoidant attachment show no preference between a parent and a complete stranger.

disorganized-insecure attachment

Children with a ________ show a lack of clear attachment behavior. Their actions and responses to caregivers are often a mix of behaviors, including avoidance or resistance.

disorganized-insecure attachment

These children are described as displaying dazed behavior, sometimes seeming either confused or apprehensive in the presence of a caregiver.

some factors that contribute to the development of these patterns of attachment include

consistency, responsiveness, neglect and abuse

consistency (factor to dev. attachment style)

•: Parents who are consistent in caregiving are more likely to raise securely attached children. Inconsistency is linked to an anxious/ambivalent attachment style.

responsiveness (factor to dev. attachment style)

Secure attachment develops when parents respond to their children’s needs. Poor responsiveness is often linked to avoidant attachment. Children who believe their parents won’t respond to their needs avoid turning to them for support and care.

neglect and abuse (factor to dev. attachment style)

•Parents who are neglectful or abusive are linked to fearful/avoidant attachment. These parents are often inconsistent in how they respond to their kids. Sometimes they provide comfort and care, but other times they act as a source of fear, anxiety, and trauma. This confusion contributes to a disorganized mix of attachment behaviors.

Ainsworth work has inspired a great deal of research on

the impact these early attachment styles continue to have throughout life.

While these styles change with time and experience, researchers believe that

childhood attachment styles influence adult romantic attachments. Adults with a secure romantic attachment style tend to have lasting relationships and believe love is enduring. Those with an insecure romantic attachment style believe that love is more temporary.