He attachment It is a bond between two people that is characterized by the intense affectionAttachment is an essential element in the life of all children from birth. They create a bond with the person who cares for them from the beginning and it continues throughout their life. This bond will determine as time goes by what type of social and even emotional relationships they establish.
She was the American psychologist Mary Ainsworth who in 1960 decided to develop the first tool to measure and detect the type of attachment in children. He made this observation through an experiment called: strange situation test.
This technique is used to simulate certain contexts or situations to analyse the way the baby behaves when he leaves his comfort zone. To see how he behaves from the moment he leaves a safe environment, his home, until he is in another environment that is not familiar to him.
That is, observing the child's reactions when he is separated from his mother, who is the person to whom he is attached. Also, his reaction must be observed when he returns to her.
How was the experiment carried out?
Mary Ainsworth decided that the “strange situation” experiment would be carried out in a univision room. That is, she could see everything that was happening inside that small space from the outside. To carry out the test she would need a sample. This was formed by a hundred families middle-class families that contained children between the ages of 12 and 18 months old.
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Ainsworth used different scenarios. The child was placed in a room full of toys with his mother. After a while the mother would go out and leave the child with a stranger who had entered minutes before. Then the mother would come back in. Then both adults would leave the child alone. Finally the stranger would come back in.
That is, they were carried out in this procedure eight episodes:
- The observer introduces Mother and baby in the playroom.
- Mother and baby are left aloneThe child explores unknown space and toys.
- A stranger enters the room. He joins them and talks to the mother. The subject then approaches the child.
- The mother leaves the roomThe stranger and the baby are left alone.
- The mother re-enters the room and the stranger leaves.. Approaches the baby with displays of affection to make him feel comfortable again.
- The mother leaves again.
- The stranger comes back in and tries to play with the baby.
- The mother returns and the stranger leaves the room.. It is the second reunion. Here the mother takes the child in her arms.
Types of attachment
After analyzing the baby's behavior in the «strange situation» experiment, a classification can be established with the different types of attachment:
- Sure. This becomes evident when the baby freely explores the environment once separated from its mother. That is, it shows a concept of itself. positive and feeling of confidence.
- Avoidant. The baby is shown insecure and avoidant in the face of separation from his mother. It is characterized by the anguish that the child shows when his mother leaves. However, when she returns the baby shows indifferent.
- AmbivalentHere the child shows anguish throughout the process.
Lack of attachment can lead to long-term psychopathologies in children. For this reason, children from birth need the care of a mother or caregiver who transmits affection and security to them. In this way, the physical and mental well-being of the child will be ensured. And in turn, stable emotional development.
It is true that attachment does not determine one hundred percent the type of personality of a baby or the quality of the relationships he or she may have in the future. But it will influence his or her behavior when it comes to relating and establishing different relationships in the future.
If you have problems related to attachment, psychological therapy is the best solution. A psychologist can help you establish a secure bond with your baby and generate attachment. At we offer you the option of trying a free session. Do not hesitate to contact us and we will offer you the help of a psychologist. online psychologist to solve your problems.