The lasting emotional bond that a child establishes with the person or people who care for him or her is decisive for his or her personal development. We have seen in other articles the, according to the theory of John Bowlby. This English developmental psychologist explains the origin of interpersonal relationships and behavior from that emotional relationship.
Secure attachment models offer a greater prediction of emotional balance, while insecure attachment models (anxious, ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized) have the opposite effect. Next, we will delve a little deeper into the concept of secure attachment.
What is meant by secure attachment in Psychology?
It is said that a child establishes a type of secure attachment when he or she experiences a relationship of warmth and emotional receptivity with the person who cares for him. This relationship makes you feel safe, loved and accepted.
In this way, he constructs a representation of himself as that of an individual worthy of receiving loveof the affection and care that is professed to them, that they can count on the caregiver to help them in difficult times.
In turn, the representation of the other person is that of someone trustworthy, available to provide the necessary emotional support in times of difficulty and recognize you as a unique person, to whom it provides careful care and unconditional support. It is a figure that serves as a secure base to encourage exploration of the environment.
These representations built in childhood are generalized to create an expectation of the world in which people may be willing to help you in those difficult times.
In this way, secure attachment is defined as an organization of behavior and relationships based on balance between exploration of the environment (autonomy) and attachment to parents (dependency).
The convenience of promoting secure attachment
Secure attachment is a good guarantee for a healthy childhood, adolescence and adulthood from the psychological point of view in its emotional, cognitive and social aspects.
In fact, children who have been treated with quality and emotional warmth during the first stages of their lives:
- They develop a better self-esteem
- They develop a better autonomy
- They better manage their emotions
- They have a greater security
- They maintain social relationships healthier
- Greater ability to search social support
What problems can appear in case of lack of secure attachment?
Children who have not been able to generate a secure attachment show a less competence in social behavior and emotional management. As a result, they may become extremely dependent or display inadequate independence in later life.
Thus, there will be a greater predisposition towards anxiety and depression problems, towards maladjusted reactions to stressful situations and psychopathology. Their school results may also be affected and there may be lack of motivation and relational difficulties.
How to foster secure attachment?
There are a series of general guidelines that allow us to promote secure attachment in children. Some of the most important are:
- Understand the emotional state and the needs of the child and being sensitive to them and their messages.
- Exercise consolation without making derogatory judgments and without going overboard in attention. It is advisable to avoid overprotection.
- Know how to be by your side discreetly when he needs help, but leave him free to explore and play.
- Set rules and limits that allow the development of appropriate behaviors and responses.
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