Types of Attachment: Secure, Insecure-avoidant and Insecure-resistant (OCR A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes

3.4.2 Types of Attachment: Secure, Insecure-avoidant and Insecure-resistant

Types of attachment

Children can display different attachment styles with their caregivers meaning that the display different patterns of feelings, behaviours and expectations towards their caregivers

1. Secure attachments

2. Insecure avoidant attachments

3. Insecure resistant attachments

4. Secure attachments: Caregivers show high sensitive responsiveness - children form close relationships with their caregivers and learn that they can trust them

• Happy to explore but use their caregiver as a safe base
• Display high stranger anxiety
• Display high separation anxiety
• Display happy reunion behaviour Form happy, healthy relationships when older

5. Insecure resistant attachments: Caregivers show inconsistent sensitive responsiveness (variable behaviour) - caregiver's love is conditional, so infants become needy and attention-seeking to gain their caregiver's attention

• Unwilling to explore and don't use their caregiver as a safe base
• Display high stranger anxiety
• Display high separation anxiety
• Display angry reunion behaviour Form clingy, unstable relationships when older

6. Insecure avoidant attachments: Caregivers show low sensitive responsiveness - children learn that they can't depend on their caregivers so become indifferent to them

• Happy to explore without using their caregiver as a safe base
• Displays low stranger anxiety
• Displays low separation anxiety Struggle to form relationships later on in life