Project 1- Social and Personality Development.
Secure attachment is an infant/caregiver bond in which the child welcomes contact with a close companion and uses this person as a secure base from which to explore the environment. Establishment of secure attachment requires the caregiver to express affection and positive affect, respond promptly to the infants" signals, create stimulation, support, and structuring smooth, reciprocal interactions with the infant. By creating this bond of secure attachment, the infant has been observed to be a curious, self-directed, and eager to learn child. This child should successfully form secure primary attachments, have the self-confidence to approach and to master new challenges, and be inclined to establish secure, mutual-trust relationships with friends and spouses later in life.
Resistant attachment is an insecure infant/caregiver bond, characterized by strong separation protest and a tendency of the child to remain near but resist contact initiated by the caregiver, particularly after separation. Children may interpret the lack of attention, as "I"m unworthy or unimportant". Later in life the resistant attachment that was formed may cause a preoccupation with establishing secure emotional ties. Those affected tend to always be searching for what they didn't receive as an infant.
Avoidant attachment is an insecure infant/caregiver bond, characterized by little separation protest and a tendency of the child to avoid or ignore the caregiver. These infants also display an "insecure" attachment. The avoidant attachment infant often successfully attracts the attention of an insensitive, over intrusive caregiver thus learned dismissal of the importance of close emotional bonds. Later this adult may be stand-offish and not very dependant on touch and sensitivity.
Disorganized/ disoriented attachment is an insecure infant/ caregiver bond, characterized by the infant's dazed appearance on reunion or a tendency to first seek and then abruptly avoid the caregiver.