The four different attachment styles

Welcome to Bear Explanations! In this weeks video we look at the different type of attachment styles, how they develop and what impact it can have on our lives.
Script:
Attachment is a fundamental aspect of human development that is centred around the emotional connection and bond between a child and their primary caregiver. Jhon Bowlby was a British Psychologist and Psychiatrist known for developing attachment theory in the mid 20th century. He conducted research on the effects of maternal deprivation and separation on children. He proposed that prolonged separation from the primary caregiver during early childhood could lead to emotional and behavioural problems, often referred to as "maternal deprivation syndrome." Bowlby's ideas laid the groundwork for the development of attachment styles, a concept later expanded upon by Mary Ainsworth, she conducted an experiment looking at infants between 9 to 18 months.
The experiment:
A mother and her infant enter an unfamiliar room.
A stranger joins them briefly.
The mother then leaves the room, leaving the baby alone with the stranger.
After a short time, the mother returns and comforts the baby.
Attachment style:
Secure attachment: If the baby is upset when the mother leaves but easily comforted upon her return, it's considered a secure attachment. This suggests that the child feels secure in the presence of their caregiver and trusts that they will come back.
Insecure-avoidant attachment: the baby shows little distress when the mother leaves and avoids her upon return, it's considered insecure-avoidant. This may suggest that the child has learned not to rely on the caregiver for comfort.
Insecure - resistant attachment: If the baby is greatly distressed when the mother leaves and is difficult to comfort upon her return, it's considered insecure-resistant. This could indicate that the child is anxious about the caregiver's availability and responsiveness.
Findings:
Ainsworth found that the majority of infants exhibited secure attachments. However, there were variations in how children responded to the experiment, leading to the identification of different attachment styles.
Secure attachment this style relates to children who have a healthy bond with their care giver, are confident that their care giver can provide comfort and support when needed. They are curious, eager to learn, and willing to venture away from their caregiver to explore and interact with others and their environment. Over time they develop a good sense of self-esteem, are sociable and are able to navigate different personality types and set healthy boundaries in their relationships.
Anxious insecure attachment also known as anxious ambivalent typically develops in response to inconsistent or unpredictable caregiving. Caregivers may not consistently meet the child's needs, leaving the child uncertain about whether their caregiver will be responsive and supportive. As a result, children with anxious-insecure attachment styles often struggle with feelings of anxiety, uncertainty, and the need for constant reassurance. These children often have a deep-seated fear of abandonment and may become clingy and demanding to ensure their caregiver remains present. The fear of abandonment can carry on in adult life often leading to trust issues, suspicion and doubtfulness of other people’s intention, which results in a person needing constant reassurance in their relationships.
Avoidant attachment style children often received little response to their emotional needs. This would usually resort to the child self-soothing and minimizing their display of distress. Avoidantly attached children are independent and self-reliant, in adulthood they may find it hard to maintain and form close relationships.
Disorganized attachment is often associated with histories of trauma, neglect, or disrupted caregiving. The individual may want to be close to their caregiver for comfort but, at the same time, may be fearful or unsure about seeking that comfort. This greatly impacts the individual’s ability to form relationships and potential adverse outcomes in emotional and social development in adulthood.
Treating attachment styles involves therapeutic interventions, the specific approach or type of therapeutic intervention may vary depending on the individual's age, the nature of their attachment style, and the context of their relationships.
Here are some links for further reading on the topic:
pubmed.ncbi.nl...
pubmed.ncbi.nl...
pubmed.ncbi.nl...
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[@Toper2]

I love your videos. These are genuinely the highlight of my day. I try to watch a new one everyday! Or rewatch one. Please keep posting them! Your channel is so informative and I’m so grateful I stumbled upon it!! Keep up the good work and thank you so much!!❤

[@Tyra-fg3fj]

Well explained topic for parents 😊