Revised Definition – Hanul

Introduction

This assignment is to define the term ‘attachment style’ in Psychology for the public with little to no knowledge regarding psychological definitions through a generalized methodical statement. The purpose is to help the general public comprehend the definition and the operation of this technical term. Introducing the term from elementary definitions, this column bolsters the definition of the concept with depictions of the relevance of ‘attachment style’.

Parenthetical Definition

A psychological, evolutionary theory (characterized by different ways of interacting with other individuals) concerning how children attach to significant people in our lives.

Sentence Definition

The characteristic way people relate to others in the context of intimate relationships, which is heavily influenced by self-worth and interpersonal trust. (Levy,et al., 2011)

Expanded Definition

• What is Attachment Style?
  Originated from John Bowlby’s work on attachment theory (Bowlby, 1979), these classifications of distinct patterns individuals have when interacting with people in their lives. Bowlby (1979) identified 4 different classifications – 1. anxious-preoccupied, 2. avoidant dismissive, 3. disorganized/fearful-avoidant, 4. secure. Interestingly, these patterns of different attachment styles could be associated with parental habits encountered by the specific individual’s caregiver. As a result, individuals with certain attachment styles notice a pattern of turmoil in their future relationships, as they struggle to understand how to navigate healthy and happy relationships. (Bowlby, 1979).

• What are the characteristics of various different Attachment Styles?
  The theory of attachment styles depict how early experiences with your primary care giver can have a lasting effect on your relationships in adulthood. For example, if your care giver were negligent of your needs as a child, this can affect your overall perception of human relationships to be cold and passionless. As a result, in future relationships due to this overall demeanour, you may be emotionless, and reserved in future relationships. (Rholes, Simpson, Friedman, 2006).

  

  Fig.1 Tendencies of individuals with fearful avoidant attachment style

  (Source: https://biv.com/article/2019/09/guests-frustrated-corporate-event-runs-smoothly-hyatt-workers-strike)

  1. ANXIOUS PREOCCUPIED ATTACHMENT
     a. A person with this specific attachment style may experience anxiety while in a relationship. This individual often has lower self-esteem, and may be in a state of emotional volitility – creating conflict and difficulties in navigating close relationships. (Meyer, Pilkonis, 2001).
     1. This attachment style often stems from experiences of separation from a care giver at an early stage, and or a troubled childhood with instances of abuse or neglect.
     2. EX: Worries that your partners will abandon you.
  2. AVOIDANT DISMISSIVE ATTACHMENT
     a. A person with this specific attachment style tries to avoid any emotional connection, attachment or closeness to other people. Being highly self-sufficient is considered to be the #1 characteristic of someone with this kind of attachment style, as relying on others is uncomfortable for individuals with a avoidant dismissive attachment style.
     1. This attachment style often stems from experiences of neglect as a small child. These individuals often were stripped of attention or care from their parents or care givers. As a result, due to reenforcement of their needs being not met from their care givers, they learn that expressing their needs does not guarantee care – and learn how to care for themselves. (Murphy, Bates, 1997).
     2. EX: comfortable without close emotional relationships and prefer not to depend on others
  3. DISORGANIZED/FEARFUL-AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT
     a. A person with this specific attachment style discloses behaviours of both high anxiety as well as constant avoidance. The goal of this individual in a relationship is to create connection, however, they are met with internal conflicts as they are embedded with a deep sense of fear and anxiety. As a result of this blend in anxiety as well as avoidance, this attachment style is considered to be the most rare out of the 4 attachment styles. (Simpson, Rholes,2002).
     1. This attachment style is caused my a consistency from the care giver to not provide any care to the child when they are in any form of distress. As a result, this child craves to be taken care of, as their needs are required to be met – however, are also taught that expressing their needs does not guarantee care. The inconsistency of their care giver’s response to their child’s emotions or anguish results in this blend of conflict experienced by the individual.
     2. EX: stormy, highly emotional relationships, conflicting feelings about relationships
  4. SECURE ATTACHMENT
     a. A person with this specific attachment style is able to create bonds with various people as their needs as a child was met. Not only this, but the care giver of a person with this specific attachment style was able to provide security and ensured a positive environment for the child to develop in. As a result, individuals with secure attachment styles are able to build healthy and happy relationships as they understand boundaries and conflict management. (Cicchetti, Rogosch,  Toth, 2006).
     1. This attachment style is caused by the ability to communicate various needs within the relationship between the care giver and the child – followed by a response from the care giver. As a result, this individual trusts that their needs will be met by their caregiver and is able to communicate these needs in a healthy way. Additionally, through this relationship, individuals with a secure attachment style are also more responsive as well as able to communicate various boundaries as they navigate their close relationships.
     2. EX: ability to regulate your emotions & easily trusting others.
     3. 

  5. Fig.2 Various different attachment styles

     (Source: https://towardsdatascience.com/essential-programming-time-complexity-a95bb2608cac)

• Why is time Attachment Style important?
  Moreover, it is important to understand the concept of the different attachment styles, as this theory provides us with fundamental opportunity to comprehend how patterns of human behaviour within relationships are developed in early childhood. By learning how we effect the future of the next generation, we are able to be more equipped in raising our children to experience healthier and happier relationships in their later lives.

Work Cited

1. Bowlby, J. (1979). The bowlby-ainsworth attachment theory. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2(4), 637-638.
2. Levy, K. N., Ellison, W. D., Scott, L. N., & Bernecker, S. L. (2011). Attachment style. Journal of clinical psychology, 67(2), 193-203.
3. Rholes, W. S., Simpson, J. A., & Friedman, M. (2006). Avoidant attachment and the experience of parenting. Personality and social psychology bulletin, 32(3), 275-285.
4. Salem A. An Easy-To-Use Guide to Big-O Time Complexity. Medium. Published March 1, 2017. Accessed June 9, 2022. https://medium.com/@ariel.salem1989/an-easy-to-use-guide-to-big-o-time-complexity-5dcf4be8a444#:~:text=Quadratic%20Time%20Complexity%20represents%20an
5. Meyer, B., & Pilkonis, P. A. (2001). Attachment style. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 38(4), 466.
6. Murphy, B., & Bates, G. W. (1997). Adult attachment style and vulnerability to depression. Personality and Individual differences, 22(6), 835-844.
7. Simpson, J. A., & Rholes, W. S. (2002). Fearful-avoidance, disorganization, and multiple working models: Some directions for future theory and research. Attachment & Human Development, 4(2), 223-229.
8. Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F. A., & Toth, S. L. (2006). Fostering secure attachment in infants in maltreating families through preventive interventions. Development and psychopathology, 18(3), 623-649.