Application Of Attachment Theory On The Strange Situation

Individuals that portray secure attachment styles tend to value relationships that provide trust, comfort, and availability. In contrast, individuals with insecure-avoidant or anxious- ambivalent styles of attachment tend to not be as capable of recognizing, acknowledging, or valuing secure-based relationships (Waters, 2004). Based off of Mary Mains work dealing with adult attachment, Bowlby went on to theorize that an individual’s self-concept and social interactions during childhood result in future development of different styles of attachment behaviors, known as continuity (Hazan et al., 1986). Li and Chen (2012) observed:

Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space (Bowlby, 1969). Likewise, attachment theory is a psychological model that seeks to illustrate the dynamics of both long term and short- term interpersonal relationships (Waters, E.; Corcoran, D.; Anafarta, M. 2005). Additionally, attachment theory address how people respond within relationships when hurt, separated from loved ones, or when they perceive a threat (Waters et al., 2005). Attachment theory is the combined work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth (Bretherton, I. 1992, p. 1). The theory predominantly draws on the ideas from doctrines such as, ethology, cybernetics, information processing and developmental psychology (Bretherton, I. 1992, p. 1). It is considered that attachment theory has revolutionized the way society thinks about the relationship between the mother and her child and the importance of

EFT is an attachment based research theory, that suggest that couples have strong need to stay connected (bond) to each other. As such, bonding is very important in marital relationships and if the bond is disappearing, then stressful and negative cycle pattern begins to emerge. Thus, the goal of EFT is to support couples walk through a process of healing (overcoming the negative patterns, rebuilding the connection again, and fortify the bond) (Goldenberg, Stanton, & Goldenberg, 2017). From the assessment that has carried out by the therapist it is clear that Tam and Lisa do not have what it takes to manage or settle conflicts without it escalating into something else. As such, the bonding between them is disappearing and it’s becoming stressful and disturbing to them and their children. Because Jimmy and Emma even though do not see their parent fight or disagree in the open but they can sense the disconnection between their parent and feel the tension whenever both of them where at home. More so, because of the negative pattern that has emerge as a result of lack of secure attachment, there is no more interactions between the couple and each others needs are not met. From the case conceptualization, and to decide what treatment plan should target or focus on the therapist will use the step-by-step treatment manual provided by Johnson and Greenberg (1995) as cited in (Goldenberg et al., 2017) for the therapy process:

Fraley (2002) completed a meta analysis of studies concerning attachment in order to investigate the level of attachment pattern’s continuity throughout life. The study indicated that there was a certain stability of the attachment pattern, and that the stability is independent of time. Even though it is theorized that a secure pattern will be likely to stay unchanged, it is still indicated that experiences such as bad relationships will be able to change the attachment pattern (Fraley,

“a way of conceptualising the propensity of human beings to make strong affectional bonds to particular others and of explaining the many forms of emotional distress and personality disturbance, including anxiety, depression, and emotional detachment, to which unwilling separation and loss give rise” (Bowlby, 1984 p.27).

This resource will apply the definitions of the differing insecure attachment styles. The insight will be shared of how individuals with insecure attachment may be less likely to be involved in supportive partner relationships (Borhani, 2013). Borhani’s research study will support these findings.

In Derek’s parent attachment, he is highly anxious and uncertain causing him to have considerable amounts of turmoil upon separation. Based on Gouveia, Schulz, & Costa’s (2016) research, preoccupied attachment is portrayed by a positive perspective of others and a negative view of the self. Derek is most likely reluctant to become close to a significant other due to his fear of not being loved by his partner and a fear of losing them. Furthermore, Favez, Tissot, Ghisletta, Golay, & Notari (2016) discuss that highly anxious attachment is a repercussion due to unpredictable responses from the environment, leading to view themselves as unworthy and view others as adept and capable. In relation to Derek’s adult romantic attachment, he would have a lower sense of self-esteem and a higher dependency on his significant other. Additionally, Favez et al. (2016) describe anxious attachments to have a negative correlation with sexual satisfaction and self-esteem. Therefore, Derek’s adult romantic attachment may be not be completely satisfactory emotionally and

New research does show that even though the primary attachments develops during infancy as a person grow the types of attachments could be altered with new types of attachments due to positive or negative life events. Secure attachment used to be the most common type of attachment among early people but with the new generation studies shows a decline in it and a small growth in avoidant and resistant attachment

The research shows that female adolescents who were victims of childhood abuse or neglect are more likely to engage in self-harming behaviour in the form of cutting (Spielhagen and Schwartz 2013) as this is the way they gain sense of control over their body and pain as their soothing and problem solving skills are underdeveloped. Patricia did not enjoy warm, engaged and connected relationship with her mother when she was an infant. As an infant and young child she was very often left to soothe herself. Attachment theory suggest that when carers are addicted to drugs and distance themselves from their child, they send the message to the child that the parent's needs are primary and that the child needs to care for himsel (Bettman 2006). Now,

Attachment theory was introduced by British psychologist John Bowlby (1978). In this theory, he explains attachment style as “any behavior in which a person attains and seeks to maintain a relationship with a specific and clearly identified person who is judged by the individual to be able to better cope with the world” (Williams, 2010, p. 204). Bowlby thought that this theory applied to children as a working model that will develop through their life. Later, Mary Ainsworth proved that the attachment style of children and infants depends on their previous background regarding the bonds they create which have been influenced by primary attachment caregivers (Williams, 2010). Those previous experiences have direct connections to the attachment styles that the children will develop as young adults. As a result, attachment style was classified by phycologists in the following three categories: secure, avoidant, and anxious-ambivalent (Levy, Blatt, & Shaver, 1998).

All of this evidence suggests that parasocial relationships are comparable, if not exactly equivalent, to an individual’s real-life relationships. Consequently, one can see important implications for attachment theory, which describes characteristic patterns of interpersonal attachment among individuals. According to attachment theory, an individual’s interactions with others are influenced by the childhood relationship with his or her primary caregiver (Bowlby, 1969, 1973, 1980; Hazan & Shaver, 1987). Over time, these early experiences and interactions form “working models” of attachment, or cognitive representations of self and others, that revolve around the regulation and fulfillment of the infant’s needs. The end result is a characteristic

From the 1960s to the 1980s psychologists have worked and developed a four-part attachment style for adults. These styles are related to how individuals see themselves, how they see others, and how they relate to the people who are special to them. The attachment styles are secure, anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant.

Overall, those with secure attachments have longer relationships and have more happiness within their lives. They have positive views of their partners and have fewer negative emotions (Strong & Cohen, 2014). On the contrary, insecure attachment appears to confer risk through relational styles of emotionally avoidant and dismissing behaviors with inappropriate autonomy from others (avoidant), or of excessive negative emotions (anger and fear) and inappropriate dependence on others

The arguments of the essay are the evidence from empirical study that support and against the thesis statement, the integration of the other studies that produce same results and finally the insights that support the statement. The evidence of infant attachment styles does have influence on relationships through to adulthood can be seen in Keelan, Dion, & Dion (1998), found that securely attached persons showed higher relationship satisfaction compared with persons who characterized as having an insecure attachment. Evidence against the statement can be seen in Kirkpatrick and Davis (1994), who found that the relationships of anxious women and avoidant men were at least as stable as those of comparatively satisfied secure people.

Relationships are necessary throughout life and all relationships, be them romantic or friendly, have an important impact on who we are. From birth, an attachment is formed with our mothers and close caregivers, and, as we progress throughout life, that attachment transforms and evolves in many different ways and creates a framework for future relationships (Bowlby, 1969, 1973, 1980). As we develop and change as we enter into adulthood, these attachment styles adjust and present themselves in new ways in both social context and in romantic security and conflict resolution (Shi, 2003). Eventually relationships are formed with whom we want to spend the rest of our lives, and our attachment styles from infancy and childhood present themselves as these relationships develop (Gouveia, T., Schulz, M. S., & Costa, M. E. 2015). In a romantic relationship, attachment style can influence the way that you and your partner react and communicate with one another and resolve issues and conflicts (Shi, 2003). Healthy relationships are more likely to form between people who experienced a secure attachment in childhood. This gives them high levels of intimacy, trust, and positive self-regard. In contrast, unhealthy relationships are more likely to develop between individuals with insecure attachment styles, who often feel unworthy of affection, are emotionally unavailable, and closed off to intimacy (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2003). Attachment styles in adult romantic relationships