attachments formed as adults tamara arrington com 252

AttachmentsAttachmentsFormed as AdultsFormed as Adults

Tamara ArringtonTamara ArringtonCOM 252COM 252

John Bowlby & Mary John Bowlby & Mary AinsworthAinsworth

Bowbly & AinsworthBowbly & Ainsworth Bowlby was inspired Bowlby was inspired

by two childrenby two children An affectionless child An affectionless child

without a stable without a stable mother figuremother figure

An anxious child who An anxious child who followed him aroundfollowed him around

Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality An ethological approach to personality

development. development. American Psychologist, American Psychologist, 46, 46, 333-341.333-341.

http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~hedlund/bol-ain.html

Ainsworth was Ainsworth was inspired by two inspired by two undergraduate undergraduate psychology courses psychology courses at Univ. of Torontoat Univ. of Toronto

Experimental Experimental ResearchResearch

Theory of SecurityTheory of Security



Bowlby & AinswrothBowlby & Ainswroth Bowlby and Ainsworth find evidence Bowlby and Ainsworth find evidence

of the adverse effects on of the adverse effects on development attributable to a child’s development attributable to a child’s lack of a mother figure.lack of a mother figure.

Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. An ethological approach to personality development. American American

Psychologist, 46, Psychologist, 46, 333-341.333-341. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~hedlund/bol-ain.html


Bowlby & AinswrothBowlby & Ainswroth 1950-1954 Bowlby finds his theory:1950-1954 Bowlby finds his theory: Attachments are as important in life as Attachments are as important in life as

eating and sexual behavior, and are a eating and sexual behavior, and are a major component to human behavior. He major component to human behavior. He believes that separation anxiety occurs in believes that separation anxiety occurs in the absence of an attachment figure.the absence of an attachment figure.

Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46, American Psychologist, 46, 333-341.333-341. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~hedlund/bol-ain.html


Bowlby & AinsworthBowlby & Ainsworth 1954-1963 Ainsworth studied mothers and 1954-1963 Ainsworth studied mothers and

babies in several Uganda villages.babies in several Uganda villages. She discovered three different levels She discovered three different levels

of attachment.of attachment. SECURELY ATTACHEDSECURELY ATTACHED INSECURELY ATTACHED INSECURELY ATTACHED NONATTACHEDNONATTACHED Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46, American Psychologist, 46,

333-341.333-341. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~hedlund/bol-ain.html


Bowlby &AinsworthBowlby &Ainsworth So, how do researchers know what kind So, how do researchers know what kind

of attachments a particular child has?of attachments a particular child has? The Strange SituationThe Strange Situation is a laboratory is a laboratory

procedure used to assess infant procedure used to assess infant attachment style. The procedure attachment style. The procedure consists of eight episodes:consists of eight episodes:

(Connell & goldsmith, 1982; ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). IN (Connell & goldsmith, 1982; ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). IN Attachment Theory – The “Strange Stiuation” Attachment Theory – The “Strange Stiuation” http://www.personalityresearch.org/attachment/strange.html

http://www.personalityresearch.org/attachment/strange.html

Bowlby & AinsworthBowlby & Ainsworth The Strange SituationThe Strange Situation 1.1.Parent and infant are introduced to Parent and infant are introduced to

the the experimental roomexperimental room 2. 2. Parent and infant are aloneParent and infant are alone. Parent . Parent

does does not participate while infant not participate while infant explores.explores.

3. 3. Stranger entersStranger enters, converses with , converses with parent, parent, then approaches infant. Parent then approaches infant. Parent leaves leaves inconspicuously.inconspicuously.

Bowlby & AinsworthBowlby & Ainsworth The Strange SituationThe Strange Situation 4. 4. First separation episodeFirst separation episode: Stranger’s : Stranger’s

behavior is geared to the infant.behavior is geared to the infant. 5. 5. First reunion episodeFirst reunion episode: Parent greets : Parent greets

and comforts infant, then leave and comforts infant, then leave again.again.

6. 6. Second separation episodeSecond separation episode: Infant : Infant is alone.is alone.

Bolby & AinsworthBolby & Ainsworth 7. 7. Continuation of second Continuation of second

separationseparation episodeepisode; Stranger enters ; Stranger enters and gears and gears behavior to the infant.behavior to the infant.

8. 8. Second reunion episodeSecond reunion episode: parent : parent enters, greets infant, and picks up enters, greets infant, and picks up infant; stranger leaves inconspicuously.infant; stranger leaves inconspicuously.

(Connell & Goldsmith, 1982; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). IN (Connell & Goldsmith, 1982; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). IN Attachment Theory – The “Strange Stiuation” Attachment Theory – The “Strange Stiuation” http://www.personalityresearch.org/attachment/strange.html


Bowlby & AinsworthBowlby & Ainsworth The Strange SituationThe Strange Situation The infants behavior upon the parent’s The infants behavior upon the parent’s

return is the basis for classifying the return is the basis for classifying the infant into one of three attachment infant into one of three attachment categories.categories.

(Connell & Goldsmith, 1982; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). IN (Connell & Goldsmith, 1982; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). IN Attachment Theory – The “Strange Stiuation” Attachment Theory – The “Strange Stiuation” http://www.personalityresearch.org/attachment/strange.html


Bowlby & AinsworthBowlby & Ainsworth The Strange Situation The Strange Situation studies studies

showed that crying was a normal showed that crying was a normal response by secure children. response by secure children.

Secure:Secure: When the mother would When the mother would then pick the baby up, secure then pick the baby up, secure children would stop crying, and then children would stop crying, and then look forward to explore. look forward to explore.

Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements. Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~sengupta/attachment.html

http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~sengupta/attachment.html

Bowlby & AinsworthBowlby & Ainsworth Anxious/Ambivalent:Anxious/Ambivalent: The infants The infants

that were anxious/ambivalents would that were anxious/ambivalents would constantly cry, even after their constantly cry, even after their mother had comforted them.mother had comforted them.

Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements. Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~sengupta/attachment.html

http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~sengupta/attachment.html

Bowlby & AinsworthBowlby & Ainsworth Avoidants: Avoidants: The infants that fell into The infants that fell into

the category of avoidants would not the category of avoidants would not have any emotional response when have any emotional response when their mother left, nor would they be their mother left, nor would they be affected when their mother returned.affected when their mother returned.

Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements. Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~sengupta/attachment.html http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~sengupta/attachment.html

Attachment TheoryAttachment Theory Keep in mind that it was in 1957 that Keep in mind that it was in 1957 that

Harry HarlowHarry Harlow “began”“began” his studies his studies using rhesus monkeys.using rhesus monkeys.

Bowlby & AinsworthBowlby & Ainsworth According to the Attachment Theory explained in the article According to the Attachment Theory explained in the article

entitled entitled An Ethological Approach to PersonalityAn Ethological Approach to Personality DevelopmentDevelopment by by John Bowlby & MaryJohn Bowlby & Mary Ainsworth,Ainsworth, personality personality development is based on the development is based on the interactioninteraction of the child and the of the child and the caregiver caregiver during infancy and earlyduring infancy and early childhoodchildhood . .

Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, American Psychologist,

46, 46, 333-341.333-341. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~hedlund/bol-ain.html http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~hedlund/bol-ain.html

Bowlby & AinsworthBowlby & Ainsworth Cont. from previous slide… Cont. from previous slide… The theory takes into account The theory takes into account

real-life events concerning the real-life events concerning the relationship between a child and relationship between a child and his or her motherhis or her mother

The following chart reference:The following chart reference: Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46, American Psychologist, 46,

333-341.333-341. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~hedlund/bol-ain.html http://www.psych.nwu.edu/~hedlund/bol-ain.html

DevelopmentDevelopment of of SecuritySecuritySecuritySecurity DevelopmentDevelopment Effect on Effect on

PersonalityPersonalityImmature Immature Dependent Dependent SecuritySecurity

Develops during Develops during infancy as result of infancy as result of infant’s ability to infant’s ability to rely on a parent rely on a parent figure for carefigure for care

This type of security This type of security gives the infant gives the infant ability to explore ability to explore surrounding world surrounding world knowing that they knowing that they can retreat to the can retreat to the parentparent

IndependeIndependent Securitynt Security

Develops during Develops during child-hood as the child-hood as the child gradually child gradually learns skills to cope learns skills to cope w/surroundingsw/surroundings

As child matures, he As child matures, he or she becomes or she becomes fully emancipated fully emancipated from his or her from his or her parentsparents

Mature Mature Dependent Dependent SecuritySecurity

Develops during Develops during adult-hood as one adult-hood as one develops ability to develops ability to form mutually form mutually contributing, contributing, give/take give/take relationships relationships w/partner of same w/partner of same generationgeneration

An adult can supply An adult can supply a secure base to a a secure base to a partner in a partner in a relationshiprelationship

Adult AttachmentsAdult Attachments Secure:Secure: These are people who These are people who

had a loving childhood, and were had a loving childhood, and were well cared for by their mothers. well cared for by their mothers. Secure people do not avoid Secure people do not avoid people, and at the same time, do people, and at the same time, do not feel the need to constantly not feel the need to constantly dependent on other people.dependent on other people.


Adult AttachmentsAdult Attachments Avoidants:Avoidants: These are people who These are people who

have been constantly denied any have been constantly denied any physical contact by their mothers physical contact by their mothers when they were infants. Avoidants when they were infants. Avoidants tend to express behavior of tend to express behavior of detachment.detachment.


Adult AttachmentsAdult Attachments Anxious/AmbivalentAnxious/Ambivalent: These people : These people

who as infants had mothers who were who as infants had mothers who were slow and inconsistent to respond to slow and inconsistent to respond to their cries. Anxious/Ambivalents tend their cries. Anxious/Ambivalents tend to express feelings of protest, and are to express feelings of protest, and are very distrustful of others.very distrustful of others.


Attachment Attachment TheoryTheory –Adult –Adult LoveLove

62%62% ADULTS ADULTS =SECURE=SECURE23%23% ADULTS= ADULTS= ANXIOUS/AMBIVALENTANXIOUS/AMBIVALENT15%15% ADULTS ADULTS =AVOIDANT=AVOIDANT


attachments formed as adults tamara arrington com 252

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