Attachment Theory, Bowlby’s Stages & Attachment Styles

The 4 Stages of Attachment

Studies have found that children develop attachment through a series of four stages from infancy through early childhood (Bowlby, 2018).

1. Pre-attachment (birth to 6 weeks): Infants show no particular attachment to a specific caregiver but engage in behaviors such as crying or smiling to prompt caregiving responses.
2. Attachment-in-the-making (6 weeks to 6–8 months): Infants begin to show preferences for their primary caregiver but don’t protest when separated from them.
3. Clear-cut attachment (6–8 months to 18–24 months): Infants become more attached to their primary caregiver and may show separation anxiety when they leave.
4. Formation of a reciprocal relationship (18–24 months and beyond): Children grow and become more independent and understand that the caregiver will return. This understanding results in decreasing levels of anxiety during separations.

Factors influencing attachment

If you have experience working with children, you’ll be aware that there are many factors that may influence the development of attachment between a caregiver and a child. These include environmental, caregiver, and infant factors. Darvishvand et al. (2018) identified the following:

1. Caregiver factors such as age, education level, financial security, psychosocial security, and health during and experience of pregnancy and labor, as well as postpartum care such as rooming-in, skin-to-skin contact, early initiation of breastfeeding, etc.
2. Infant factors such as health problems, premature birth, sex, and moods

In addition, genetic, environmental, and cultural factors have also been found to influence attachment. Cooke et al. (2019) identified the following examples:

• Genetic factors such as variations in the oxytocin receptor gene could affect a child’s ability to form secure attachments by influencing trust and bonding behaviors.
• Environmental factors such as high-stress environments (such as households with financial instability or parental conflict) can contribute to insecure attachment patterns in children.
• Cultural factors such as those seen in collectivist cultures, like Japan, emphasize interdependence, while in individualistic cultures, such as the United States, independence is often prioritized in caregiving, shaping attachment differently.

The long-term impact of early attachment

Early attachment experiences profoundly affect future relationships and emotional wellbeing (Thompson, 2000). Research suggests that securely attached children grow into adults who are better able to form healthy, trusting relationships (Groh et al., 2017). They are more likely to display high self-esteem and have better emotional regulation (Cooke et al., 2019).

In contrast, children with insecure attachments may struggle with relationships, experience anxiety, or have difficulty managing emotions (Doyle & Cicchetti, 2017).

In severe cases, attachment disruptions in early childhood can lead to attachment disorders, which may manifest as avoidance, aggression, or extreme emotional dependency (Kochanska & Kim, 2012).

Attachment Styles & Their Impact on Relationships

Attachment styles continue to shape individuals’ relationships throughout adulthood (Domingue & Mollen, 2009).

This means that adult attachment mirrors childhood patterns. So, if your clients are struggling to form healthy adult relationships, they may benefit from an exploration of their attachment style.

From an adult perspective, the attachment styles would present as follows (Domingue & Mollen, 2009):

1. Secure adults tend to have healthy, trusting, and supportive relationships.
2. Anxious-preoccupied adults often crave intimacy but may struggle with feelings of insecurity and fear of abandonment.
3. Dismissive-avoidant adults are likely to avoid emotional closeness and may prioritize independence over intimate relationships.
4. Fearful-avoidant adults may long for connection with a fear of getting too close, often resulting in conflicting emotions and unstable relationships.

Helping your client understand their attachment style can offer valuable insights into their relationship dynamics and emotional behavior. Andrew Huberman expands on this idea in his Huberman Lab episode titled “The Science of Love, Desire and Attachment.”