Attachment refers to the emotional bond infants form with caregivers. Classic developmental stages (preattachment, indiscriminate, discriminate, multiple) outline when babies begin to prefer and rely on specific caregivers. Ainsworth's Strange Situation identifies secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant, and later disorganized patterns; most Western samples show a majority secure pattern, but proportions vary by culture. The Strange Situation is a widely used tool, but researchers caution about ecological and cross-cultural limits. Sensitive caregiving generally supports secure attachment; persistent concerns merit professional assessment.

What attachment is

Attachment describes the close emotional bond a child forms with caregivers. Psychologists study infant-caregiver attachment because those early bonds shape how children regulate emotion, seek comfort, and explore their world.

How attachment develops

Researchers describe a sequence of emerging behaviors that indicate attachment. Infants show an innate tendency to seek social contact, which supports the formation of close relationships with caregivers.

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) outlined stages commonly used to describe this development:

1. Preattachment (0-3 months)

Infants show social responsiveness (smiling, eye contact) but do not yet show clear preference for specific caregivers.

2. Indiscriminate attachment (3-7 months)

Babies clearly prefer people over objects and respond to many caregivers, though they begin to recognize familiar faces.

3. Discriminate attachment (around 7-9 months)

Infants form a clear attachment to a primary caregiver, showing separation protest and stranger wariness as they gain object permanence.

4. Multiple attachments (9+ months)

Children expand attachments to other family members and regular caregivers while the primary attachment usually remains central.

(Note: Schaffer later revisited aspects of these stages (1996) ; ages are approximate and vary by child and culture.)

Types of attachment: the Strange Situation

Mary Ainsworth developed the Strange Situation procedure to observe patterns of infant behavior in a brief series of separations and reunions with the caregiver. The procedure typically tests children around 12-18 months and scores how they react to separation, reunion, and a stranger.

Ainsworth's classic categories are:

  • Secure: The child seeks comfort from the caregiver and is easily soothed on reunion.
  • Insecure-avoidant: The child appears indifferent to the caregiver and avoids contact on reunion.
  • Insecure-resistant (ambivalent): The child shows clinginess but resists contact and is difficult to soothe.
Later work identified a fourth pattern:
  • Disorganized: Behaviors appear confused or contradictory; this pattern often links to trauma or inconsistent caregiving (Main & Solomon; later research elaborates risk factors).
Across many Western samples researchers typically report the majority of infants are secure (roughly 60-70%), with smaller proportions in avoidant and resistant categories, though percentages vary by setting.

Limits and cultural context

The Strange Situation provides a useful framework, but researchers caution against overgeneralizing. The procedure measures behavior in a specific, brief setting and may not capture the full quality of caregiver-child relationships in different cultures. Cross-cultural studies have documented meaningful variation in attachment distributions and in how caregiving practices shape attachment behaviors.

Practical takeaways

Early sensitive and responsive caregiving supports secure attachment. When concerns arise - marked fear of the caregiver, persistent distress, or signs of disorganized behavior - early assessment by a pediatrician or mental-health professional is advisable.

  1. Confirm whether Schaffer published a formal revision of the 1964 stages in 1996 and provide the correct citation.

FAQs about Attachment In Children

At what age can you tell a child’s attachment style?
Researchers commonly assess attachment around 12-18 months using structured observation, though attachment behaviors begin earlier and continue to develop beyond infancy.
Does a secure attachment guarantee a perfectly adjusted child?
No. Secure attachment reduces some risks and supports exploration and emotion regulation, but many factors (temperament, environment, later experiences) influence long-term outcomes.
Can attachment change after infancy?
Yes. Attachment relationships continue to evolve. Consistent, sensitive caregiving later in childhood or therapeutic intervention can improve relational security.
Is the Strange Situation appropriate for all cultures?
The Strange Situation can reveal attachment behaviors, but interpretation needs cultural context. Different caregiving norms change how children respond to brief separations and strangers.
What does disorganized attachment indicate?
Disorganized behavior often reflects breakdowns in the child's strategy for seeking comfort and can be associated with caregiver trauma, abuse, or severe inconsistency, though it does not determine a child's future by itself.

News about Attachment In Children

4 Attachment Styles in Relationships - Verywell Mind [Visit Site | Read More]

Four tips to create secure attachment bonds with children - BBC [Visit Site | Read More]

‘Attachment research gave some indication where we could start in trying to parent our seriously unwell daughter’ - British Psychological Society [Visit Site | Read More]

Childhood experiences give insights into adult attachment styles - University of Minnesota Twin Cities [Visit Site | Read More]

How Childhood Relationships Affect Your Adult Attachment Style, according to Large New Study - Scientific American [Visit Site | Read More]

What is attachment parenting? Psychologists discuss pros and cons of a 'responsive' family - HELLO! Magazine [Visit Site | Read More]

Attachment and reflective functioning in families with a child on the autism spectrum - Frontiers [Visit Site | Read More]

This Is How To Tell if You Have an Anxious Attachment Style - Health: Trusted and Empathetic Health and Wellness Information [Visit Site | Read More]