1. Attachments Formed as Adults
Tamara Arrington
COM 211

3. John Bowlby & Mary Ainsworth

4. Bowbly & Ainsworth
Bowlby was inspired by two children
An affectionless child without a stable mother figure
An anxious child who followed him around
Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).
An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46,
Ainsworth was inspired by two undergraduate psychology courses at Univ. of Toronto
Experimental Research
Theory of Security

5. Bowlby & Ainswroth
Bowlby and Ainsworth find evidence of the adverse effects on development attributable to a child’s lack of a mother figure.
Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).
An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46,

6. Bowlby & Ainswroth 1950-1954 Bowlby finds his theory:
Attachments are as important in life as eating and sexual behavior, and are a major component to human behavior. He believes that separation anxiety occurs in the absence of an attachment figure.
Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).
An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46,

7. Bowlby & Ainsworth
Ainsworth studied mothers and babies in several Uganda villages.
She discovered three different levels of attachment.
SECURELY ATTACHED
INSECURELY ATTACHED
NONATTACHED
Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).
An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46,

8. Bowlby &Ainsworth
So, how do researchers know what kind of attachments a particular child has?
The Strange Situation is a laboratory procedure used to assess infant attachment style. The procedure consists of eight episodes:
(Connell & goldsmith, 1982; ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). IN Attachment Theory – The “Strange Stiuation”

9. Bowlby & Ainsworth The Strange Situation
1.Parent and infant are introduced to the experimental room
2. Parent and infant are alone. Parent does not participate while infant explores.
3. Stranger enters, converses with parent, then approaches infant. Parent leaves inconspicuously.

10. Bowlby & Ainsworth The Strange Situation
4. First separation episode: Stranger’s behavior is geared to the infant.
5. First reunion episode: Parent greets and comforts infant, then leave again.
6. Second separation episode: Infant is alone.

11. Bolby & Ainsworth
7. Continuation of second separation episode; Stranger enters and gears behavior to the infant.
8. Second reunion episode: parent enters, greets infant, and picks up infant; stranger leaves inconspicuously.
(Connell & Goldsmith, 1982; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). IN Attachment Theory – The “Strange Stiuation”

12. Bowlby & Ainsworth The Strange Situation
The infants behavior upon the parent’s return is the basis for classifying the infant into one of three attachment categories.
(Connell & Goldsmith, 1982; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). IN Attachment Theory – The “Strange Stiuation”

13. Bowlby & Ainsworth
The Strange Situation studies showed that crying was a normal response by secure children.
Secure: When the mother would then pick the baby up, secure children would stop crying, and then look forward to explore.
Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements.

14. Bowlby & Ainsworth
Anxious/Ambivalent: The infants that were anxious/ambivalents would constantly cry, even after their mother had comforted them.
Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements.

15. Bowlby & Ainsworth
Avoidants: The infants that fell into the category of avoidants would not have any emotional response when their mother left, nor would they be affected when their mother returned.
Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements.

16. Attachment Theory
Keep in mind that it was in 1957 that Harry Harlow “began” his studies using rhesus monkeys.

17. Bowlby & Ainsworth
According to the Attachment Theory explained in the article entitled An Ethological Approach to Personality Development by John Bowlby & Mary Ainsworth, personality development is based on the interaction of the child and the caregiver during infancy and early childhood .
Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).
An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46,

18. Bowlby & Ainsworth
Cont. from previous slide…
The theory takes into account real-life events concerning the relationship between a child and his or her mother
The following chart reference:
Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991).
An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46,

19. Development of Security
Effect on Personality
Immature Dependent Security
Develops during infancy as result of infant’s ability to rely on a parent figure for care
This type of security gives the infant ability to explore surrounding world knowing that they can retreat to the parent
Independent Security
Develops during child-hood as the child gradually learns skills to cope w/surroundings
As child matures, he or she becomes fully emancipated from his or her parents
Mature Dependent Security
Develops during adult-hood as one develops ability to form mutually contributing, give/take relationships w/partner of same generation
An adult can supply a secure base to a partner in a relationship

20. Adult Attachments
Secure: These are people who had a loving childhood, and were well cared for by their mothers. Secure people do not avoid people, and at the same time, do not feel the need to constantly dependent on other people.
Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements.

21. Adult Attachments
Avoidants: These are people who have been constantly denied any physical contact by their mothers when they were infants. Avoidants tend to express behavior of detachment.
Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements.

22. Adult Attachments
Anxious/Ambivalent: These people who as infants had mothers who were slow and inconsistent to respond to their cries. Anxious/Ambivalents tend to express feelings of protest, and are very distrustful of others.
Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements.

23. Attachment Theory –Adult Love
62% ADULTS =SECURE
23% ADULTS= ANXIOUS/AMBIVALENT
15% ADULTS =AVOIDANT
Great Ideas In Personality. “Three Types of Attachements