a child who just went through trauma that attaches themselves to a person is called what
In developmental psychology 'zipper theory' explores the emotional bail between 1 human and some other (mostly between caregiver and infant).
During the commencement half dozen months' of a baby's life, the caregiver must exhibit adequate nurturing to their newborn to establish a close bond. If a healthy bond cannot be established during the baby's early on developmental phase – it can lead to several emotional bug for them after on.
What is Attachment Theory?
John Bowlby, psychologist and psychoanalyst, proposed the attachment theory throughout the 1950s and 1960s and made notable contributions to the field of psychotherapy for his work on attachment.
Although Bowlby did not dispute the possibility of children forming multiple bonds with different people, he still upholds the view that since it is the first connection established, the bond between female parent and baby is the strongest of all.
Attachment theory examines how the caregiver-child bail develops and its impact on consequential development. Throughout his piece of work in the 1930s, Bowlby worked as a psychiatrist at a London clinic where he treated mentally sick children.
During this time, Bowlby recognised the important dynamic between parent and child and how securely this dynamic can impact social, emotional and cognitive development. He soon discovered that early infant separation could lead to later maladjustment, and thus attachment theory was developed.
Bowlby describes zipper as:
"Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bail that connects one person to another person across time and space."
(Ainsworth, 1973: Bowlby, 1969)
Exploring the parent-child relationship further, Bowlby and his colleague James Robertson researched a grouping of small infants. They found that when separated from a parent, the children consistently displayed signs of distress.
This research conflicts with 'behavioural theorists' who propose that when a child is fed – separation anxiety dissipates.
Bowlby and Robertson observed that children were unable to be comforted when a parent was absent regardless of whether they were fed or not.
Bowlby and Robertson's research goes confronting behavioural theory which states that children attach to the female parent through feeding.
Interestingly, attachment doesn't have to be reciprocal and is it possible for 1 person to be fastened to some other without information technology being reciprocated. According to Bowlby, attachment is distinguished past specific behaviours from children, such as seeking closeness to an zipper effigy when feeling upset or threatened (Bowlby, 1969).
Attachment and Evolution
Bowlby argued that attachment is a biological procedure and went on to say that all infants are built-in with an 'zipper gene' which allows them to discharge what is chosen 'social releasers' ensuring that when the child cries, clings to an attachment figure, or even smiles that they receive the attention and care they crave.
Interestingly, the aforementioned 'attachment factor' that children are born with is also nowadays inside the parent, and it is this that propels a caregiver to protect and await after a child.
'Monotropy' is a term signifying one main attachment figure, a concept developed by Bowlby aslope his attachment theory. He concluded that if a successful 'monotropic' bond isn't formed for whatsoever reason, then negative consequences could occur.
Bowlby identified iv types of attachment styles: secure, anxious-clashing, disorganised and avoidant.
Secure Zipper
The secure attachment style signifies a warm and loving bond between parent and child. The kid feels loved and cared for and develops the power to class healthy relationships with those around them.
Children with secure zipper styles are active and demonstrate conviction in their interactions with others.
Those who develop secure zipper styles in babyhood are likely to acquit this good for you way of bonding into adulthood and have no problem building long-term relationships without fear of abandonment.
Anxious-Clashing Attachment
Anxious-ambivalent children tend to distrust caregivers, and this insecurity often means that their environs is explored with trepidation rather than excitement.
They constantly seek approving from their caregivers and continuously observe their surround for fear of beingness abandoned.
Those who adult nether the 'anxious-clashing' zipper style, tend to deport what they have learned into adulthood, and very often feel unloved by their partners whilst finding information technology difficult to express love and connection themselves.
People who developed attachments under this fashion are normally emotionally dependent in adulthood.
Avoidant Attachment
Children who accept developed under the 'avoidant' manner accept learned to have that their emotional needs are likely to remain unmet and continue to grow upwards feeling unloved and insignificant.
They often struggle with expressing their feelings and find it hard understanding emotions – in adulthood; they tend to avoid intimate relationships.
Disorganised Zipper
Disorganised zipper is a combination of avoidant and anxious zipper, and children that fit into this grouping frequently display intense anger and rage. They may break toys and behave in other volatile ways – they likewise accept difficult relationships with caregivers.
Children developed under the 'disorganised' attachment fashion, tend to avoid intimate relationships every bit adults and tin very easily explode and have a hard time controlling their emotions.
Strange Situation
In the 1970s, developmental psychologist Mary Ainsworth did a study on infants between the ages of 9-18 months old; the study observed zipper security in children inside the paradigm of caregiver relationships.
This involved 8 brusque episodes (lasting around 3 minutes) where a mother, child, and stranger are introduced, separated and then reunited.
This observational study was titled 'strange situation' and was developed by Ainsworth and Wittiq in 1969.
Using the strange state of affairs model, Ainsworth studied ane to two-yr-olds to make up one's mind the styles of attachment and the nature of attachments displayed between mother and kid.
The ready up was conducted in a small room with one fashion drinking glass then that the children could be easily observed. Ainsworth's sample of children represented 100 middle-class American families.
In short episodes, the children, mothers and experimenters were observed in the following eight scenarios:
- Experimenter, mother and baby
- Mother and baby alone
- A stranger joins the mother and infant
- The mother leaves stranger and babe alone
- Female parent comes back, and the stranger departs
- Mother besides departs, leaving the babe completely alone
- Stranger comes back
- Stranger leaves and mother returns
Later the study, Ainsworth scored each of the responses and grouped them into four interaction behaviours: closeness and contact seeking, maintaining contact, avoidance of closeness and contact, resistance to contact and proximity. These interactions were based on 2 reunion episodes during the observation.
Zipper Style Results
From the observational report, Ainsworth (1970) identified three attachment styles; secure (type B), insecure-avoidant (blazon A) and insecure-ambivalent/resistant (type C).
Secure Attachment: Type B
Fortunately, the majority of children in Ainsworth'south 1970'south representative sample, belonged to the 'secure attachment' style. Children belonging to this mode found it easy to demonstrate confidence towards caregivers and tended to utilize these 'monotropic' attachment figures as a base to explore their surroundings.
These infants are hands reassured by principal caregivers and children who develop nether this style are nurtured and are given encouragement from caregivers, allowing them a safe platform to develop securely.
Insecure Avoidant: Type A
Children who fall nether the avoidant style tend not to look to their caregiver when exploring their environment. They as well don't reach out to the attachment figure in times of distress.
Such children are probable to have a caregiver who is insensitive and rejecting of their needs ( Ainsworth, 1979).
Insecure Ambivalent/Resistant: Type C
The final attachment manner (insecure ambivalent) is when a child exhibits ambivalent behaviour towards his/her caregiver. The child is not easily comforted by the caregiver and frequently demonstrates clingy and dependent behaviour towards an attachment figure withal still rejects them in times of interaction.
When exploring their surround, the kid displays difficulty in separating from the attachment figure. Ainsworth ended that this behaviour is due to a lack of consistency delivered from caregiver to child.
Ainsworth's Determination
Ainsworth's 'maternal sensitivity' hypothesis suggests that the 'sensitivity' the caregiver demonstrates towards a child determines the style of zipper that is adult. In brusk, sensitive mothers are more than likely to exist gentle and compassionate to a child's needs, and this sensitivity can lead the infant to develop more than secure attachments.
Mothers who lack sensitivity (such as those who demonstrate impatience) can consequence in children developing insecure attachments.
Children with sensitive caregivers are associated with being securely attached, and those with inconsistent caregivers are often associated as having insecure ambivalent attachments. Inconsistency is when ii parents often ignore or even reject a kid's needs while at other times – the child's needs are met.
In situations where parents demonstrate aloofness or are in any way unresponsive towards a child, this oft results in the child becoming independent from the caregiver; they also tend not to seek help from zipper figures in times of distress. The attachment figure may as well withdraw from helping during difficult tasks (Stevenson-Hinde & Verschueren, 2002) and is often unavailable during times of emotional distress.
According to Ainsworth, this blazon of parenting can often lead to children condign insecurely avoidant.
Fiona Yassin is the International Clinical Director at The Wave Dispensary. Fiona is a Swain of A.P.C.C.H., a member of F.D.A.P. and I.A.Eastward.D.P. Currently studying C.E.D.Due south., Fiona is an Accredited Clinical Supervisor (U.North.C.G.) and Accredited Child and Family Trauma Professional.
With a specialist interest in Eating Disorders and Borderline Personality Disorders, currently enjoying advanced training in the Psychiatry for Women throughout the Lifespan, Massachusetts Psychiatry Department. The Wave Clinic provides residential and outpatient consultations for Children, Teenagers, Immature Adults and Families.
Source: https://thewaveclinic.com/blog/what-are-the-different-types-of-attachment/