What is Attachment and Related Difficulties?
Attachment is a psychological and emotional bond that is typically between a child and a caregiver, and can occur between adults in relationships. It is the invisible and poignant feeling that gives us a sense of safety, security, and confidence to explore the world as we grow.
It is a core concept in developmental psychology and provides an understanding of how attachment shapes individuals in many different ways. At the core, attachment is simply about trust and connection, and not everyone experiences these in the same way.
History of Attachment in Psychology
Psychologist Mary Ainsworth was the pioneer for attachment research in the 1970s. She studied how infants form emotional bonds with their caregivers and how these bonds affect behaviour. Ainsworth’s goal was to understand why some children feel secure while others are anxious or avoidant.
In her research, Ainsworth conducted an experiment, ‘Strange Situation”, with children (aged 12-18 months) and observed their behaviours in a series of separations and reunions with their caregiver (mum) in a playroom.
The children were exposed to 3 different situations: being left alone, being with a stranger, and reuniting with the caregiver. These observations led to the development of 3 main patterns of attachment, which were later expanded to four.
Patterns of Attachment
Secure Attachment
When the child feels safe and understood, the caregiver is responsive, therefore contributing to healthy adult relationships.
Avoidant Attachment
The child avoids closeness due to neglect or emotional unavailability from the caregiver.
Ambivalent/Anxious Attachment
The child is very distressed when the caregiver leaves and is not easily comforted when they return. The child often displays behaviours such as clinginess mixed with anger or resistance.
Disorganised Attachment
The child demonstrates inconsistent or confused behaviour towards their caregiver, which is often linked to trauma or abuse.
Psychological Difficulties Related to Attachment
Ainsworth’s work highlighted that the quality of caregiver responsiveness helps shape a child’s emotional and social development. Research highlights that those with secure attachment have better emotional regulation, social skills, and resilience later in life. However, when attachment is insecure, anxious, or disrupted, it can contribute to various difficulties later in life. Some psychological difficulties include:
Emotional difficulties
Anxiety or fear of abandonment
Difficulty trusting others
Having low self-esteem or feeling unworthy of love.
Relationship difficulties
Forming or maintaining close relationships is hard
Over-dependence on partners or constant need for reassurance
Avoidance of intimacy or emotion vulnerability
Behavioural difficulties
Regulation of emotions is difficult
Social withdrawal or excessive clinginess
Risky behaviours in adolescence and adulthood
Cognitive/Development difficulties
Trouble focusing or learning in school
Problems understanding social cues or empathy
Difficulty planning or problem-solving under stress
Causes of Attachment Difficulties
Causes of attachment difficulties often include inconsistent caregiving, trauma, neglect, abuse, or loss of your primary caregiver. These early experiences shape how we as individuals respond to people and environments throughout life. Understanding attachment as a whole and our own attachment patterns, offers insight into why we connect the way we do, and how we can build stronger, healthier relationships within our lives.
Finding Support and Next Steps
Many different evidence-based therapeutic approaches can help if you are ever concerned about attachment patterns you have experienced. Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT) are some examples of approaches that can explore and understand our attachment and relationship patterns, with the aim of adapting and developing healthier patterns that serve us better in life. See our website here for more information.
Understanding attachment and its patterns, as well as its impact can be complex, with various factors to consider. If you are concerned about you or a loved one’s attachment styles/patterns, you can contact us to discuss further.