Attachment Theory: Key Ideas Beginning in infancy and continuing throughout the lifespan, humans have an innate need to form attachments with others. The interaction children have with caregivers leads to the development of internal working models of self and others that influence communication.Working models fall along a positive-negative continuum. model of self: the degree to which a child develops an internalized sense of self-worth that is not dependent on external validation model of others: the degree to which a child expects others to be supportive and accepting (rather than rejecting)Working models are related to a person’s attachment stylesAttachment styles are coherent patters of emotion and social behavior that occur in close relationships. These styles first develop in childhood but can be modified throughout the lifespan.Caregiver Communication Patterns Secure: “goodness of fit” in terms of stimulation, responsive to basic needs, consistently caring Avoidant: over- or under-stimulated, sometimes neglected Anxious-Ambivalent: inconsistent response patterns, parent is preoccupied or stressedChildren’s Attachment Styles Secure: around 70% of children (positive models of self and others) Avoidant: around 20% of children (negative models of others) Anxious-Ambivalent: around 10% of children (negative models of self)Adult Attachment StylesSECURE: The Prosocial Style Self-sufficient and comfortable with intimacy compromise and problem-solving during conflict highest level of maintenance behavior tend to be pleasant, self-disclosure, and skilled communicators Reinforcement Effect: Because secures are confident and expressive, people react to them positively, reinforcing positive models of self and othersPREOCCUPIED: The Emotional Style overly involved and dependent want excessive intimacy and worry that partners do not care enough for them demanding, nagging conflict behavior express negative emotion with aggression or passive aggression overly disclosive and overly sensitive  Reinforcement Effect: By clinging to their partners and escalating intimacy quickly, they push partners away, thereby reinforcing that they are unworthy of loveFEARFUL: The Hesitant Style fearful of intimacy (they have often been hurt in the past and/or fear rejection)+ Self - Self- others+ othersFearfulDis-missivePre- occupiedSecureI'm ok, you okI'm not ok, you okI'm ok, you not okI'm not ok, you not ok communication is often passive, guarded, and anxious trouble expressing emotions and self-disclosing relatively low levels of maintenance and nonverbal pleasantness Reinforcement Effect: By avoiding taking risks, they keep themselves from developing the kind ofclose, positive relationship that will help them feel better about themselves and othersDISMISSIVE: The Detached Style counterdependent (self-sufficient to the point of pushing others away) relationships seen as nonessential; personal goals are a higher priority relatively low levels of relational maintenance, disclosure, and emotional expression withdrawing conflict style Reinforcement Effect: By learning to get along on their own, they reinforce the idea that they do not need other people to be