Infants with insecure/avoidant attachment fail to greet and/or approach, appear oblivious to their caregiver's return and remain focused on toys, essentially avoiding the caregiver, which occurs in 23% of the general population (9).
Insecure ambivalent attachment to a caregiver may cause a child to have a hard time exploring new places, seeming more worried about where their parent is. However, when their parent returns, that child still may not appear to be comforted enough to explore. Their parent's presence doesn't seem to soothe them entirely.
Definitions. Insecure attachment : An individual relationship can be insecure when it contains elements of mistrust together with anxious or avoidant elements and lacks a secure base. It is considered a dysfunctional relationship.
Those with insecure attachment styles, on the other hand, may tend to become needy or clingy in their closest relationships, behave in selfish or manipulative ways when feeling vulnerable, or simply shy away from intimacy altogether.
A baby or a young child with a fearful avoidant attachment might behave in bizarre ways. For example, they might stare at their parent but avoid eye contact. They may scream endlessly as if in an attempt to engage their caregiver.
Development of insecure attachment styles
Children with this attachment style may have low confidence and feel highly distressed when separated from their caregiver. Later in life, they might struggle with anxiety in relationships, making them “clingy” or jealous.
Possible Causes of Insecure Attachment
On the upbringing side, it's believed that attachment styles may stem from early childhood relationships 2 with caregivers. If a caregiver were inconsistent, emotionally unavailable, or even dangerous, the child would likely develop an insecure attachment style.
Negative childhood experiences:
They may be exposed to highly critical parents or caregivers who are sometimes emotionally, physically or sexually abusive. Sometimes an infant or young child fails to bond with his or her caregiver creating an attachment disorder.
Healthy attachment occurs when the caregiver provides comfort, affection, and basic needs on a regular basis and with consistency. Poor attachment, inappropriate responses to a baby's distress, lack of affection, abusive behaviors, and the absence of the caregiver can all cause a traumatic experience for the child.
Finding ways to love yourself and believe in your abilities truly is one of the best ways to cope with (and heal) insecure attachment issues. Though it isn't an easy task, increasing feelings of self-worth will allow you to become your own best caretaker. This can lead to earned security.
Effects of insecure attachment
Children who have attachment issues can have difficulty forming healthy relationships when they grow up. This may be because their experiences have taught them to believe that other people are unreliable or untrustworthy (Bowlby, 1997)15.
Yet, attachment disorders and ADHD are strongly linked, meaning that an insecure attachment style has the potential to worsen ADHD symptoms – even in adulthood.
Children who are insecurely attached have learned that adults are not reliable, and do not trust easily. Children who are insecurely attached may: refuse to interact with others. avoid other people.
Researchers Philip Shaver and Cindy Hazan, who looked at adult relationships through the lens of childhood attachment styles, estimate that approximately 40 percent of people have an insecure attachment style of one type or another.
Some research has found a correlation between certain genes and certain styles of attachment, however. Genes aren't a guarantee of experiencing a certain attachment style, though. Environmental factors, family socialization, and caregiver responsiveness are still in play when our attachment styles form.
A familiar routine or schedule can provide comfort during times of change. Find things that feel good to your child. If possible, show your child love through rocking, cuddling, and holding—attachment experiences he or she missed out on earlier. But always be respectful of what feels comfortable and good to your child.
The trust issues that come with anxious attachment are often due to early childhood experiences. Childhood trauma that could cause an anxious attachment style includes neglect or living in a chaotic or scary environment. Inconsistent, unavailable, or rejecting caregivers can also lead to an anxious attachment style.
Childhood neglect predicted anxious and avoidant attachment styles and negative health indicators. Childhood physical abuse predicted anxious attachment, but not avoidant attachment or negative health indicators. Adult anxious attachment style predicted negative health indicators.
Children's opinions of their bodies form at a very young age. Research suggests that children as young as 3 years old can have body image issues. There are many things that influence how children see themselves.
Effects of Controlling Parents on Children
Children may feel pressured to conform to parental authority, resulting in emotional insecurity and dependence that can follow them into adulthood. Possible effects of controlling parenting on a child include: Childhood anxiety. Childhood depression.