Attachment Patterns During Childhood

Attachment patterns during childhood are a crucial aspect of social and emotional development for all human beings. An attachment pattern is the psychosocial manner in which a child connects with his or her parent(s) or other significant caregiver. This is something that starts early on usually from the day a child is born. The experience of attachment between parents and their children encompasses a variety of different behaviors. Attachment practices involve breastfeeding, bathing sessions, playing, teaching/learning, and more. A child's attachment pattern affects practically every part of his or her general development.
Not all attachment patterns are positive in nature. According to John Bowlby, a psychologist who studied childhood development, believed there were four different types of attachment styles. The styles consist of secure, anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant attachment. The most favorable style for a child to experience is secure attachment. This style means that a child has developed a loving and trustful bond with his or her parent/guardian. The child realizes that the parent or
Relationships include friendships, work-related connections, and intimate partnerships (i.e. boyfriend/girlfriend, marriage, etc.). Children who experience fully secure attachments usually maintain an optimistic perspective about relationships throughout life. They are more likely to believe that people can be trusted and are responsive to the needs of others. On the flipside, children who do not experience fully secure attachments typically have a poorer perspective about relationships. They are more likely to develop a consistent attitude of distrust towards people, including greater suspicion about people's motives. They are more likely to experience low self-esteem, compared to securely attached