Question

What, according to developmental psychologists, is “attachment”. Explain the method used to study human attachments to caregivers, the kinds of attachment relationships that exist, and why healthy attachments are important

Answer 1

• According to psychologist Mary Ainsworth, attachment,may be defined as an affectional tie that one person or animal forms between himself and another specific one, a tie that binds them together in space and endures over time.
• Attachment is not just a connection between two people; it is a bond that involves a desire for regular contact with that person and the experience of distress during separation from that person.This plays a particularly important role during childhood as it causes children and their caregivers to seek proximity.
• Ainsworth used the procedure of observing child' behaviour,during a set of pre determined tasks.These included introducing mother and child to the room, child playing with toys, stranger entering, mother leaving, stranger interacting with child, mother returning and child left on their own.
• Using this procedure, Ainsworth was able to assess separation anxiety and stranger anxiety and whether the baby used their mother as a safe base to explore the room in a strange situation. From her study, Ainsworth identified three types of attachment behaviour shown in the infants: Secure, Insecure-Avoidant and Insecure-Resistant.
• Attachment relationships are between parent-child which is the most common,it can be between siblings,friends and other family members as well. Attachment can be formed with animals too. The different attachment styles we have infuence our emotional development and also are important for developing a healthy relationship. Having secure and healthy attachments are important in interpersonal relationships as it provides a sense of confidence and security to the child by their caregivers.
• Such children will have a subconscious psychological model of their parents as being available and loving, and a complementary model of themselves as being worthy of their parent’s support and love. This positive expectation of relationships is part of secure attachment and is an advantage to children and a protective factor. It helps children to develop healthy relations later on in life as adults as well. Healthy attachments make children not only emotionally strong but better social beings as well since as adults they are confident in interacting with others and socializing and become sensitive to others emotions as well.