Overview of Attachment Styles Essay

Overview of Attachment Styles Essay Overview of Attachment Styles Essay 1 Overview of Attachment Styles Mary Ainsworth and Mary Main (Disorganized) Based on Ainsworth’s â€Å"Strange Situation† Procedure (1970’s) The Strange Situation experiment revealed two general categories of infant attachment styles: 1) Secure attachment 2) Insecure attachment: o 2a) Avoidant attachment o 2b) Ambivalent attachment 2 o 2c) Disorganized attachment (this style was discovered later by researcher Mary Main) Secure Attachment - the 'Ideal' Attachment Behavior The child's attachment behavior when his or her: Mother is present: o The child demonstrates secure attachment by feeling safe enough to explore the world and engage in play. o The mother's proximity creates what is called 'secure base' - a space of security from which the child feels to free to explore the world. Mother leaves: o The child protests - e.g. by crying or trying to regain closeness. o The distress is not desperate as the child trusts his or her mother to return. Mother returns: o The child shows signs of being pleased or is quickly comforted if he or she is upset. o The child will soon re-enter 'secure base' and feel safe enough to play again. The child's behavior towards the stranger: The child will sometimes be comforted by the stranger but clearly prefers his or her mother. Mother's responsiveness: Responds quickly and consistently to her child's signals of wanting comfort and security. o The child feels confident that his or her mother will help ful fill any needs when they occur. Avoidant Attachment - Passive Attachment Behavior The child's behavior when his or her: Mother is present: o Little or no interest in playful interaction. o Prefers to play with object rather than people. o Seems emotionally distant from his or her mother. Mother leaves: o Hardly any sign of separation distress, indifference. Mother returns: o The child hardly displays any visible reaction, if any at all. o The child doesn't really respond to contact attempts. o The child may even try to avoid contact and ignore his or her mother. 3 The child's behavior towards the stranger: The child acts in the same way towards the stranger as towards the mother; there seems to be no preference. Sometimes the child shows preference to the stranger. Mother's responsiveness: Mostly disengaged; When the child is showing signs of distre ss, the mother shows little or no response. The mother often aims at making the child independent. o The child learns that his or her needs will probably not be met and therefore doesn't engage in typical attachment behavior such as crying or reaching out . As adults, this attachment style would be considered â€Å"dismissive.† (Hazan and Shaver, 1980’s) Ambivalent Attachment - Anxious Attachment Behavior The child's attachment behavior when his or her: Mother is present: o The child is uncomfortable and seems anxious in the unfamiliar setting. o The child is anxious as if anticipating separation even before it occurs. o The child doesn't feel secure even when his or her mother is present. o The child desires his or her mother's attention, comfort and proximity but rejects it angrily when it is achieved. Mother leaves: o The child is very distressed and protests strongly. Mother returns: o The child doesn't regain calmness and shows signs of anger towards the mother. o The child doesn't re-engage in play activities. The child's behavior towards stranger: The child is not easily comforted. Mother's responsiveness: Responses occur on the mother's terms ... in other words; when she feels like it. Her availability is therefore inconsistent; She