From a very young age, people feel a strong connection with their caregivers (Adsuara, 2020). However, these connections do not always lead to adequate relationships between the infant and his or her caregiver. For example, in playgrounds, large differences can be found between the relationships that individual children have with their fathers and mothers. In correspondence with Adsuara (2020), this bonding that babies develop, from birth, towards their caregivers, is what is known as attachment.
What is Attachment Theory?
British psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, John Bowlby, was the first to describe attachment as a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one individual to another across space and time (Torres, 2019). Attachment, as a bond and behavior, is innate, instinctive and biological (Eyras, 2007). In the same vein, John Bowlby proposed a relational conception of the human being, i.e., children come into the world ready to establish a close connection with their caregivers (Galán, 2010). Because of this, according to Persano (2018), the importance of the environment in the psychic organization and the impact of emotional separation on the psychological development of infants is assumed.
The central axis of attachment theory lies in the reciprocity of early relationships, which will be the condition for the normal development of all primates, including humans (Persano, 2018). Also, according to Eyras (2007), this theory is a way to understand the tendency of humans to establish strong emotional bonds with specific people and to explain mood and personality disorders, including anxiety, anger, frustration, and depression, which lead to involuntary separation and loss of loved ones.
Likewise, this is a theory on the importance of attachment in the psychological structure of infants in their emotional development, gaining security, trust, and comfort (Persano, 2018). In the same way, according to Eyras (2007), it implies the tendency that human beings have, to establish an intimate emotional connection with certain people, which is considered a basic part of human nature, which exists since the baby is born, and continues throughout the life cycle.
This search for proximity on the part of the child is the result of a series of activities of the behavioral system, in which the child tries to stay close to the attachment figure (Eyras, 2007). Corresponding to Eyras (2007), these connections are established with childhood caregivers, to whom the child usually turns to for protection, comfort and support.
In short, attachment refers to the emotional bonds that people form with other individuals throughout life (Corbin, n.d.). In the course of evolution, subjects will establish, through attachment behavior, affective bonds, first between infant and adult and later, between adults (Eyras, 2007). However, although the connections still exist in adolescence and adulthood, they are complemented with new bonds. For this reason, according to Eyras (2007), it is said that attachment behavior is stable and flexible, since during the life cycle other new bonds are formed, which are as important as the initial ones.
Attachment Figure
At the base of this concept is the notion of the role of father or mother, which, does not refer to the specific figure, since, if for some reason they are absent, who plays this role, would be the person who fulfills the function of attachment figure (Eyras, 2007). In correspondence with Persano (2018), this concept is defined as that person who can meet the needs of the infant.
The availability is not temporary, since, the attachment figure must be emotionally available and must have an empathic response towards the child at all times (Persano, 2018). This is because, according to Cobo (2020), the behavior of the attachment figure gives rise to the different attachment patterns or styles that will accompany the child throughout his or her life, thus, differences will be generated in the way individuals behave and relate to themselves and to the environment.
On the other hand, it is worth emphasizing the importance of children remaining close to an attachment figure, since, they feel more comfortable and protected and, therefore, are more likely to survive into adulthood (Torres, 2019). Consequently, in correspondence with Persano (2018), for the development of personality, it is essential for the child to have a significant attachment figure in the early years.
Secure Base
The attachment figure is the person in the role and the secure base is the function, e.g., the organization may be a secure base, but not an attachment figure (Eyras, 2007). Providing a secure base for children and youth is the key for them to venture into the outside world, be confident in the process, and become more emotionally stable. According to Eyras (2007), if people believe that they have someone they can confide in when there is a problem or with whom they can share their happy moments, then they will develop better no matter what age they are.
There are two main factors that have to occur for people to become attached to a secure base; internal and external or environmental (Eyras, 2007). The first factor is the child's ability to recognize whether another individual is trustworthy. Corresponding to Eyras (2007), the second implies the availability of the person worthy of the trust provided, willing to provide the secure base required for each stage of the developmental cycle.
The two channels of exchange, the external and the internal, function in a circular and complex interaction (Eyras, 2007). The secure base means continuity of potential support, since the relationship between the subjects lasts for many years. Also, in the course of healthy functioning, the person tends to identify appropriate figures, which can provide a secure base and develop the capacity for cooperation, leading to rewarding interactions. In short, according to Eyras (2007), it can be said that the basic function of the secure base is to provide protection, trust and security.
Attachment Behavior
Attachment behavior is understood as any form of behavior that makes a person come into contact with or stay close to another distinguished and preferably individual person who is considered, in general, stronger and/or wiser (Eyras, 2007). In short, in correspondence with Cobo (2020), attachment behaviors are all those behaviors presented by the infant, which allow him/her to stay close to the attachment figure since birth.
As long as the attachment figure remains accessible and receptive, this behavior may include a visual or auditory inspection of his or her location, as well as an occasional exchange of glances and greetings (Eyras, 2007). However, according to Eyras (2007), in some cases, clinging to the attachment figure is also observed, as well as a tendency to call or cry, behaviors that usually move the attachment figure to provide the necessary care to the child.
This bond is permanent, since it is maintained over time, while the various attachment behaviors that constitute it are only active when necessary (Eyras, 2007). For example, according to Eyras (2007), when he refers to the fact that exploratory behavior is activated when attachment decreases, he means that it is necessary to have a secure attachment for exploratory behavior to exist, since attachment behavior is activated at a certain time and in a certain space, where the child feels secure enough to explore and temporarily forget the caregiver.
Attachment behavior will be activated whenever something strange or unexpected occurs for the child, for example, a sudden separation from the attachment figure, a threatening noise, among others (Eyras, 2007). According to Eyras (2007), it is also activated by internal factors, such as tiredness, hunger, any illness, among others, and is only deactivated in certain circumstances when the child is in a familiar environment and has the possibility of counting on the attachment figure and his or her response.
When these attachment behaviors are activated and the attachment figure is not with the child to meet his or her needs, the anxiety response can be triggered (Cobo, 2020). However, Cobo (2020) mentions that if the opposite is the case, a mild response from the infant could indicate that he or she has been subjected to absence situations before, either by threats of abandonment or by denial of care.
Maternal Sensitivity
Regarding maternal sensitivity, it is assumed that the signal sent by the child is correctly decoded, this means that the caregiver can intuitively understand what is happening to the child and be able to satisfy it (Eyras, 2007). In short, according to Cobo (2020), maternal sensitivity is understood as the caregiver's ability to become aware of, interpret and respond appropriately to the child's needs.
When children feel helpless, they feel depressed and this is usually expressed through crying, which implies a distress signal for the caregiver (Persano, 2018). According to Persano (2018), if the caregiver does not come to the child, the child will fall into a state of disappointment, which is manifested by a drop in emotional tone.
The sensitive reaction of the caregiver is the best predictor of attachment security in the first year of life (Eyras, 2007). Likewise, remoteness and rejecting attitudes towards children, especially in terms of physical contact, are predictors of avoidance behavior patterns (Eyras, 2007). According to Eyras (2007), the importance of social interaction to strengthen the interaction between children and attachment figures should be emphasized.
References
Adsuara, G. (2020). Teoría del APEGO: Tipos y Desarrollo. psicologia-online.com. Recuperado 19 July 2021, a partir de https://www.psicologia-online.com/teoria-del-apego-tipos-y-desarrollo-4875.html
Cobo, M. (2020). TEORÍA DEL APEGO: CÓMO SE FORMA EL ADULTO EMOCIONAL. Repositorio.unican.es. Recuperado 19 July 2021, a partir de https://repositorio.unican.es/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10902/19899/COBO%20GARCIA%2C%20MARIA.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Corbin, J. La Teoría del Apego y el vínculo entre padres e hijos. Psicologiaymente.com. Recuperado 19 July 2021, a partir de https://psicologiaymente.com/desarrollo/teoria-apego-padres-hijos
Eyras, M. (2007). La Teoría del Apego: Fundamentos y Articulaciones de un Modelo Integrador. Obtenido 14 Octubre 2020, de http://magix.ucu.edu.uy:8086/opac9/doctesis/psicologia/54287.pdf
Galán, A. (2010). Obtenido 14 Octubre 2020, de https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/2650/265019471003.pdf Persano, H. (2018). La Teoría del Apego. Obtenido 14 Octubre 2020, de https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338825868_La_Teoria_del_Apego
Torres, N. (2019). ¿En qué consiste la Teoría del Apego?. Obtenido 14 Octubre 2020, de https://www.psicoactiva.com/blog/consiste-la-teoria-del-apego/
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