Knowledge Tree
attachment figure
Also known as: attachment figure, attachment figures
Facts (13)
Sources
Attachment Theory In Psychology Explained simplypsychology.org May 20, 2025 4 facts
claimAttachment figures provide a secure base that empowers exploration and independence, and a safe haven that offers comfort and protection during times of distress or danger.
referenceAinsworth, Blehar, Waters, and Wall (1978) describe attachment figures as a 'secure base' that infants use to explore their social world, noting that the more assured an infant is in the availability of their attachment figure during stress, the more likely they are to interact with others and their environment.
claimAttachment theory is a lifespan model of human development that emphasizes the central role of caregivers, known as attachment figures, in providing a sense of safety and security.
claimThe function of an attachment figure as a secure base is based on the responsiveness of the caregiver towards the infant.
Attachment Theory - Child and Family Institute childfamilyinstitute.com 2 facts
claimToddlers utilize familiar attachment figures as a secure base from which they can explore their environment and to which they can return.
claimInfants between the ages of 6 months and 2 years seek out an attachment figure during stressful situations and typically form attachments to adults who are sensitive, responsive, and consistent caregivers.
Introduction to children's attachment - NCBI - NIH ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 2 facts
referenceReactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) shows high short-term stability in stable environmental contexts (Gleason et al., 2011), but it resolves quickly when appropriate stable attachment figures are provided, such as in foster care with trained carers (Rutter et al., 2009).
claimA secure base is formed when an attachment figure provides stability and safety during moments of stress, which enables the infant to explore their surroundings.
John Bowlby's Attachment Theory - Simply Psychology simplypsychology.org Apr 20, 2025 2 facts
procedureThe process of distress in children separated from an attachment figure occurs in three progressive stages: (1) Protest: The child cries, screams, and protests angrily while trying to cling to the parent to stop them from leaving, which can last from a few hours to several days. (2) Despair: The child’s protesting gradually stops, and they appear calmer, although still upset.
claimJohn Bowlby and James Robertson observed that short-term separation from an attachment figure leads to distress in children, and that the presence of other caregivers feeding the child does not diminish the child's anxiety.
Parent–child attachment and adolescent problematic behavior frontiersin.org Feb 26, 2025 1 fact
claimParents serve as important attachment figures for adolescents, particularly in times of stress.
Bowlby's Attachment Theory: 4 Styles & Classroom Impact structural-learning.com Jun 30, 2023 1 fact
claimFamily structures vary across cultures, and children may have multiple attachment figures within extended family or community systems.
The Effects of Attachment and Trauma on Parenting and Children's ... rsisinternational.org Aug 16, 2025 1 fact
claimJohn Bowlby argued that human infants possess an innate behavioral system that motivates proximity-seeking behaviors toward attachment figures, particularly when the infant experiences stress or threat.