Bowlby’s Attachment Theory and Psychodynamic Therapy

What is Attachment Theory? 

Attachment theory is a psychological, evolutionary, and ethological theory focusing on the relationships between humans. This theory stems from the British psychoanalyst, John Bowlby, who believed that humans are born with a need to form a close emotional bond with their caregivers or protective guardians. This emotional bond is to occur within the first six months of their lives, and the resulting Bowlby theory of attachment is the result of how a newborn is treated in those six months. 

Why is Attachment Theory Important to Psychodynamic Therapy? 

Studies have shown that when it comes to short-term psychodynamic therapy, a conclusion can be drawn between the interactions of infants and primary attachment figures, and how these actions relate later in the infant's future attachment styles and relationship patterns. Attachment theory in counseling is used to develop a solid foundation, one that can help a client and the therapist or counselor break down unhealthy habits and realize a client’s full potential for emotional growth. 

The Four Types of Attachment? 

Secure Attachment 

When the infant feels comforted by the presence of the caregiver, and is usually the sign in Bowlby's attachment theory that there is a loving relationship established between the infant and the caregiver. A secure attachment means an individual can view themselves and others in a positive way. They can establish and maintain trusting relationships, along with having self-esteem. 

Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment 

People with an insecure attachment style such as anxious-ambivalent tend to be overly needy due to a lack of self-esteem. This type of theory of attachment may mean that your caregiver was inconsistent with raising you as an infant. A person with insecure attachment might feel embarrassed at having a constant need for love or attention, while you struggle to feel as though you can fully rely on your partner. 

Avoidant Attachment 

This type of emotional attachment is the opposite of those who are anxious-ambivalent, instead of needing to constantly crave intimacy, they are wary of potential partners and try not to have others rely on them and rely on others. An avoidant attachment style usually stems from a caregiver who was either unavailable or rejected during someone’s infancy, which forced the child to quickly rely on themselves and themselves only in order to self-soothe, building a foundation of avoiding intimacy. 

Disorganized Attachment 

This emotional attachment style stems from a deep-rooted place of fear that you are not worthy or deserving of love or closeness in an intimate relationship. In relationships, you might feel unsafe and frightened of your potential partner, a result of never being able to self-soothe as a child. This can be the result of trauma/PTSD from early childhood, usually if one of your primary caregivers has had unresolved trauma themselves. 

Why Should You Learn about Attachment Theory in Counseling? 

When it comes to learning about coping mechanisms and developing strategies to break unhealthy cycles, Bowlby’s attachment theory is an excellent resource. It allows you and your clients to explore their personal history and locate specific sources of childhood emotional development or lack of emotional development which should have occurred during childhood. Bowlby claimed that emotional attachment styles are very difficult to get rid of, but clinical counseling might be able to help reduce the impact they have on your day-to-day life, especially when forming healthy relationships.