Attachment Styles And Levels Of Depression

The term ‘attachment’ is used by psychologists who study the child’s early relationships. An attachment is a unique emotional bond normal between a child and an adult. A theorist called John Bowlby (1970-90) had a relation to the attachment theory. In 1950s John identified that when children and

John Bowlby’s work in attachment has been the foundation when determining the attcahments and bonds that a child and parent may experience (Webb, 2011). According to Bowlby, “attachment” is referring to a lasting, mutual bond of affection that is dependent on an individual or more than one person (Webb, 2011). Establishing a secure attachment during infancy and early childhood is an important task of a parent or a caregiver. Not all parents or caregivers can provide their child with a secure attachment at this important in life due to various reasons. Since parents are the main providers in their child’s development of attachment, their lives and history has a great influence on their children’s lives.

One of the most important factors that affect child development is the relationship of the child with their primary caregiver. This is a tenet of developmental psychology known as attachment theory. John Bowlby, the creator of this theory, wanted to examine how early childhood experiences influence personality development. Attachment theory specifically examines infant’s reactions to being separated from their primary caregiver. Bowlby hypothesized that the differences in how children react to these situations demonstrates basic behavioral differences in infancy that will have consequences for later social and emotional development.

Attachment theory was originally proposed by Bowlby (1969) as an explanation of interpersonal relationships, with particular focus in his work on the parent-child relationships which are formed in early childhood. He noted that this was an evolutionary need within us as humans to form close attachments to improve our rate of survival (Bowlby, 1969). He later also theorized that these attachment styles would persist throughout life into adulthood (Bowlby, 1988). Further work on attachment theory by Bartholomew & Horowitz (1991) expanded on attachment styles and looked at the continuation of attachment style into adulthood. Using interviews with participants and the participants close friends they found evidence for four types of adult attachment styles: Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissing and Fearful (Bartholomew & Horowitz 1991). Further support for adult attachments styles is from Mikulincer & Shaver (2004) showing that attachments styles persist from childhood into adulthood demonstrating bowlby 's later hypothesis

Attachment theory is the concept of the development, of a psychological and emotional bond, that creates a secure or insecure attachment to a caregiver. Attachment bonds are very important, in regards to personal development. Formulated by John Bowlby in the sixties, he discovered that a child’s development depends significantly, on the strong attachment they form with a caregiver. Functions of Bowlby’s attachment

Attachment Theory Summary According to Birkenmaier, Berg-Weger, and Dewees (2014), Attachment Theory (A.T.) was proposed by John Bowlby who hypothesized that children and caregivers bond excessively during the primary months of a child’s life. (p.108) Birkenmaier, Berg-Weger, and Dewees further claims that the bonding or lack of bonding critically impacts the person's ability to attach and make meaningful relationships throughout life (p. 109). Furthermore, Bowlby asserts “children who form an attachment to an adult that is, an enduring and socio-emotional relationship are more likely to survive” (Kirst-Ashman and Zastrow, p. 147). Therefore, if a child’s attachment process is interrupted it can cause issues

The attachment theory of Bowlby (1980) helps to explain human bonding, conceptualize attachment, and proximity seeking. According to Lee and Hankin (2009) comfort received from caregiver reassure a child that at the time of distress caregiver will be with them. Furthermore, Lee and Hankin (2009) explains that the attachment within infant-caregiver is regarded as a basis for future relation dynamics of a child. Child, who is having anxious attachment are having difficulty to take caregiver as a secure person and they are characterized as anxious person (Lee & Hankin, 2009). Hamilton (2000) explained about a 12-year longitudinal study that found infant attachment style helps to predict attachment style in adolescence. In addition, a meta-analysis

Attachment theory focuses on the bond between a caregiver and a child and how these fragile bonds, if not made properly has effects on the child’s future. The attachment process itself responds to the developing identity of the child which is very dependent of the sensitivity and guidance of the caregiver. John Bowlby takes attachment theory in a more biological/ evolutionary perspective, in which he views these forming of bonds as a survival mechanism in which the infant insures its survival by attaching themselves to an adult (caregiver) who can meet their needs in order to survive. This take on the attachment theory suggests that parents and infants may be biologically programmed to form an attachment and that each behavior between the child and the caregiver helps facilitate this (Ashford 2013, 266). On a bio-social level children look for this attachment because they are biologically wired to be relate to others and be social. Regardless if the attachment theory is taken through a biological, social or even psychological approach what is certain is that the child views the caregiver as a source of protection, comfort, and emotional regulation (Howe 2009, 43). If a positive attachment is made with the caregiver the child will have confidence in themselves and others, they will be more likely to develop a good self-esteem, autonomy, and relationships with others (Kreutzer 1999, 9).

Attachment theory constituted by John Bowlby suggested the child’s early attachment with primary caregiver predicts their later adulthood relationship style. There are three patterns of adult attachment theory: secure, avoidant, and ambivalent relationship styles.

John Bowlby’s theory of attachment asserts that an infant forms an attachment to the primary caregiver to ensure survival. Developmental psychologist Mary Ainsworth furthered this idea by devising attachment styles in infants. Ainsworth believed that the quality of care given by the mother or primary caregiver results in the infant developing a secure or insecure attachment. Ainsworth identified three attachment styles, namely; secure, avoidant and anxious/ambivalent attachments. As the word infers, a secure infant has trust in the caregiver and will use the mother as a secure base from which they can explore. Conversely, an avoidant attachment results in the child not having confidence in the mother where attempts to be intimate have been rejected, and anxious ambivalent attachment is a result of inconsistent parenting where the child is left feeling anxious, suspicious and mistrustful. A further contribution to attachment styles was made by psychologists’ Mary Main and Judith Solomon, who suggested a fourth type; disorganized attachment, where a child behaves in a disoriented and contradictory manner. Maternal sensitivity refers to the extent to which the maternal figure is available to the infant. There is, however, an argument that biology is the reason for the bond that is formed by an infant with its mother and the attachment style they develop in life. This paper serves to demonstrate that attachment styles are a result of both biological factors and the sensitivity

The attachment theory has been a topic of discussion since about 1951, when introduced by John Bowlby. Mary Salter Ainsworth later created the famous “Strange Situation” experiment to test this theory (Berant, 2013). Until this point, most psychologists studied adulthood behaviors and worked backward to childhood. Bowlby believed that childhood attachments impact adulthood. (Berant, 2013). Attachment styles that the “Strange Situation” study named include secure, anxious avoidant, anxious ambivalent, and disorganized styles (Herbers, 2014). The attachment needs beginning from birth onward are important for optimum attachment with a caregiver and future security of the child into adulthood. Many factors of a child’s early caregiver experience create the style of attachment whether a family member, foster parent, or institutional caregiver. This desire for attachment can also relate to our spiritual walk through life. Caring for others and receiving God’s love can fulfill those needs and desires in our spiritual aspects. Ideal early attachment is a factor in every culture, no matter where a person originates, or what income level and the style of attachment can determine the type of adult behaviors the future holds for a person.

Attachment theory is defined as the characters associated with the long term associated of human beings. From my point of view attachment is a lasting, secure and positive bond between a child and a caregiver, a reciprocal relationship. John Bowlby who used his knowledge in developmental psychology, psychoanalysis, ethology, and data processing to base his principle of the theory developed attachment theory. John Bowlby believed that attachment theory was on of the four essential behavioral systems necessary for the evolution and survival of humans. Mary Ainsworth, psychologist, who made a big impact on Bowlby 's attachment theory. She had definitely modified and improved this theory by providing most famous research “strange situation” which explained the individual differences of newborns in attachment. Ainsworth describes of the patterns of secure and insecure attachment, the study, which resulted 4 attachments pattern (styles); secure, ambivalent, avoidant, disorganized-insecure (AttachFromScatch, 2013).

Blakely and Diadosz (2015) reported that the key concepts in the attachment theory are the Attachment Behavioral System (ABS), attachment style, and working model. The ABS was said to be “concerned with the proximity of the primary attachment figure when there was a threat of separation: if the attachment figure was not nearby or nonresponsive the child would have displayed anxious behaviors until they returned” (Blakely & Diadosz, 2015, p. 284). The second aspect of the theory was said to be the attachment style, which

Attachment theory is based on John Bowlby’s belief that humans are inclined to connect with others affectionately and use these connections as a safe place in time of stress or trouble (Sable, 2008). These attachments are primarily formed at birth with the primary caregiver, but can Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, pioneers in the theory suggest that the theory continues throughout the lifespan. Ainsworth suggests in the “Strange situation” that there are three attachment styles, namely secure, insecure ambivalent/resistant, and insecure avoidant (Sable, 2008).

Simpson (1990) as cited by Eisingerich et.al. (2010) examined the influence of attachment styles (secure, anxiety and avoidant) on intimate relationships in a longitudinal study comprising 144 dating couples. Secure attachment style was linked with higher relationship dependence in both gender. However, anxious and avoidant styles were linked with less common affirmative feelings and more frequent negative reactions in the relationship. After six months, the researcher conducted a follow-up interview and discovered that avoidant men were less distress than other people who