Breaking Down John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory

The emotional bonds we form with one another, both in the short and long term, have a profound effect on our development and well-being. Psychologists have long been interested in categorizing attachment styles–that often develop at a young age–to better understand how they affect us later in life. 

The Origins and History of Attachment Theory

John Bowlby pioneered attachment theory in the 1960s as a way to understand the distress experienced by some infants when they are separated from their parents. Bowlby theorized that children have an innate evolutionary desire to form attachments to specific people for their protection and security.

Bowlby wanted to see how different types of attachment between the child and caregiver would influence their development into adulthood. Bowlby developed parts of his theory from observation. His work as a teacher for maladapted and delinquent children had a large influence, as did a famous experiment he conducted called the 44 Thieves study.

The study involved 44 juvenile thieves and a control group of 44 non-delinquent children. Bowlby identified 14 of the thieves as having “affectionless psychopathy,” characterized by a lack of empathy and guilt. Notably, 12 of these 14 had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during the first two years of life. In contrast, only two children in the control group had similar separations, and none were classified as affectionless psychopaths.

Bowlby provided detailed case histories, categorizing the thieves into various character types. His findings highlighted the significant role of a stable caregiver relationship in preventing emotional and behavioral issues, emphasizing the importance of early maternal attachment for healthy psychological development. Overall, this study underscored the critical impact of early childhood experiences on later behavior.

What is Attachment Theory? 

The basic conclusion from Bowlby’s work is that attachment-seeking behaviors are instinctive but, like any behavior, will change depending on the environment. Babies display what Bowlby calls ‘social releasers,’ which make sure the parent stays close and cares for the infant. These are things like crying, smiling, and screaming. Unlike earlier theories, Bowlby believed that the goal of attachment is not for the parent to give the child food but to care for them and tend to their emotional needs. 

Attachment theory is a driver of a whole range of behaviors, and maladaptive adjustment can affect interpersonal relationships, like finding a partner or friends, or relationships with parents. That is why courses like a Masters in Counseling Psychology online cover exactly how we develop attachment styles and how these styles affect our lives, allowing licensed counselors and psychologists to help individuals understand and heal their attachments.

Types of Attachment

Modern attachment theory breaks down attachment style into three main categories.

Secure

Secure attachment is defined by trust, feeling safe, and being comfortable in the relationship. Children with a secure attachment are generally confident explorers but return readily to seek comfort from caregivers when distressed. This develops if caregivers are responsive and consistently available emotionally, thus letting children feel appreciated and supported. In return, securely attached children normally grow with an appropriate sense of positive self-esteem and further establish healthy relationships.

As adults, secure attachment includes healthy relationships, trust in people, and easily expressed emotions. They have positive self-esteem and can handle stress better. Securely attached children demonstrate a number of positive outcomes in later years in the form of good emotional conditions and the ability to establish a healthy bond with others throughout their lives.

Resistant 

Resistant or ambivalent attachment involves the child’s strong need for closeness, which is associated with resistance to contact. Children who are classified as having an ambivalent attachment will often approach the caregiver for comfort and then reject it. This is attributed to the fact that a resistant attachment generally develops due to the inconsistent responsiveness of caregivers; this creates uncertainty regarding the predictability of the caregiver’s availability and responsiveness.

Later in life, such resistantly attached individuals develop anxiety in relationships; they feel more insecure and overly dependent on their romantic partners. They may struggle with trusting others and be clingy or demanding since their need for reassurance is huge, and the fear of abandonment is greater than those who are securely attached. 

Avoidant 

The avoidant attachment style is characterized by a preference for emotional distance and self-sufficiency. More often than not, people belonging to this attachment style are uncomfortable with intimacy and might repress their emotions to maintain independence. This generally occurs owing to early experiences with caregivers who were either emotionally unavailable or unresponsive.

In adulthood, they can have trouble reaching deep, full emotional attachment in their lives. They prioritize a sense of self-sufficiency over one with close connections; they may appear confident yet suffer from a lack of trust towards other people or reveal their inner thoughts and emotions. This creates certain difficulties when sustaining long-term close contact.

Testing for Attachment 

The most basic test, repeated by psychologists time and time again, is the ‘Strange Situation experiment.’ Pioneered by Mary Ainsworth to build upon Bowlby’s work. The basic procedure for this experiment goes like this: A child is placed in a room with his or her caregiver and experiences eight episodes. First, the child and caregiver are in the room alone. Then, a stranger enters the room, interacts with the caregiver, and then approaches the child. The caregiver leaves, and the child is left alone with the stranger. The caregiver returns, and the stranger leaves. To finish, the stranger enters briefly before the caregiver enters. From all these various separations and reunions, a child’s reactions are observed, and the experimenters can determine their attachment style. 

If you are reading this, do not fear. There are ways to test your attachment style as an adult. The Project Attachment aims to make reliable information on attachment styles more accessible and has an online quiz to help you find your attachment style. 

The Lasting Impact of Early Attachment 

The style of attachment established during the early years has a huge impact on our lives, guiding behaviors, and relationships. Secure attachment can be established through trust and comfort and generally leads to good relationships, self-esteem, and the capacity to resist stressful situations. Those with secure attachments can give and take support and have balanced relationships.

Ambivalent-resistant attachment, brought about by inconsistent responsiveness from the caregivers, generally creates anxiety in the relationships. Because of the need for reassurance and fear of abandonment, those who are more on the avoidant side could be overly dependent and have problems with trusting others.

Avoidant attachment involves emotional distance and self-sufficiency, with roots in unresponsive caregiving. Individuals with this kind of attachment may value independence over closeness, struggle to connect deeply with others on an emotional level, and have trust issues.

Understanding these attachment styles helps identify the patterns in our relationships and can help lead us toward healthier interactions and emotional well-being.