Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby's Attachment Theory

Mary Ainsworth

A developmental psychologist known for her Strange Situation assessment and contributions to attachment theory.

Strange Situation

A standardized laboratory procedure designed by Mary Ainsworth to identify differences in infant attachment styles.

attachment theory

A theory that describes the emotional bond an infant forms with their parent.

John Bowlby

A psychologist who originally proposed attachment theory in the 1950s, influenced by Freud's views.

secure attachment style

Characterized by distress when separated from caregivers and joy when reunited.

anxious/ambivalent attachment style

Characterized by distress during separation and ambivalent reactions upon reunion.

avoidant attachment style

Characterized by avoidance of caregivers and lack of preference for them over strangers.

disorganized attachment style

Characterized by a lack of clear attachment behavior, often showing confused responses.

proximal seeking behavior

Active behaviors of infants aimed at seeking comfort from their caregivers.

Bowlby's impact

Bowlby believed that attachment plays a critical role in survival by keeping children close to caregivers.

exploratory behavior

Observed during the Strange Situation; measures how much a child explores with or without the mother's presence.

Stranger anxiety

The child's reaction to a stranger's presence during the Strange Situation.

Consistency in caregiving

Consistent parenting is linked to secure attachment; inconsistency can lead to anxious attachment.

Responsiveness

A parent's ability to respond to a child's needs, affecting the attachment style.

neglect and abuse

Linked to fearful/avoidant attachment patterns due to inconsistent responses from parents.

impact of early attachment

Early attachment styles can influence adult relationships and attachment patterns.

Ainsworth's contribution

Her research explored the role of early childhood attachment in development and its effects on future relationships.

attachment behaviors

Includes proximity-seeking, signaling, and exploratory behaviors observed in the attachment experiment.

reunion response

Infant behavior when reuniting with a caregiver after separation, indicating attachment style.

separation anxiety

The distress experienced by infants when separated from their caregivers.

attachment styles

Patterns of attachment behaviors identified by Ainsworth, including secure, insecure, and disorganized types.