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UnderstandingAttachmentKidsCooperate

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Understanding
Attachment
August 21, 2012

There has been a lot of back and forth about the

merit of attachment parenting, a style of
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UnderstandingAttachmentKidsCooperate

parenting that emphasizes the importance of a

secure and close relationship between the parent
and child.
It seems like there is value in understanding the
fundamentals of attachment theory, first
articulated by John Bowlby in the 1940s and
expanded on by Mary Ainsworth in the 1960s and
1970s.
I typically blog about issues specific to parenting
a child on the Autism Spectrum, but I believe
that there is value in having a base of knowledge
of important concepts in developmental
psychology, and that good parenting is good
parenting, regardless of diagnosis.

Understanding attachment theory, Autism Spectrum

Disorder

Secure:Uses caregiver asa secure base for

exploration.Shows appropriatedistress when the
caregiverleaves is comforted on
return,returning to exploration. Maybe
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UnderstandingAttachmentKidsCooperate

comforted by the stranger but shows clear

preferencefor the caregiver.
Ambivalent:Does not use the caregiver as a
secure base,for exploration, protesting before
thecaregiver leaves. Upset about thecaregiver
leaving and slow to warm on return.Expressed
concern about the caregivers location,seeking
contact but resisting angrilywhen it is achieved.
Not easily calmed by stranger.In this
relationship, the child always feelsanxious
because the caregiver's availabilityis never
consistent.
Avoidant: Little emotional sharing in play.few
signs of emotion whenthe caregiver leaves or
returns,Showing low affect when offered
affection.Treats strangers similarly to
caregivers.The child may express lack of
attachmentand low self esteem by acting out.
Disorganized: Lack of attachment canbe
expressed by disorganized emotional behavior
such asapproaching the caregiverbut with the
back turned.
*Ainsworth MD, Blehar M, Waters E, Wall S
(1978).Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological
Study of the Strange Situation.Hillsdale

Suggestedfollowupreading:
TheoriesofAttachment

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UnderstandingAttachmentKidsCooperate

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