Sigmund Freud's Theory Of Attachment

Sigmund Freud (1982) also known as the “Father of Psychoanalysis” claimed that the mother-child connection is an unconscious bond between the infant and the primary caregiver which becomes the dominant force for a pattern of behaviors throughout the infant’s entire lifespan. However, John Bowlby, a British psychologist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst developed Freud’s claim further and introduced the attachment theory. According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health “Attachment is one specific aspect of the relationship between a child and a parent with its purpose being to make a child safe, secure and protected. Attachment is distinguished from other aspects of parenting, such as disciplining, entertaining and

It was an experiment used to observe the different attachment styles shown by mothers and infants. Adults do not need a test because they can easily be interviewed, they are able to say what they feel or what they experienced. Infants are not able to do this, thus an experiment was conducted. 100 middle class American families were part of the experiment. The infants in the experiment were 12 to 18 months old. The experiment was done in a room with a one way glass to observe the infant. Different situations were given to the infant to determine the infant’s attachment style, the mother of the infant would leave the room and the infant would be left with the experimenter or the experimenter would leave the room and leave the mother and infant alone. How the infant reacts to the situation is used to determine the attachment style of the infant. Infants with secure attachment style would be distressed every time the mother would leave, the infant avoids the stranger when the mother leaves and when the mother returns the infant becomes happier. Infants with ambivalent attachment attachment style get distressed whenever the mother leaves, and avoids the stranger when left alone. When the mother returns, the infant pushes the mother away or is avoidant to the mother. Infants with avoidant attachment do not feel distressed when the mother leaves, is interactive with the stranger, and shows

If one is aware of his or her attachment style then it will be easier to work on their relationship, especially on the fears and insecurities that both partners have. It will be easier to develop new attachment styles for a better relationship. Romantic relationships could fix a person’s attachment style, especially those with ambivalent or anxious attachment styles. Attachment style is something that becomes a part of one’s personality but a lot of people do not know their own attachment style. Attachment style affects everything from selecting a partner, to the quality of the relationship, and how the relationship ends, which is why it is important to determine one’s attachment style so as to understand one’s strengths and weaknesses in a relationship. The attachment style which is carried from childhood continues to affect future adult romantic relationships, often it can be changed especially when one enters a romantic