Summary Of Ainsworth's Attachment Theory

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The study of the stability of attachment styles from infancy to later life is a greatly controversial topic, with much contesting research still currently being conducted in the field. Bowlby’s (1969) attachment theory attempts to describe the dynamics of interpersonal relationships through the use of attachment styles, developed by Ainsworth (1978), which are analysed through the ‘Strange Situation’ task. This paper will argue that infant attachment styles do not persist from the first year of life through to late adolescence. External environmental factors and negative life experiences are more reliable predictors of adolescent attachment than attachment history. Weinfield, Stroufe and Egeland (2000) provide evidence in support of the current thesis, suggesting that high-stress home environments and low levels of social support contribute to the discontinuity of attachment. In contrast, the findings of Hamilton (2000) support the theory of the permanence and stability of attachment styles. The theory of attachment and its measures will be reviewed and the …show more content…

The majority of studies are conducted using the measures of the ‘Strange Situation’ (Ainsworth, 1978) and the ‘Adult Attachment Interview’ (George, Kaplan and Main, 1996). Attachment Theory is the joint work of John Bowlby (1969) and Mary Ainsworth (1978), focusing on a child’s relationship with their primary caregiver and its disruption through separation, deprivation, and bereavement.
Mary Ainsworth (1978) developed the ‘Strange Situation’ to empirically test infant attachment styles. The procedure consists of a sequence of events where infants’ reactions are observed and recorded. Their behaviour is then classified into one of three attachment styles: secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-anxious (Ainsworth,

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