attachment theory

1. ATTACHMENT THEORY
By:
Nayana shree Ramesh
24
E1

2. What is Attachment:
• Attachment is a strong , affectionate tie
we have with special people in our lives
that leads us to experience pleasure when
we interact with them and t be
comforted by nearness in time of stress
– Laura Berk
• According to psychoanalytic perspective
and behavioristic perspective feeding was
seen as a central context in which the
caregiver and babies developed
attachment

3. Roots of attachment theory :
• John Bowlby applied ethology to
infants
• influenced by Konrad Lorenz
• Infants innate behaviors are
evolved responses which
promote survival

4. Importance of Attachment
• Implications for infants
sense of security
• Affects internal working
model
• Freud , Erikson
,Behaviorists described its
impact and development

5. Bowlby’s Fours stages of Attachment :
• Babies are born equipped behaviors like crying, cooing , Babbling and smiling to ensure
adult attention and adults are biologically programmed to respond to infant signals
• He viewed the first three years are very sensitive period for attachment
• The four attachments are
• Pre attachment phase (Birth- 6 weeks )
• “Attachment in making” phase (6 weeks – 6-8 months )
• “Clear cut attachment “phase(6-8 months – 18 month -2 years )
• Formation of Reciprocal relation ship ( 18 month -2 years and on )

6. • Pre attachment
• Birth -6 weeks
• Baby’s initiate signals attract care giver
• Caregiver remain closed by when the baby responds positively
• Attachment in making
• 6 weeks -6-8 months
• Develops a sense of trust that care giver will respond when signaled
• Infant respond to more positively to familial care giver
• Baby’s don’t protest when separated from parent

7. • Clear cut attachment
• 6-8 month – 18-24 months
• Babies display separation anxiety
• Babies protest when parent leaves
• Formation of Reciprocal Relationship
• 18 mo-2 years and on
• Toddlers increase their understanding of symbols and language improves
• Toddlers understand that parent swill return

9. Factors which affect Attachment
• Opportunity for attachment
• Quality of caregiving
• Respond promptly and consistently
• interactional synchrony – the sensitively tuned “emotional dance “
• Infant characteristics
• infants temperament ,special needs, prematurity or illness
• Family circumstances
• stress can undermine attachment
• Parents internal working models
• Parents own attachment experiences
• parents ability to accept their past

10. Attachment patterns
• Secure : Safe well balanced connection between parent and child
• Parent is attuned and responsive to child’s need
• Trust is established
• Insecure :
• Avoidant: Parent not giving attention to the child , child gives up, and avoid making
contact
• Ambivalent: Parent sometimes gives attention ,sometimes not . Child becomes hyper
demanding for parents attention
• Resistance : Distress by separation , infants remain close to parents and not eager to
explore

11. • Disorganized : could be avoidant or ambivalent but with element of fear or
abuse –child disconnects
• Indiscriminate :multiple placements , multiple carriers ,.
• child will attach to anyone ,superficial attachment