Attachment in Infancy

Attachment, which was first emphasized by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, was initially thought to be formed by the satisfaction of only physiological needs of the relationship between the mother and the baby. However, subsequent studies have revealed that meeting the needs of the baby, such as being loved, hugged, and touched, is also effective on attachment. The most well-known experiment on this subject is Harlow's Monkey Experiment. Although the experiment received a lot of criticism, it is very important because it emphasizes the baby's need to be loved in attachment. Four types of attachment are mentioned in the literature. The distinguishing point in these four types of attachment is the child's reaction when he/she returns to the environment after leaving the person to whom he/she is attached. At this point, Ainsworth's Foreign Environment Experiment is one of the important studies in the field. In line with the studies, two types of attachment, secure and insecure, have been mentioned, but it has been observed that insecure attachment also differs within itself. For this reason, four types of attachment were determined as secure, anxious, avoidant and mixed attachment.
In secure attachment, the baby becomes restless when the attached person leaves the environment, cries, but calms down, cheers up and continues to play or explore the environment when the attachment figure returns to the environment. Here, it is mentioned that the primary caregiver meets all the needs of the child on time and in place. Securely attached babies become individuals who establish romantic relationships based on trust, have strong social relationships, do not have difficulty in expressing their feelings, and are self-confident in their future lives.
In anxious attachment, the baby becomes restless again when the person to whom he is attached leaves the environment, cries and has great difficulty in calming down even when the attachment figure returns to the environment, and his negative feelings continue. Here, it is mentioned that the primary caregiver meets the child's needs in an inconsistent manner. Anxiously attached babies become individuals who are overly dependent in their romantic relationships in their future lives, who are constantly worried about the feelings of others about themselves, and who are reluctant to approach others.
In avoidant attachment, the infant tends to ignore the person to which he or she is attached. This is especially true when that person returns to the environment. In summary, the baby avoids close relationships instead of being rejected. Here, it is mentioned that the primary caregiver abuses or neglects the baby and ignores its needs. Avoidantly attached babies become individuals who are quite inadequate in establishing close relationships in their future lives, avoid making emotional investments in their relationships, support their close environment, and express their feelings and thoughts.
In mixed attachment, the infant gives mixed signals, both avoiding and resisting. It is mentioned here that the primary caregiver conveys both feelings of peace and fear mixed.

Lecturer Merve MERCAN