The Attachment Theory

Attachment is an emotional bond to another person. John Bowlby came up with the theory, describing as a  "lasting psychological connectedness between human beings."
The core of attachment theory is the bond between mother and child. First based on an observation of baby monkeys and their mother but has since had an enormous influence on human child-rearing techniques.
Attachment theory states that we are all social beings with an innate need for intimacy. The security of such intimacy first appears in the shape of our mothers. If the mothers (or representative mothers, i.e. carers) are available and responsive to their infant's needs they will establish a sense of security. The infant knows that the mother is dependable, which which in turn creates a secure base for the child to then explore the world.
There are 4 characteristics of Attachment Theory:

1. Safe Haven - that is, whenever the child feels threatened or scared they can return to their mother for comfort.
2. Secure Base - a secure and dependable base is provided for the child by it's mother to explore the world.
3. Proximity Maintenance - the child will want to say near it's mother to stay safe
4. Separation Distress - when separated from the mother the child will become distressed and upset.

The securely attached child will then explore the world and the strangers within it and greet it's mother with affection. However, and insecurely attached child could be clingy, afraid to explore and meet new people. The insecurely attached child may be indifferent about his/her mother or angry at her.
Thanks to psychologists like John Bowlby mothers can now sleep alongside their babies in hospitals. Thus, children as saved from emerging with feelings of abandonment which could undermine their mother-child bonds then as well as in later life.




Ainsworth's "Strange Situations" study:

In the 1970s,  Mary Ainsworth conducted a study on the attachment theory. In the study, children aged 12 to 18 months were observed as they responded to a situation in which they were briefly left alone before being reunited with their mothers.
In conclusion to the study Ainsworth described three major styles of attachment;

• Secure attachment - child experiences distress when separated from caregivers but is happy when their caregiver returns. These children feel secure and able to depend on their adult caregivers. When the adult leaves, the child may be upset but he/she feels sure that the parent/caregiver will return. When frightened these children will seek comfort from their caregivers; they know their parent/caregiver will provide comfort and reassurance.
• Ambivalent-insecure attachment - these children will usually become very distressed when their parent leaves. Research suggests that this type of attachment is the result of poor maternal availability and the child feels he/she can't depend on their mother (or caregiver) to be there when the child needs them.
• Avoidant-insecure attachment - these children tend to avoid parents/caregivers; when offered the choice, these children will show no preference between a caregiver and a complete stranger. Research has also suggested that this attachment style might be the result of abusive or neglectful caregivers. Children who are punished for relying on a caregiver will learn to avoid seeking help in the future.

Based on their own research, Main and Solomon (1986) added a fourth attachment type; Disorganized-insecure attachment. A number of studies since have supported Ainsworth's attachment types and have indicated that attachment types also have an impact on behaviors later in life. 
 This does, however, raise the question of what happens to children that don't form secure attachments. 

Research has suggested that failure to form a secure attachment in early life can have a negative impact on behavior in later life. Children diagnosed with oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently display signs of attachment problems; which may be due to early abuse, neglect, or trauma. It has also been suggested that children adopted after the age of six months have a higher risk of attachment problems. 

Rsearch has also suggested that early attachments may have a serious impact on relationships in later life. For example, people who are securely attached in childhood tend to have good self-esteem, strong romantic relationships, and the ability to talk more openly with others.