Attachment Styles and Relationships

AS Psychology - Attachment Revision What is Attachment?:- “Attachment is the close bond between two people which endures over time and leads to certain behaviors such as proximity seeking, clinging and distress on separation, These behaviors serve the function of protecting an infant”

Ainsworth identified three patterns of attachment that include the secure attachment style, anxious/ambivalent attachment style, and avoidance attachment style. Depending on the specific attachment style one was exposed to and learned as an infant will demonstrate specific adult attachment styles which involved the secure, preoccupied, fearful and dismissing adult attachment styles. Interactions we first have with our primary caregivers shape our relationships as adults (Power 2011).

There are two approaches to attachment; evolutionary theory and behavioural theory, and for the purposes of this essay I will focus largely on the evolutionary school of thought.

John Bowlby, the backbone of attachment theories will be discussed throughout this essay to explain and evaluate the key theories of attachment. Health and well-being which is made up of four factors ‘physical, intellectual, emotional and social ' (Jones, 2016), will also be discussed within the essay. The definition of attachment is ‘an act of attaching or the state of being attached. ' (Dictionary, 1400) This will be showed in the assignment, using theorists to analyse the meaning. Sharing the strengths and weaknesses in some theorists will help conclude this assignment.

Attachment is the emotional bond between humans, which is based on our relationship with a parent or early caregiver during the years of childhood. There are four different attachment styles – secure, preoccupied, dismissive, and fearful – each describing a different way in which individuals interact with others, approach social and romantic relationships, and deal with life.

Adult Attachment Styles The attachment style that an individual exhibits as an infant can affect their adult romantic relationships. An attachment pattern is established in early childhood attachments and continues to function as a working model for relationships in adulthood. This model of attachment influences how each of us reacts to our needs and how we go about getting them met. The ability to recognize one 's attachment can help someone to understand their strengths and vulnerabilities in a relationship.

The Attachment theory is a psychological, ethological and evolutionary theory that gives a descriptive and explanatory framework of understanding interpersonal relationship between human beings. Presented by John Bowlby, the important tenet of this theory is that an infant needs to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for social and emotional development to progress generally.

Attachment starts at the first ever relationship between the infant and caregiver. This relationship may be one of trust, love, security etc or the contrary, Inconsistent, uncertain, aggressive etc. This relationship will create an expectation if which all relationships will be like. Overtime an infant will develop a model about emotional relationships. This model will include concepts about relationships and expectations from others. Bowlby called this model the internal working model.

Attachment types Attachment types, or styles, develop in the early relational environment of a child, and reflect the affective or cognitive representations of strategies for regulating distress (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007).

Early social development is the study of the development of persons from infancy to adulthood. Research is conducted into how childhood experiences affect people’s development in later life. Attachment theories are studied and the effect of no attachment or disrupted attachment is studied and aimed to be resolved. John Bowlby

PG. 29 Attachment Style ID—It’s Time To identify your attachment style, read the following questions, and carefully consider which of the following three first-person descriptions best characterizes your feelings and behaviors in romantic relationships. Do not be afraid to be completely honest with yourself. There is no judgment here.This is just a jumping-off point to help you move forward along a new, healthier, and ultimately more successful path to intimacy and romance.

The Effects of Attachment Style on Adult Romantic Relationships Abstract Individual attachment style and its effects on adult romantic relationships were examined. The hypothesis of this literature review was that insecure attachment style would negatively affect the overall dynamic of adult romantic relationships while secure attachment would promote positive and healthy romantic relationships. Empirical studies looking at attachment style and relationship issues such as one’s views of self and others, communication, sexual intimacy, childhood family dynamic and God were evaluated. Reviews of studies were in line with the hypothesis indicating that insecure attachment does negatively affect the overall dynamic of romantic

How do you believe these differing types of attachment styles could impact long term development?

Attachment Styles and Its Effects on Adulthood Attachment is the psychological and emotional connection experienced between living things, and acts as a medium that “connects one person to another person across time and space”(Mcleod, 2009). Attachment is not only limited to existing in human beings but has been seen in grown mammals and their young offspring. Although it may seem that attachment can be mutually shared, Mcleod (2009) found that “attachment does not have to be reciprocal”. There has been numerous research and studies done on the topic of attachment, but most of the credit behind attachment studies goes to John Bowlby. John Bowlby expanded on the research of Freud’s theories about love and was the psychoanalyst who coined the term ‘attachment. He believed that attachment styles in early childhood affect adults and their future relationships. His theory strongly suggested that children come into this world with an innate desire to form an attachment with others, in order to survive. Mcleod (2009) found that “attachment can be understood within an evolutionary context in that the caregiver provides safety and security for the infant”.

Depression during pregnancy is scarily something that is often overlooked. According to Clay (2016), mothers feel as if they are unable to care for the coming baby. These mothers may have one or more other kids and are worried about the care that they may receive, or lack thereof. Along