Attachment theory is a psychological and evolutionary framework, concerning the relationships between humans , particularly the importance of early bonds between infants and their primary caregivers. Developed by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby β90 , the theory posits that infants need to form a close relationship with at least one primary caregiver to ensure their survival, and to develop healthy social and emotional functioning.
Pivotal aspects of attachment theory include the observation that infants seek proximity to attachment figures, especially during stressful situations. As children grow, they use these attachment figures as a secure base from which to explore the world and return to for comfort. The interactions with caregivers form patterns of attachment, which in turn create internal working models that influence future relationships. Research by developmental psychologist Mary Ainsworth in the s and 70s expanded on Bowlby's work, introducing the concept of the "secure base", impact of maternal responsiveness and sensitivity to infant distress, and identified attachment patterns in infants: secure, avoidant, anxious, and disorganized attachment.
While initially criticized by academic psychologists and psychoanalysts, [ 10 ] attachment theory has become a dominant approach to understanding early social development and has generated extensive research. Such bonds may be reciprocal between two adults, but between a child and a caregiver, these bonds are based on the child's need for safety, security, and protectionβwhich is most important in infancy and childhood.
In child-to-adult relationships, the child's tie is called the "attachment" and the caregiver's reciprocal equivalent is referred to as the "care-giving bond". Having access to a secure figure decreases fear in children when they are presented with threatening situations.
Not only is having a decreased level of fear important for general mental stability, but it also implicates how children might react to threatening situations. The presence of a supportive attachment figure is especially important in a child's developmental years. If the caregiver is poorly attuned to the child, the child may grow to feel misunderstood and anxious.
