Couple, Family and Child Psychology
PSY356
By Nadine Alhamzawi
Attachment Theory
The capacity to form and maintain healthy relationships. Attachment is the bond we have with a person affected
by our security and safety.
Being attached to someone we feel loss, threat, and grief when they leave and also feel comfort and pleasure when
they’re around us.
Attachment theory was founded by John Bowlby, he says that a child needs at least one special caregiver to have
a healthy development. He observed orphans and concluded that babies have an innate tendency to form an
attachment to their mothers.
Mary Ainsworth continued Bowlby’s research and proposed that attachment styles differ in degree of security.
Attachment styles influence personality and social relationships throughout life.
The Strange Situation Experiment:
An experimental task for infants where the parent leaves the baby with a stranger in a room full of toys, happened
in 8 episodes until the experimenter could determine the child’s attachment style.
The experiment consists of a structured series of 8 short episodes, typically lasting about 20 minutes in total. It is
conducted in a small room with toys, and a one-way mirror allows researchers to observe the child’s reactions. The
setup includes:
1. Mother and child enter the room and the child is allowed to explore the toys.
2. A stranger enters the room, engages with the mother, and gradually interacts with the child.
3. The mother leaves the room, leaving the child alone with the stranger.
4. The mother returns, comforting the child if needed, while the stranger leaves.
5. The mother leaves the room again, leaving the child completely alone.
6. The stranger re-enters and tries to comfort the child.
7. Finally, the mother returns for the last time to comfort the child.
Secure base: a responsive caregiver that provides security to explore the environment.
The caregiver’s responses are what shape the child’s attachment and confidence to explore
1. Proximity Seeking: This refers to the infant’s desire to stay close to the caregiver. In a secure
attachment, the infant seeks proximity to feel safe, particularly in times of stress. Insecurely attached
infants may show less interest in maintaining physical closeness.
1
, 2. Exploration and Secure Base Behavior: A securely attached infant will explore their environment,
using the caregiver as a "secure base" from which to venture out. They regularly check in with the
caregiver and return to them when feeling unsure or scared. Insecure attachment can result in either
overdependence on the caregiver (resistant) or avoidance of the caregiver while exploring.
3. Stranger Anxiety: This refers to the infant's distress when encountering an unfamiliar adult. Securely
attached infants may show mild to moderate distress but are usually comforted by the presence of
their caregiver. Infants with insecure attachment styles may show exaggerated or diminished
reactions to strangers.
4. Separation Anxiety: This involves the infant’s emotional response when the caregiver leaves.
Securely attached infants typically show distress but can be calmed when the caregiver returns. In
contrast, infants with insecure attachment may show intense or little distress during separation,
depending on their attachment style.
5. Response to Reunion: When the caregiver returns, securely attached infants are usually happy and
seek comfort, calming down quickly. Insecurely attached infants may display a range of behaviours:
resistant infants may be clingy but hard to console, avoidant infants may ignore or avoid the
caregiver, and disorganised infants may show confusion or fear.
1-Secure Attachment:
Children feel safe and confident that their caregivers will meet their needs. This develops when caregivers are
consistently responsive and nurturing. Explores the environment with the parent, might protest separation from
the parent but smiles more often when the parent is present, shows pleasure at reunion with the parent, 65% of
middle-class American infants.In adulthood, individuals with secure attachments tend to have healthier
relationships.
2-Resistant Attachment (AnxiousAmbivalent):
Children show clinginess and excessive dependence on caregivers but are often anxious about their availability.
This is often a result of inconsistent caregiving. Remain close to parents. Refuse to explore the new environment,
distressed at the separation of parents, mixture of approach and avoidance when reunited, 10% of middle-class
American infants. In relationships, these individuals may be overly needy or worried about abandonment.
3-Avoidant Attachment:
Children are emotionally distant and avoid caregivers, often because the caregivers have been neglectful or
dismissive of their needs. Does not protest at parent’s departure, responds the same to the stranger and the
parent, or more positively to the stranger, avoids parent upon return, 20% of middle-class American infants. Adults
may struggle with intimacy and prefer to maintain emotional distance in relationships
4-Anxious Attachment:
2
, Similar to resistant attachment, this style involves insecurity about the relationship, leading to fear of rejection or
abandonment. People with anxious attachments often seek constant reassurance and validation from partners.
5-Disoriented (Disorganized) Attachment:
This occurs when children experience fear or confusion towards their caregivers, often due to trauma or abusive
situations. The caregiver is both a source of comfort and fear, leading to erratic behaviour.Exhibits contradictory
behaviour in strange situations, typical attachment style when the infant is abused or neglected, less than 5% of
middle-class American infants.This attachment style can lead to chaotic and unpredictable relationship patterns in
adulthood.
The Internal Working Model (IWM)
Refers to the mental representations or cognitive
frameworks that individuals develop based on their
early attachment experiences with caregivers. These
models influence how people view themselves, others,
and relationships throughout life.
Self-View: Based on how they were treated by caregivers, children develop a sense of their worth and self-esteem.
If they are loved and cared for consistently, they tend to see themselves as worthy of love and care. If they
experience neglect or inconsistent caregiving, they might feel unworthy or unlovable.
Others-View: Children also develop expectations about how others will treat them. Secure attachments lead to the
belief that others are trustworthy, reliable, and caring. Insecure attachments can result in the belief that others are
untrustworthy, unavailable, or rejecting.
Relationships-View: IWMs guide how individuals approach relationships. Securely attached individuals generally
have positive expectations about relationships, believing in mutual support and healthy connections. Those with
insecure attachment may expect relationships to be unreliable or overly demanding, affecting how they behave in
close bonds.
3
PSY356
By Nadine Alhamzawi
Attachment Theory
The capacity to form and maintain healthy relationships. Attachment is the bond we have with a person affected
by our security and safety.
Being attached to someone we feel loss, threat, and grief when they leave and also feel comfort and pleasure when
they’re around us.
Attachment theory was founded by John Bowlby, he says that a child needs at least one special caregiver to have
a healthy development. He observed orphans and concluded that babies have an innate tendency to form an
attachment to their mothers.
Mary Ainsworth continued Bowlby’s research and proposed that attachment styles differ in degree of security.
Attachment styles influence personality and social relationships throughout life.
The Strange Situation Experiment:
An experimental task for infants where the parent leaves the baby with a stranger in a room full of toys, happened
in 8 episodes until the experimenter could determine the child’s attachment style.
The experiment consists of a structured series of 8 short episodes, typically lasting about 20 minutes in total. It is
conducted in a small room with toys, and a one-way mirror allows researchers to observe the child’s reactions. The
setup includes:
1. Mother and child enter the room and the child is allowed to explore the toys.
2. A stranger enters the room, engages with the mother, and gradually interacts with the child.
3. The mother leaves the room, leaving the child alone with the stranger.
4. The mother returns, comforting the child if needed, while the stranger leaves.
5. The mother leaves the room again, leaving the child completely alone.
6. The stranger re-enters and tries to comfort the child.
7. Finally, the mother returns for the last time to comfort the child.
Secure base: a responsive caregiver that provides security to explore the environment.
The caregiver’s responses are what shape the child’s attachment and confidence to explore
1. Proximity Seeking: This refers to the infant’s desire to stay close to the caregiver. In a secure
attachment, the infant seeks proximity to feel safe, particularly in times of stress. Insecurely attached
infants may show less interest in maintaining physical closeness.
1
, 2. Exploration and Secure Base Behavior: A securely attached infant will explore their environment,
using the caregiver as a "secure base" from which to venture out. They regularly check in with the
caregiver and return to them when feeling unsure or scared. Insecure attachment can result in either
overdependence on the caregiver (resistant) or avoidance of the caregiver while exploring.
3. Stranger Anxiety: This refers to the infant's distress when encountering an unfamiliar adult. Securely
attached infants may show mild to moderate distress but are usually comforted by the presence of
their caregiver. Infants with insecure attachment styles may show exaggerated or diminished
reactions to strangers.
4. Separation Anxiety: This involves the infant’s emotional response when the caregiver leaves.
Securely attached infants typically show distress but can be calmed when the caregiver returns. In
contrast, infants with insecure attachment may show intense or little distress during separation,
depending on their attachment style.
5. Response to Reunion: When the caregiver returns, securely attached infants are usually happy and
seek comfort, calming down quickly. Insecurely attached infants may display a range of behaviours:
resistant infants may be clingy but hard to console, avoidant infants may ignore or avoid the
caregiver, and disorganised infants may show confusion or fear.
1-Secure Attachment:
Children feel safe and confident that their caregivers will meet their needs. This develops when caregivers are
consistently responsive and nurturing. Explores the environment with the parent, might protest separation from
the parent but smiles more often when the parent is present, shows pleasure at reunion with the parent, 65% of
middle-class American infants.In adulthood, individuals with secure attachments tend to have healthier
relationships.
2-Resistant Attachment (AnxiousAmbivalent):
Children show clinginess and excessive dependence on caregivers but are often anxious about their availability.
This is often a result of inconsistent caregiving. Remain close to parents. Refuse to explore the new environment,
distressed at the separation of parents, mixture of approach and avoidance when reunited, 10% of middle-class
American infants. In relationships, these individuals may be overly needy or worried about abandonment.
3-Avoidant Attachment:
Children are emotionally distant and avoid caregivers, often because the caregivers have been neglectful or
dismissive of their needs. Does not protest at parent’s departure, responds the same to the stranger and the
parent, or more positively to the stranger, avoids parent upon return, 20% of middle-class American infants. Adults
may struggle with intimacy and prefer to maintain emotional distance in relationships
4-Anxious Attachment:
2
, Similar to resistant attachment, this style involves insecurity about the relationship, leading to fear of rejection or
abandonment. People with anxious attachments often seek constant reassurance and validation from partners.
5-Disoriented (Disorganized) Attachment:
This occurs when children experience fear or confusion towards their caregivers, often due to trauma or abusive
situations. The caregiver is both a source of comfort and fear, leading to erratic behaviour.Exhibits contradictory
behaviour in strange situations, typical attachment style when the infant is abused or neglected, less than 5% of
middle-class American infants.This attachment style can lead to chaotic and unpredictable relationship patterns in
adulthood.
The Internal Working Model (IWM)
Refers to the mental representations or cognitive
frameworks that individuals develop based on their
early attachment experiences with caregivers. These
models influence how people view themselves, others,
and relationships throughout life.
Self-View: Based on how they were treated by caregivers, children develop a sense of their worth and self-esteem.
If they are loved and cared for consistently, they tend to see themselves as worthy of love and care. If they
experience neglect or inconsistent caregiving, they might feel unworthy or unlovable.
Others-View: Children also develop expectations about how others will treat them. Secure attachments lead to the
belief that others are trustworthy, reliable, and caring. Insecure attachments can result in the belief that others are
untrustworthy, unavailable, or rejecting.
Relationships-View: IWMs guide how individuals approach relationships. Securely attached individuals generally
have positive expectations about relationships, believing in mutual support and healthy connections. Those with
insecure attachment may expect relationships to be unreliable or overly demanding, affecting how they behave in
close bonds.
3
