Attachment Theory: Secure Attachment Style

Question 1 

Secure attachment is an attachment style characterized by the children being visibly upset when their parents leave and happy when they return (Brooks, 2012). It is the resultant emotional relationship which occurs between children and parents who are highly responsive to their needs. The emotional connection begins at birth and develops throughout life. 

Question 2 

One benefit of a secure attachment is that the child in such a relationship is that the child becomes socially constructive, creative and persistent with regards to dealing with life’s challenges. This attachment secures the ability of an individual to build a positive relationship with a partner. It also results in the individual having strong social networks. 

Question 3 

The three forms of insecure attachments are described as follows: 

Anxious-avoidant -the attachment which is characterized by the child being less concerned when parents leave. When the parents return, they are not that interested since the parents are overstimulating. 

Anxious-resistant – it is the attachment whereby the child strongly protests when the mother leaves (Brooks, 2012). When the parent returns, they experience difficulties to establish closeness . 

Disorganized/disoriented-the kind of attachment which occurs when the parents seem frightened and in turn, frightens the children. The attachment style occurs when the child gets mixed or inappropriate responses from parents. The children become disorganized since they are not able to connect with a caregiver who is unpredictable. For instance, a drunken mother may laugh when a child falls. In this way the child will not learn to interpret emotions. In reaction to this, the child may at times be attracted to their parents and sometimes avoid them. 

Question 4 

Secure attachment affects an individual’s psychosocial functioning across the lifespan. Infants do exhibit attraction and withdrawal responses. For the situations which bring pleasure or comfort, they show attraction. In unpleasant situations—such as physical discomfort, withdrawal is shown. Between 3 to 5 months of age, the child expresses pleasure with laughter. At 6 to 8 months, fear and sadness become more specific. Between 6 and 15 months, the child can exhibit fear when strangers are around or when they see a person-- they recognize-- leaving (Crockenberg et al, 2008). When children are two years of age, they normally gain a sense of self. They can know their expression on a reflector. When the child becomes self-aware, they are able to understand social emotions such as shame, sympathy and guilt. 

Question 5 

From the description of the secure attachment, a known individual surely did not benefit from a secure attachment. The male individuals have had numerous short-lived relationships with many female partners since his adolescent years. He simply dates the female partners just to have sex with them. Soon after having sex, he looks for an excuse to leave the female partner. 

References  

Brooks J.B., (2012). The Process of Parenting . (9 th Ed.) . McGraw-Hill Higher Education. 

Crockenberg, S. C., Collins, W. A., & St. Petersburg USA Orphanage Research Team. (2008).  The Effects of early social-emotional and relationship experience on the development of young orphanage children .Boston, Mass: Wiley-Blackwell.