Attachment & the developing self
IB Psychologyยท Human developmentยท 14 min read
1. Core concept
Attachment is the strong emotional bond between an infant and its main caregiver. Ainsworth's work sorts it into styles โ secure, avoidant, ambivalent โ from how infants use the caregiver as a safe base and react to separation and reunion. The bond is thought to build an 'internal working model': an early template of whether others can be relied on and whether the self is worthy of care, which can echo into later relationships and identity. That is why attachment is studied as part of the development of the self, not just as infant behaviour.
2. Key studies
IB Psychology answers must be supported by named studies. Learn these to cite as evidence:
Ainsworth et al. (1978)
The 'strange situation' procedure classified infants as secure, avoidant or ambivalent/resistant from their reactions to separation from and reunion with the caregiver. โ Provides the standard measurement of attachment style โ the starting point for any claim about the developing self.
Shaver and Hazan (1988)
Adults' patterns in romantic relationships mirrored the secure/avoidant/ambivalent styles described for infant attachment. โ Evidence for continuity โ the early bond's template carried forward into the adult self and relationships.
3. Evaluation (AO3)
Strength โ a testable link from early bond to later self โ The strange situation is a replicable measure, and the internal-working-model idea makes a checkable prediction (early style โ later relationship style) that Shaver & Hazan support.
Limitation โ culture-bound measure and correlational continuity โ Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) found attachment distributions differ across cultures (and vary even more within them), so the strange situation may impose a Western standard; and the childhood-to-adult link is correlational, not proof the early bond caused the adult self.
4. Scope
5. Common Pitfalls
Wrong move:
The strange-situation attachment styles are universal, so 'secure' looks the same everywhere and fixes the adult with certainty.
Why:
A frequently penalised misconception in IB Psychology exams.
Correct move:
Attachment classifications vary across cultures (Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg) and the early-to-later link is probabilistic, not fixed โ the strange situation measures a culturally-shaped behaviour, not a universal destiny.
Going deeper
- Animal research / animal modelsHarlow's monkey studies (contact comfort, secure base) are the animal-model evidence behind attachment (BIO_1).
- Childhood experiences & epigeneticshow early relational experience becomes biologically lasting is elaborated as childhood experiences & epigenetics (HD_8).