Childhood attachment patterns influence their behaviors in adulthood. Attachment refers to a close emotional bond that children develop with their caregivers. Secondly, children develop different attachments and exhibit them in different ways. Psychologists argue that attachment styles depict how children interact with their parents, and they have recognized four main types of attachment styles. These are secure, ambivalent, avoidant, and disordered attachments. In secure attachments, children form strong attachment with their caregivers, and will be upset when their caregivers leave. In ambivalent attachment, children are suspicious of strangers and may become aggressive even in the presence of their caregivers. In some cases, children develop avoidant attachment, where they develop excuses to avoid other people or form relationships. In extreme cases, children can develop a disorganized attachment style. They exhibit a mix of behaviors and emotions toward their caregivers. However, regardless of the attachments children form in their early years, they are likely to influence their development and behaviors in adulthood.
As aforementioned, children can form different attachment styles. On this note, Field and Wogrin (2021).) has used John Bowly’s attachment to explain different attachment styles. First, in secure attachment, children are confident and responsive to their parent and caregivers. They form quality and mutual relationships, making it easier for children to develop competency by cooperating with their caregivers. Children also feel a sense of security, and they feel comfortable sharing their emotions (Field &Wogrin, 2021). However, children can also develop an ambivalent attachment, especially if they feel their parents or caregivers are not responsive or sensitive to their needs. They become insecure, anxious, and distressed. Some will also develop defensive behaviors such as exclusion. Moreover, ambivalent attachment can become worse and develop into avoidant one where children create distances from relationships. According to Field and Wogrin (2021), parents can contribute to the avoidant attachment if they fail to respond to their needs, forcing the children to feel rejected.
If parents are inconsistent providers, confused or distracted, they can cause their children to develop this type of attachment. In extreme situations, these children will be overtly anxious, angry, and clingy. They also face challenges of regulating their emotions which disconnects them from other people. Furthermore, children can develop disorganized attachment and is characterized by feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. It is a complex type of attachment because sometimes a child may feel overwhelmed and distressed to seek protection. In this situation, children develop typical behaviors such as being disoriented, frightened, and hostile (Field & Wogrin, 2021). Most of them also become aggressive without an apparent cause as a coping strategy towards their parent’s behavior. If not controlled, this attachment can easily lead to conflicts and psychological problems such as withdrawal.
On a further note, these attachments develop over time, and depend on their interactions with caregivers. This means that the type of attachment style that children form is closely linked to communication and interaction with their caregivers. Notably, caregivers use non-verbal communication and different expressions and develop a strong relationship with the child. They also respond to their needs, and due to repetition, the infants will internalize them, making it easier to develop a relationship with their caregivers. Fuchshuber et al. (2019) emphasize that the how a caregiver deals, and responds to a child create internal self-model that influences how the child will form attachments to caregivers and other people. For instance, if the caregiver responds positively with children, they are likely to develop a secure attachment. They will feel comfortable and secure around their caregivers.
Notably, childhood attachment styles can influence behaviors in adulthood. This is to say that attachment theory can help to understand adult behavior. According to Maftei (2020), the type of attachments children form with their caregivers usually impacts their psychological and interpersonal relationships into adulthood. For instance, if a child feels that their caregiver is responsible and caring, they will develop a secure attachment. If the caregiver is inconsistent in availability and responding to children’s needs, they will develop ambivalent, avoidant, or disorganized attachments (Maftei et al., 2020). Moreover, depending on early attachments, children develop internal working models which determine their perceptions and behaviors in subsequent relationships. This is to say that although early attachments usually involve children and their caregivers, they are closely related to their relationships in adulthood. Maftei (2020) emphasize that romantic relationships are adaptive, revolutionary, and comparable to parent-infant relationships. For instance, if a child forms a secure and quality relationship with both parents, they are likely to form similar attachments with others when they grow up. They are likely to love, care, and form positive interactions in a similar way they interacted with their parents during childhood. They also exhibit positive behaviors such as high self-esteem, openness, and less aggression. In this sense, there is a direct connection between attachment styles and adulthood behaviors.
On the contrary, children who form insecure and disorganized attachments, are likely to face challenges in their future relationships. If the children internalize that the caregivers are not treating them well, they will develop an ambivalent attachment. They will exhibit behaviors such as anger, sadness, and fear. On this note, Fuchshuber et al. (2019) assert that attachment is adaptive and is influenced by how a child relates with parents and caregivers. If they feel their parents were unfair, rejecting, and unresponsive, such children will become anxious and inconsistent when dealing with others when they grow up. They will develop avoidant attachments characterized by anxiety and avoidance, making it challenging to form and sustain positive relationships. At the same time, Fraley (2019) notes that relatively secure people are more likely than insecure ones to form strong attachment with their peers or partners. Also, these bonds are usually facilitated by the foundations they formed during their early years. Insecure people will tend to develop avoidance attachment toward their peers, especially when they are not sure about their relationships. Their earlier experiences limit their willingness to commit to their partners and other people (Fraley, 2019). They also become easily agitated and cannot resolve their conflicts appropriately, particularly if they relate to painful experiences in their childhood. Therefore, this implies that the type of attachment style that children form in their early years, are likely to influence their behaviors in adulthood.
Summarily, children can form different attachment styles to their parents and caregivers depending on their interactions. In secure attachments, children feel their caregivers are responsive and available, making it easier to form mutual and cooperative relationships. However, if caregivers are not consistent and sensitive to their children’s’ needs, they will develop ambivalent, avoidant, or disorganized attachments. These children will also exhibit behaviors such as anger, aggression, isolation, and anxiety. Further, these attachments are likely to influence how their behaviors into adulthood. If children form secure attachments, they are also likely to form positive relationships with others in the future. If they had insecure relationships during childhood, such children will face problems in creating and sustaining relationships when they grow up.
References
Fraley, R. C. (2019). Attachment in adulthood: Recent developments, emerging debates, and future directions. Annual review of psychology, 70(1), 401-422.
Field, N. P., & Wogrin, C. (2021). The changing bond in therapy for unresolved loss: An attachment theory perspective. In Grief and bereavement in contemporary society (pp. 37-46). Routledge.
Fuchshuber, J., Hiebler-Ragger, M., Kresse, A., Kapfhammer, H. P., & Unterrainer, H. F. (2019). The influence of attachment styles and personality organization on emotional functioning after childhood trauma. Frontiers in psychiatry, 10, 643.
Maftei, A., Holman, A. C., & Cârlig, E. R. (2020). Does your child think you’re happy? Exploring the associations between children’s happiness and parenting styles. Children and Youth Services Review, 115, 105074.