Basics of Attachment Theory

Types of Organized Attachment

1. Secure Attachment

• Characteristics:
  • Love is available
  • Love is given
  • Belief: I am worthy to receive love
• Result: Secure and safe attachment to key attachment figures.

2. Insecure Avoidant Attachment

• Characteristics:
  • Chief carer is practical and functional
  • Emotional needs often unmet
• Result:
  • Learn to suppress feelings and needs
  • Low expectation of emotional support (evident by age 1)
  • Attachment behavior is deactivated

3. Insecure Ambivalent Attachment

• Characteristics:
  • Inconsistent emotional support from carers
  • Hyper-vigilance to carer's mood
  • Unpredictable environment
• Result:
  • Confusion due to mixed signals
  • Attachment system is hyper activated

Disorganized Attachment

• Added by Mary Main to Bowlby's original theory
• Often linked to severe trauma and abuse
• Not covered in detail in this overview