John Bowlby-Ainsworth Attachment Theory

This essay will argue that the attachment theory effects adult romantic relationships and the fact that Sam currently has the avoidant attachment style. Meyer and Pilkonis (2001) say that the real-life experiences that are involved with caregivers and any others are the foundation of the attachment styles. The attachment paradigm refers to the Bowlby-Ainsworth attachment theory, a new way of understanding the infant’s tie to primary caregivers (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters & Wall, 1978). John Bowlby developed the attachment theory to be able to explain the bonding humans have created and the profound implications for conducting and adapting psychotherapy (Levy, Ellison, Scott & Bernecker, 2011). This case study consisting of Chris and Sam’s

Bowlby’s attachment system evolved from the act of an infant wanting protection from danger by seeking comfort from their mother, as this is how the distinctive styles were manifested (Hazan & Phillip, 1987). There are three types of attachment in Bowlby’s theory; secure, anxious-ambivalent, and avoidant, these attachment styles have all different responses to different situations (Hazan & Phillip, 1987). Ainsworth et al. (1978) experimented with the Strange Situation Procedure to observe the response that infants have to their mother leaving and a stranger entering the room. The secure infants would appear to cry once their caregiver left and a stranger was only left in the room, however, once the caregiver returned the children sought comfort immediately (Ainsworth et al., 1978). Anxious-ambivalent infants would seek comfort from their caregiver, but they would display resistance and anger towards them (Ainsworth et al., 1978). Lastly, the avoidant infants would not seek comfort and would not respond to the stranger being in the room as avoidant children have certain noticeable characteristics like; increasing distance between themselves and others, turning away from others, averting their gaze, hiding their face, and ignoring them (Ainsworth et al.,

Chris feels that Sam is failing to meet emotional needs and is increasingly closed off, whereas Sam believes that a relationship is about being independent and did not want to go to counselling. Sam appears to be experiencing the avoidant attachment style, meaning she is not seeking support from her partner and responding badly to that support she has received (Girme et al., 2015; Pascuzzo et al., 2013). Sam has become defensive, stating that she just believes that she is being independent in the relationship and she is clearly not trusting Chris with any valuable information or herself as well as being detached from him (Feeney & Noller, 1990; Hazan & Shaver, 1987). Sam’s independence would have likely been formed in infancy as she would not have responded when her caregiver would appear in a room and would likely not have been worried or cried when they left (Ainsworth et al., 1987). Chris wants to help Sam in any way he can, however, as Sam is displaying the avoidant style of attachment she does not want to have any support or help in anything she does. However, if Chris was to give Sam moderate to high levels of practical support it will increase her self-efficacy, decrease her distress, the perception of being controlled and dependent, and be less distant with him (Grime, et al., 2015).

As previous research has shown the Bowlby-Ainsworth attachment theory