ATTACHMENT THEORY THEORIST JOHN BOWLBY ATTACHMENT THEORY MORE

ATTACHMENT THEORY THEORIST: JOHN BOWLBY

ATTACHMENT THEORY MORE THAN JUST BONDING • Raising healthy children into healthy adults who will have healthy relationships doesn’t happen by accident. • It starts from the day you bring baby home and doesn’t end until you send him off to college! • The “Affectionate Tie” that an infant forms with a caregiver—a tie that binds them together in space and endures over time is called ATTACHMENT. • Attachment styles are often carried from one life stage to another. • How you attach in adult relationships might be due to infant relationships… • So listen up!

LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING • Even before baby is born, she can recognize your voice! • Early Parent-Child interactions are described as synchrony (an coordinated exchange of responses between a caregiver and an infant) • Sometimes it is described as a Synchronous Dance because each partner needs to be attuned to the other.

NEGLECTED SYNCHRONY • If no one plays with an infant, what will happen? • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=b. F 3 j 5 UVCSCA • Studies have reached the same conclusion: synchrony is vital. Responsiveness aids psychosocial and biological development (Moore & Calkins, 2004; Newnham et al. , 2009) • Babies of depressed mothers suffer unless someone else is a sensitive partner (Bagner et al. , 2010)

JOHN BOWLBY AND MARY AINSWORTH

LEVELS OF ATTACHMENT • A Insecure Avoidant Attachment • B Secure Attachment • C Insecure. Resistant/Ambivalent Attachment • D Disorganized

TYPE B: SECURE ATTACHMENT • Infants/toddlers with SECURE ATTACHEMENT feel comfortable and confident. • Unafraid to explore when mom is present • Might cry when mom leaves, but is consoled • Reunites with mom when she returns • Continues to play • 50 -70% of toddlers are in this category You’re the bomb, Mom!

TYPE A: INSECURE AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT • Child plays independently with mom in the room • Child continues to play when mom leaves the room • When mom returns, the child ignores her • 10 -20% of toddlers are in this category Hello, Mommy? I’m ignoring you because sometimes you ignore me…

TYPE C: INSECURE-RESISTANT/ AMBIVALENT ATTACHMENT • In a play situation, child clings to mom— unlikely to explore or play on his own • When mom leaves, child is very unhappy, likely stops playing and cries—even throws tantrum • When mom returns, child is angry, may cry, hit mother, cling, inconsolable • 10 -20% of toddlers belong in this category You mean Mommy, why did you leave me?

TYPE D: DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENT • Child is cautious in a play situation • When mom leaves, child may stare or yell or look scared or confused or are not phased • When mom returns, child acts oddly— may scream, hit self, throw things, but is unpredictable • Elevated levels of cortisol • 5 -10% of toddlers are in this category Mom, sometimes you’re there for me, but mostly you’re not

ATTACHMENT MATTERS • Securely infants are more likely to become secure toddlers, socially competent preschoolers, high-achieving schoolchildren and capable parents (R. A. Thompson, 2006) • Attachment affects early brain development (Diamond & Fagundes, 2010) • A, B, C, D attachment status may shift with family circumstances like divorce, abuse, tragedy or income loss. • Aspects like insecure attachment of low SES make low school achievement, hostile children, and fearful adults more likely (Berger, pg 145).

ADULT ATTACHMENT