The Theory of Attachment was established by psychologist John Bowlby. His theory focused on the idea of adult relationships and emotional attachments. Bowlby’s theory is a crucial idea when it comes to examining human relationships. His theory has been widely used in psychology and counseling methods. The theory looked at how early attachments formed in childhood can impact the quality of relationships in adult life.

So, what do you need to know about the Theory of Attachment?

How the Theory Was Developed

Psychologists often believed attachments were formed on the needs of the child – such as feeding and changing – and the parent’s level of care. Bowlby’s research, however, changed those perceptions. His research looked at the parent-child relationship differently and found that children need to create connections with their parents or guardians because it was their survival method.

Children see their closest guardian as the person they turn to most, whether it’s for protection, support, or comfort. If those things are given by the guardian, the child is likely to survive into adulthood. Parents and guardians need to meet the child’s nurturance levels for them to create healthy attachments in life. Bowlby found that children often sought to be closer to their parents when they felt anxious. It isn’t just about an emotional connection, however. 

The Research of Mary Ainsworth

Mary Ainsworth, a noted psychologist, wanted to go further with the Attachment Theory. She created an experiment – the Strange Situation – and this focused on the reactions of children. The parents or guardians left the room, and with no adult supervision, the children were left to their own devices. Psychologists observed the behavior, and afterward, the guardians and children were reunited. 

During her research, Ainsworth found that the reactions from the children were the same ones predicted by the attachment the child has with the guardian or parent. There are different types of attachments, however. 

The Type of Attachments Formed

Every child forms an attachment to their primary caretaker, whether it’s a parent, sibling, or guardian. If that attachment remains consistent, the child has security and feels safe. So, it’s important to understand the different types of attachments. Those are:

• Secure Attachment: Picture a child going to school and their parents leaving them at the front gate. The child, however, is upset. The parents let the child know they will be picking them up at the end of the day; that reassures the child. If there is a strong bond, the child knows the parent will keep their word and feels secure enough to leave them. 
• The Ambivalent-Insecure Attachment: Children are often wary of strangers; however, children with an ambivalent-insecure attachment feel distrusting of all strangers. This is possible even when the parent is present. It happens because the parents have been inconsistent. It doesn’t mean the parent has been fully neglectful of the child but doesn’t meet the needs of the child. That creates an insecure feeling.
• The Avoidant-Insecure Attachment: Children with this attachment often avoid their parents or primary caretaker. It means the child responds to the guardians as they would with a stranger – with distrust and potential lack of enthusiasm. Children with little connection to their parents can walk into class without a second look at their parents. It happens when the child is ignored or frequently punished by the parent. 
• The Disorganized-Insecure Attachment: This attachment often occurs when the relationship with the primary guardian is unpredictable and the child experiences different behaviors. Children could show one emotion on a day and the next a very different one. There are no clear patterns to the behavior and the attachment style is strained.  

The Rhesus Monkey and Harry Harlow

Harry Harlow’s experiment was ingenious but quite controversial. For instance, the experiment focused on monkeys and how they reacted to certain situations. It found that the monkey’s first instincts were the parents with food. However, the monkey spent most of the time with the other parent that had a soft cloth. So, when in distress, the monkey would run to the parent with the cloth rather than the one with the food. 

Emerson and Schaffer’s Attachment Stages

• The Pre-Attachment Stage: This occurs in children between 0-and 3 months. This is a crucial time for parents to create a bond with the child. It is when the parent responds to the child’s crying, cooing, and fusing. While there isn’t an attachment formed yet, it’s thought babies can recognize primary caregivers. 
• The Indiscriminate Attachments: This occurs between 6 weeks and 7 months. Children will often form attachments with whoever can attend to their needs. 
• The Discriminate Attachment: Formed between 7 and 11 months, the child begins to form an attachment to a primary parent. If the child is separated from that person, their distress can become apparent. So, it’s likely a primary parent has been consistent in the child’s life. 
• The Multiple Attachment: Developed from 9 months and beyond, the child will begin to form multiple attachments. This can be with grandparents, siblings, and other caregivers. The primary caregiver will maintain their bond too. 

What Influences Attachments?

Two main influential factors determine attachments. Those are:

• Attachment Opportunity: This is when a child finds a figure to form an attachment with, such as a relative or a person that can attend to their needs. 
• The Quality of Care: This occurs when a child’s needs are continuously met by the primary caregiver. Trust is formed and it creates better attachments too. 

Final Thoughts

Child behaviors and relationships are formed from the moment they are born. Of course, attachment styles can vary considerably. Many experts believe childhood attachments impact the child as they reach maturity and stay with them for the rest of their lives. Children do need to form strong emotional bonds from the moment they’re born. While children often look to their mothers are their primary caregivers, it can come in the form of a father, sibling, grandparent, or other relatives. Sometimes, it can be an adoptive parent.