The kind of attachment we have in adulthood has its origin in childhood.
What is emotional attachment?
The first days and months of life are of vital importance to the baby. The first emotions developed through this stage with respect to caregivers can be security, affection and trust (positive), as well as insecurity, abandonment and fear (negative).
According to Bowbly (1986), the different types of emotional attachment and their psychological consequences are explained as follows:”Attachment behavior is everything that allows the subject to achieve or maintain proximity with another person differentiated and generally considered stronger and / or knew “
According to the author, intense and meaningful emotions are rooted in the phenomenon of attachment. It would explain that most emotions in the human being are activated by interpersonal experiences with affectively important people.
In attachment theory, a good emotional development of the child is based on the environment created by the caregiver. This must guarantee their well-being and safety, and basically apply two types of strategies: primary and secondary.
- Primary strategies: are unconditional responses that produce tranquility.
- Secondary strategies: These are developed when the caregiver is negligent in the way he or she cares for the child. In adulthood it is the search for plans that each human being makes to maintain their safety.
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Types of attachment at an early age and consequences
Everyone expresses a form of attachment that is mediated by their personal experience. Therefore, the story of each one has a strong impact on the way of relating in adult life, and the way in which relationships are established has a lot to do with it.
At present it is considered that the main function of emotions is the ability to adapt that promotes the human being to face the circumstances of the environment. Below are the different types of emotional attachment and their psychological consequences.
1. Secure attachment
Secure attachment is a type of attachment where the person feels protected. The baby is able to feel that his caregiver offers him security when he is distressed, and he can enjoy the warmth, confidence and security that this figure brings.
Studies show that children who have developed this type of attachment have low rates of anxiety and depression. In addition, when a person is angry, their caregivers usually control them and look for solutions.
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2. Insecure avoidant attachment
In avoidant insecure attachment the child does not feel protection from his caregiver. In this way, he shows disinterest when he moves away or approaches. It can be observed when the caregiver seeks contact and the child rejects it.
Children who express this type of attachment express high levels of negativity and hostility. These people have difficulty showing their emotions in a positive way and may express a lot of anger.
3. Anxious ambivalent attachment
This type of attachment is shown by the child who suffers from anxiety. This is produced by the idea that you can be separated from your caregivers. The child is thought to exaggerate affection to ensure the caregiver’s attention.
Children may show anger and concern. Studies show that people with this type of attachment have low pain tolerance and fear and anxiety predominate.
4. Disoriented disorganized attachment
In disoriented disorganized attachment, children show greater insecurity. When they encounter disorganized care, they show confusing behaviors, and are usually children with a very harmful family environment.
The unpredictability of parental behavior has a lot to do with different types of disorders. For example, there are cases of drug addiction, which explains why these adults are sometimes good caregivers and sometimes not. This creates a lot of confusion for children. However, sometimes these children have even suffered mistreatment or abuse.
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Types of attachment in adulthood and relationship
Types of attachment also manifest in adulthood. They are largely a consequence of past experiences in the family system during childhood, and can manifest themselves in the relationship.
Below are the different types of attachment that can occur in adulthood. We must bear in mind that we are beings who have a tendency to reproduce the models with which we have lived. This means that there are certain situations that can be replicated in a new interpersonal relationship, even though these are not ideal.
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5. Secure attachment
Secure attachment is characterized by showing reliable and positive relationships. The person feels comfortable and confident in intimacy, so he does not need to have a vigilant attitude or worry.
6. Anxious attachment
Anxious attachment expresses an unhealthy type of relationship. The person asks for continuous confirmation of affection, so there is a constant fear of abandonment. This is why they are constantly vigilant to potential threats.
7. Avoidant attachment
Avoidant attachment demonstrates mistrust and expresses a distant relationship . The adult who has this type of attachment seeks to avoid intimacy through different strategies, and always finds a way not to bond emotionally.
conclusion
The attachment system plays a fundamental role in emotional balance or regulation . Sroufe (1996, 2000) notes that attachment is “a dyadic regulation of emotional states” and states that “attachment is a culmination of all development in the first year and the precursor to self-regulation that will come throughout life.” ”.
Attachment theory has presented many advances, which have given visibility to this topic. The formation of the personality is conditioned to the type of affective attachment received in the childhood stage, and its expression in the adult stage is mediated by all this vital experience.
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References
- Garrido-Rojas, L. (2006). Attachment, emotion and emotional regulation. Health implications. Latin American Journal of Psychology, 38 (3), 493-507.
- Galán, A. (2010). Attachment: Beyond an inspiring concept. Rev. Asoc. Esp. Neuropsiq.,30 (4), 581-595.
- Sassenfeld J.A. (2012). Considerations on attachment, affections and affective regulation, CEIR, pp.548-569.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
