In the previous article we discussed John Bowlby's work on the Attachment Theory and how it is fundamental for infants to form early, secure attachments with a primary caregiver for healthy cognitive, social and emotional development. In this article, we'll take a look at how these childhood attachment styles can effect children in their adult life and what sort of difficulties arise from any disruption in the formation of secure attachment, what we call insecure attachment styles.
The Strange Situation Experiment
Mary Ainsworth, an American-Canadian psychologist, conducted a famous experiment called the "strange situation" in the 1970s, where she observed how infants reacted to being separated and reunited with their mothers in a laboratory setting.
The experiment applies to infants between the age of nine and 18 months.
The procedure involves a series of eight episodes lasting approximately three minutes each, whereby a mother, child, and stranger are introduced, separated, and reunited. The experiment is designed to elicit exploratory behavior from the child and to observe how the child responds to the temporary absence of their mother.
The Strange Situation Experiment has been used to investigate how attachments might vary between children and to determine the nature of attachment behaviors and styles of attachment. Childhood attachment styles can influence adult relationships. The earliest bonds formed by children with their caregivers have a tremendous impact that continues throughout life. Attachment theory suggests that attachment also serves to keep the infant close to the mother, thus improving the child’s chances of survival.
Attachment Styles:
Based on the infants' behaviors, Mary Ainsworth identified four attachment styles:
Secure
Anxious-ambivalent
Avoidant
Disorganized
Secure Attachment:
Secure attachment is the ideal outcome, where the infant feels confident that the mother will be available and responsive when needed. The infant is able to explore the environment, but also seeks comfort from the mother when distressed.
People with secure attachment tend to have honest, equal relationships.
Securely attached children tend to grow up to be trusting, empathic, and self-reliant adults who can form healthy, balanced and satisfying relationships.
Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment:
Anxious-ambivalent, also called Pre-occupied, attachment is an insecure outcome, where the infant is unsure about the mother's availability and responsiveness. These children had parents who could not be counted upon to give love and comfort when needed. The infant is clingy and fearful of exploration, but also angry and resistant when the mother returns.
They learn to be hypervigilant around their parents, trying to be present in case a loving moment happens, while keeping their guard up in case they end up getting hurt.
Anxiously attached children tend to grow up to be needy, insecure, and dependent adults who crave intimacy but also fear rejection and abandonment. They act jealous and clingy with their significant others. They show a lack of trust and can be intrusive within intimate relationships. They are trying to make up for their childhood, where their parent’s love was unpredictable. As adults, they want to control their partner and ensure that they are always present.
Avoidant Attachment:
Avoidant attachment is another insecure outcome, where the infant learns to cope with the mother's unavailability or rejection by suppressing their emotions and distancing themselves from her.
These people had parents who may have been physically present, but they were not emotionally available or were rejecting.
The infant shows little interest or response when the mother leaves or returns. Kids with avoidant attachment learn to suppress their emotions and needs, as they are not met by their parents. Avoidantly attached children tend to grow up to be detached, self-sufficient, and dismissive adults who avoid intimacy and emotional closeness. They act distant and uninterested in their significant others. They struggle with intimacy and can be very critical within intimate relationships. They are trying to protect themselves from being hurt, as they were hurt in childhood.
Disorganized Attachment:
Disorganized attachment style is the most extreme of the insecure attachment styles and is characterized by a fear of close relationships. It is often seen in people who have been
physically, verbally, or sexually abused in their childhood.
A disorganized attachment style develops when the child’s caregivers – the only source of safety – become a source of fear.
As adults, these people very inconsistent in their behavior and have difficulty trusting others. Such individuals could also suffer from other mental health issues, such as substance abuse, depression, or borderline personality disorder.
Conclusion:
So to conclude, childhood attachment styles can have a massive impact on the psychological development of the child and if there is a disruption in the formation of secure childhood bonds within a critical period, as described by John Bowlby, it can lead to long-term negative impact on the child and may even impact their adult life relationships.
However, attachment theory also offers hope for those who struggle with their attachment issues.
By becoming aware of your attachment style and its origins, you can work on healing your wounds and developing more secure attachments with yourself and others.
You can also seek professional help from a therapist who specializes in attachment therapy, which can help you rewire your brain and create new patterns of relating.
Thank you for sharing your insights Dr. Sheroze.
This is indeed a very important yet negleted topic specially in these times where the working women are leaving their children to others while going to work. Unfortunately many of these mothers aren't even aware of the consequences it can have on a child's development.