Many researchers have studied attachment; however, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth are the researchers responsible for the origination of the attachment theory, therefore also becoming catalysts for the research of attachment in the late eighteenth century. Attachment, as defined by Ainsworth, is “‘an affectional tie’ that an infant forms with a caregiver—a tie that binds them together in space and endures over time” (Berger, 2014, p. 142). Furthermore, as described in Berger, the attachment theory assesses the behaviors associated with four identified types of infant attachment. These four types include secure, insecure-resistant/ambivalent, insecure avoidant, and disorganized attachment. Berger defines each of these types as follows: securely…
A Meta-analysis, performed by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) showed how possibly, cultural variations may result in differences in attachment types. Looking at the findings from 2000 Strange Situation (SSC) classifications from 32 studies from 8 different countries, they found that although secure attachment was the most common attachment across all the countries, there were significant differences in the distribution of insecure avoidant and insecure resistant attachment types. Western cultures, or individualist cultures, which value independence had a more dominant insecure avoidant proportion, whereas non-western cultures, or collectivist cultures, which value dependence, a more dominant insecure resistant. For example, West Germany had 35% insecure avoidant compared to 8% insecure resistant, whereas Israel had 7% insecure avoidant compared to 29% insecure resistant.…
(2009, 01 19). Anxious-Avoidant Attachment. Retrieved August 5, 2009, from Adoptive Parents Network Web site:…
Individuals with secure style are confident that others will like and accept them as well as being comfortable with closeness. Relatively few interpersonal problems are experienced among individuals with secure attachment style. Individuals with dismissive style are self-sufficient and confident. They often reject interaction with others and see relationships as unnecessary and unrewarding. A premium is placed on activities related to work or self-fulfillment…
It is hypothesized that individual who formed secure attachment in childhood will have a strong desire for social connectivity, whereas individual who formed insure attachment (e.g., avoidant attachment) in childhood will have a low desire for social connectivity.…
In terms of attachment, an insecure attachment could be specifically related to adolescent egocentrism because of an overlap between them. For example, insecure attachment and egocentrism are both components of adolescent social development during the separation- individuation from parents. Rice et al. (1995) underlines that separation and individuation from primary care giver represents the part of attachment progress and when they separate from their primary care attachment to establish new relationships including romantic relationships, they are englighted by their previous attachment experiences (Bowlby, 1980). Adolescent egocentrism found to be playing a crucial role in compensating the attachment losses and forming new relationships.…
In the 1980s, Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver were able to garner a lot of attention, then, when they turned attachment theory on adult relationships. In their studies, they looked at a number of couples, examining the nature of the attachments between them, and then observed how those couples reacted to various stressors and stimuli. In the case of adults, it would seem that a strong attachment is still quite important. For example, in cases where the adults had a weak attachment, there were feelings of inadequacy on the part of both parties. When attachments were too strong, there were issues with co-dependency. The relationships functioned best when both parties managed to balance intimacy with independence. Much as is the case with developing children, the ideal situation seemed to be an attachment that functioned as a secure base from which to reach out and gain experience in the world.…
579). The study highlights that an individual with insecure attachment styles are more likely to have personality disorders, foster poor relationships with others and suffer from depression. There was also another study, conducted by Shirl, Gudmundsen and Burwell in 2005, on 168 adolescents and it showed that adolescents who feel as if their caretakers are unavailable and have increased stress, tend to be more vulnerable to depression and suffer from emotional…
It has often been asked if the attachment styles with partners reflect the attachment styles with parents. Of the three attachment styles Alecia is reported to have an avoidant attachment style. She states that when beginning romantic relationships, she is usually hesitant. Also, that she tends to distance herself from the relationship once she is in one. Although Alecia appears to have an avoidant attachment style, this does not sentence her to a life without positive relationships. While attachment styles are one factor to functioning relationships, many other factors add to success in relationships. Likewise, Alecia had her first serious relationship when she was 18, and her longest relationship lasted for a little over a year.…
After reading effective relationship development and the variety of dialectical tensions I believe I can relate to all of these in different aspects and stages of my life.…
Bowlby also goes on to mention that "attachment provides a type of home base" (Feldman, p.186, 2017). Psychologist Mary Ainsworth identified four attachment styles including parenting which were the secure, avoidant, ambivalent, and the disorganized-disoriented attachment pattern. In the secure attachment, children use their parents mostly the mother as a home base and may get upset when she leaves. In the avoidant attachment, children do not seek out their mothers when she is gone and when the mother comes back the child ignores her. In the ambivalent attachment, children who are with their…
For instance a child that had a secure attachment with their caregivers would be able to develop lasting relationships as adults. Contrary a child who had an avoidant attachment with their caregivers would have difficulty creating long lasting relationships and would have difficulty to trust others. Research has been able to confirm that our adult relationships are shaped by our early patterns of attachment and with the ways of dealing with closeness, separation and love (Schneider, Gruman & Coutts, 2005). Furthermore Bartholomew (1990) identified four styles of adult attachment that are derived from the two dimensions that have to do with our self-image and image of others (Schneider, Gruman & Coutts, 2005; Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991). For the dimension of self-image and image of others there are two levels which are the positive and negative and the combination of them composing the four patterns of adult attachment styles. Additionally this model, as indicated in the figure, includes the dimensions of dependency on the horizontal axis and avoidance on the vertical axis and both vary from low to high (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991; Ma, 2006). For instance the secure adult attachment style based on this model is characterized by positive self-image with low…
Thirdly, an ambivalent/resistant attachment is when a child displays extreme distress when separated from the primary caregiver, however the child also seeks and rejects contact (Passer & Smith 2013, p. 432). This is due the caregiver not encouraging their child to explore, so the child remains emotionally dependent, but reluctant to explore.…
According to Teyber & Teyber, (2017) attachment researchers measure adult attachment styles on the dimensions of anxiety and avoidance. This produces four types of attachment styles: secure, preoccupied, dismissive, and fearful. These types are categorized into 4 quadrants based on the levels of anxiety and avoidance. Although all classifications have real limits and it is best to remember that nothing fits neatly into a box. Clients will have varying degrees of these styles and levels and any types and level can crossover and change.…
I am a work in progress “Secure Attachment Style” because even though I do not meet all the behavior examples, I feel confortable relying on my husband and having my kids and husband depend on me. I also do not worry about being abandoned by the people close to me as well as close friends.…