Concept and Nature of Attachment - Attachment and Anxiety

Infants feel safe with adults they know. When babies get close to these adults, they can develop two types of worries: stranger anxiety and separation anxiety.

Stranger Anxiety

• When a baby sees a new face, which looks very different from the ones he knows, he feels scared. The baby runs to his mother or another familiar person for comfort.

Separation Anxiety

• When the person caring for the baby leaves the room, the baby cries because he feels worried and alone. This feeling is called separation anxiety.
• In America, babies spend half of their time away from their mothers. They may sleep alone or with a babysitter, as many mothers go to work. American babies learn to be alone and to get comfort from other objects or pets.

• American children sometimes get strongly attached to furry animals, blankets, or toys when alone.
• Indian children also face separation anxiety, especially when their mothers go to work and leave them with family at home.
• Sometimes, the child wants the mother more than toys or gifts. If the mother cannot stay, family members offer reasons to help the child feel better, such as saying she is working so she won’t get in trouble.

• Children can get deeply attached to objects like toys or pets if they like them a lot or if those objects replace someone they care about.
• Losing a favorite toy can make a child very sad until a similar toy is found.
• Some children even become attached to imaginary people or things.

• Children form attachments based on how much care and attention adults give—not just giving food and water.
• Schaffer and Emersson say infants naturally want to be close to others in many ways. Every child is a little different, and strong attachment can depend on their traits and experiences.
• Ainsworth and Bell found that babies whose mothers do not respond quickly are fussier and cry more as they grow.
• Klaus and his team found that if babies are separated from their mothers too early, their attachment may not grow well.

A four-year-old’s mother goes to work. When the child cries, grandparents explain that she works to buy things or to stay out of trouble. The child prefers having his mother with him, showing strong attachment to her instead of to toys or gifts.

• Babies develop strong bonds with people who care for them.
• Stranger anxiety happens when they see unknown faces.
• Separation anxiety starts when their caregiver leaves them.
• Attachment can also be to toys, pets, or imaginary objects.
• How adults respond affects how children feel and behave.