By: Thea Soleil “Nine” Dona
Abstract
Psychology struggled to test the psychoanalytic that drives reduction theory and
behaviorist positions that didn’t account for development until the Attachment theory. For the past 5 decades, the attachment theory has advanced into how we form ourselves, emotion regulations, resilience, and mental representation. (Sroufe, 2021) Attachment styles allow us to understand who we are and our behavior towards our loved ones. (Derrig, 2022) Therefore, presumably, adolescents who are still forming their attachment style are in the most critical stage to change it for the better since adolescence is the peak of understanding and cultivating who we
are on account that the brain's development is at a higher level than childhood when in adolescence. (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
Attachment Styles
Attachment is an emotional motivator everyone has that connects us to other people. We start developing a pattern/type of attachment early on based on how our caregivers behave towards us. It influences how you perceive yourself and the world, and how you act and react in situations. John Bowlby, the father of attachment theory believed infants possess the desire to grow and develop within a safe environment. When caregivers give babies attention, care, and protection they feel safe, secure, soothed, and recognized which allows them to develop a high level of trust and understanding with others and the world around them. They carry this ability into relationships as they carry this ability into relationships as they grow. This is called a secure attachment type. They value themselves as important, and worthy in the world and perceive others as guinea and caring, and are able to develop and maintain healthy and stable relationships. When babies' needs are not meant for them to be seen and cared for, their ability to trust themselves and others is compromised. The three other attachment types other than secure are preoccupied, the intense desire to connect with others; dismissing, disregardment of others and their emotions; and fearful, wanting to be with others but afraid they’re not worthy of love and affection. (Fox, 2019)
Secure Attachment
Secure attachment is ideal. Babies with secure attachments to their primary caregiver are more likely to become adults who are confident in seeking healthy relationships with others and become reliable and loving partners themselves. (Derrig, 2022) Babies who are securely attached prefer their primary caregiver over anyone else and calm down due to their presence if they can consistently fulfill their physical and emotional needs. They grow up to be more likely to trust their partner and be emotionally available. 58% of adults have a secure attachment type.
(Bakermans-Kranenburg, et al. 2009).
Anxious Attachment
An anxious attachment style is also known as a preoccupied attachment of
anxious-ambivalent attachment. It’s a form of insecure attachment between a baby and their inconsistent caregiver, wherein the baby's position they can't be sure and when their primary caregiver is emotionally and physically available to them. Babies without consistent primary caregivers are more likely to form this attachment, and after learning that they may or may not get the attention they need, they aren’t easily comforted by their primary caregivers. They may be seen as clingy, needy, and untrustful in relationships. They have false perceptions of
abandonment from their relationships with loved ones and seek constant reassurance they’re safe in their relationships. People with anxious attachment can actually drive away their partner with how needy they are, festering insecurity in future relationships. 19% of adults have this attachment style. (Bakermans-Kranenburg, et al., 2009).
Avoidant Attachment
Avoidant attachment style is also known as a dismissive or anxious-avoidant attachment. They may be hyper-independent as adults and are most likely not to engage in emotional conversation with their own or other’s feelings. They come from where a primary caregiver and a baby have a lack of connection and emotional support. The caregiver most likely only gives into their physical needs and ends at that but doesn’t provide the emotional comfort the baby also requires. In adult relationships, they are self-reliant and emotionally guarded and unlikely to
seek emotional comfort or understand how to comfort their partner/ 23% of adults have an avoidant attachment style. (Bakermans-Kranenburg, et al., 2009) They often distance themselves from others and assume disappointment. (Derrig, 2022).
Disorganized Attachment
This attachment style is also known as fearful-avoidant attachment. It is the most extreme and rare attachment style. People with disorganized attachment are seen to act irrational, unpredictable, or intense in their relationships. This forms through a childhood marked by fear or trauma stemming from an erratic and incoherent relationship with their primary caregiver. They are most likely to live with mental health disorders or personality disorders that prevent them from cultivating healthy relationships with others. They are most likely to crave close relationships but push others away when shown attention. They benefit most from dialectical behavioral therapy, a talk therapy helpful for people who experience very intense emotions (Derrig, 2022).
Effects on Teens: General
Self-Esteem
The transition from child to adolescent creates the need to establish an identity where they seek autonomy and independence, especially from their parents. Success within the conflict of identity vs. identity confusion creates a healthy sense of self with their thoughts and desires. Secure attachment to parents creates a defense against their emotional distress, assists with their social competence, and improves their self-esteem. Otherwise, such as considering self as incompetent can make adolescents experience feelings of rejection and loneliness often, thus affecting their self-esteem. Those with secure attachment were rated by teachers and counselors with higher self-conscience, esteem, and ego resilience. However, those with an insecure attachment score lower. Anxious and ambivalent attachments experience higher instances of depression and self-esteem compared to those with secure attachment styles as children, as they experience strong negative associations with maternal figures, and behavior across the spectrum of needy for love yet distant due to fear of rejection. Those with avoidant attachment styles are placed between secure attachment and ambivalent attachment levels of self-esteem and depression. (Jamil, et al. 2020).
Effect on Adolescent Relationships
Familial Relationships
The social-emotional factors associated with the well-being of adolescents, parental attachment relationships were prominent, parent-infant relationships being built on trust, communication, and lack of alienation to indicate secure attachments. Emotional bonds between babies and primary caregivers in early childhood likely influence the future attachment style of babies as teenagers. Adolescents with insecure attachments to parents are more likely to engage in risky
behavior, show behavioral problems, and face difficulties with emotional regulation, ex: impulsivity. However, adolescents with a secure attachment with both parents are shown to be more satisfied with life and have greater positive affect, with less stress, stronger self-esteem, and more interpersonal skills. Secure attachment is associated with emotional competence, the ability to perceive, label, express, and regulate emotion. The attachment between adolescents' fathers and mothers is equally and very related to adolescents’ mental health and overall well-being.
Peer Relationships
As children begin to spend more and more time with their friends as they grow up and less and less time with their parents. Friends begin to influence a child’s thinking and behavior, becoming the basis for peer pressure. If the child-parent relationship is more attached, peer pressure can be positive, ex: motivation to do well in school, and involvement in sports and other activities. They provide the youth with companionship, support, and a sense of belonging and develop positive social skills such as cooperation, communication, conflict resolution, and resisting negative peer pressure, suggesting that adolescents can lay the groundwork for successful adult relationships, including romance. If otherwise, peer pressure can be negative, ex: a child trying smoking, drinking, drug use, or to practice unsafe sex and other risky behaviors.
Romantic Relationships
Romance is a distinct development during puberty, but a significant amount of
adolescents contain an avoidant romantic attachment. This has been attached to age, gender, romantic engagement, and excessive internet use. Engaging in romantic relationships during adolescence is associated with the formation of personal identity, ability to adapt to change, self-esteem, social competence academic achievement and career planning. Several factors take play, such as parenting, peer influence from social compliance, and insecure attachment styles. Patterns of insecure romantic attachment develop during late adolescence, indicating lower quality romantic relationships in the future as an adult. However, knowing how to establish and maintain healthy romantic relationships can help adolescents create healthy adult relationships in the future. Healthy dating during adolescence can advance the development of social skills, learning of other people, and emotional growth.
Conclusion
The attachment style of teens between their parents, peers, and romantic relationships develops them socially and emotionally. Understanding as an adolescent your attachment style where it comes from, and how it manifests in your relationships can help you identify and therefore lead to taking control of your social life and turning your relationships for the better.
References
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