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Attachment Theory in Human Development
Attachment Theory in Human Development
Lacey Desper
Johnson County Community College

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Abstract
The point of this paper is to discuss Attachment Theory as it relates to Human Development;
taking care to look specifically at Adult Attachment Issues and their relationship to childhood
development theories. Looking, at Case Studies that have been completed to empirically prove
that Attachment Theory is a valid source for concern in the development of a child.

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Attachment Theory in Human Development
I would like to take some time to discuss attachment and how our treatment as a child
affects us as adults; this is a field of study in Human Development. I would like to explore why it
is important for us to understand the correlations. I will discuss two articles with studies on adult
attachment and the correlations found with childhood development; comparing the two articles
for accuracy’s and discrepancies in their research. I will then correlate the information given in
the articles to general theories of Human Development. I will explain correlations and placement
into the Life Span perspective, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model, The Social-Cultural
Context, and lastly the nature vs. nurture debate; to get a broad range of views into attachment
theory.
We have many relationships that all have their own unique relationships. Though, could
Freud of been on the right track when he started looking into parental relationships. According,
to Attachment Theory the interactions you have with your primary caregiver “special interest to
mothers” has been gathering ground and empirical evidence to support these claims. Evidence,
has gathered to support that these early relationships affect your adult attachment.
According, to Bowlby there are three styles of attachment that exist secure,
anxious/avoidant, anxious ambivalent. They are all specifically linked to the warmth and
responses from their caregivers. Essentially, a bond develops between the caregiver and the child
and the consequences of that relationship emerge in the adult because of the way the child
develops their social world. These interactions create an internal working model that contains a
person’s self-worth and personal responsiveness. This is all created by the caregiver child bond.

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Attachment Theory has been picking up ground in modern research because, empirical
evidence now shows that social, personal and emotional development are linked; and the
attachment style a child has obtained is a large predicator of behavior starting as early as
elementary school. Bowlby himself argued that the nature of relationships as children were
predicators on social relationships as an adult. That it was influence by a person’s beliefs of
themselves, which originally one solely influences by the primary caregiver.
The first study I am going to discuss is Roots of Adult Attachment: Maternal Caregiving
at 18 Months Predicts Adult Peer and Partner Attachment by Zayas, V., Mischel, W., Shoda,
Y., & Aber, J. L. (2011). The article first sums up the Attachment Theory explaining “to date
there have been no longitudinal empirical evidence for the hypothesis that early maternal
caregiving predicts adult attachment Zayas, Mischel, Shoda, & Aber, (2011).” Explaining,
that present studies show that quality of care given to an 18 month old predicts the extent
to which almost 20 years later where considered avoidant with peers and partners. Stating,
that it had not only proven current Attachment Theory but shows more than your first
attachment is affected but in others f not all attachment relationships, The direct point of
this study was to link the two fields of attachment that have seemingly split. Focus-
caregivers vs. adult attachment, Methodologies- behavioral and interview methodologies
vs. self-report measures, and lastly Level of Analysis- coherence of representations vs.
affective, cognitive and behavioral dynamics. The attempt was to find a coherent
comprehensive study on Attachment Theory in Human Development.
The results of this study found a few different sets of information to be true. 1)
Greater maternal sensitivity during the first 18 months predicted lower avoidance in adult
behavior relationships. 2) Greater maternal control predicted greater avoidant behavior in

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adult behavior relationships. 3) Less anxiety and avoidance with partners in adults with
sensitive mothers; and the opposite with maternal control.
They found no other statistically relevant correlations in Attachment Theory. They
tested and retest the correlations using different subsets of data to determine the statistical
significance of the correlations. The results indicated that it was extremely unlikely to be a
result of chance. The results statistically proved the theoretical expectations that maternal
care at 18 months meaningfully predicts Adult Attachment with partners and peers at 22
years of age. This study is the first with empirical support for Adult Attachment in
correlation to both romantic partners and peers; with special significance to anxiety and
avoidance with in adult relationships.
The article did mention a larger study with a larger sample was necessary; stating that
a more diverse sample is necessary to further develop the theory. It further mentioned
that from an Ecological perspective a different study group would yield different results. If
for instance the study group was taken for a low socioeconomic status they predict the
margins would have more extreme attachment and stressors. The results of the study
would be different, but they predict the results would inevitably be the same.
The second study I would like to look at is Adult attachment, working models, and
relationship quality in dating couples by Collins, N. L. (1992). This study set out to divulge
into attachment and its effects on dating adults; conducting a total of 3 studies. 1) a 18-item
scale measuring attachment dimensions based on Hazan and Shavers(1987) categorical
measure. 2) Explore relationships between dimensions of working models of self and
others; relating attachment in self-esteem, expressiveness, trust, belief about nature, and
styles of loving. 3) explore and expand attachment styles in the areas of ongoing dating

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relationships, for example partner matching to determine the relationship quality with
attachment issues with both members of a couple. To determine with women what extent
they were comfortable with closeness appeared to be the best predicator of a relationships
quality. For men the best predictor area was the extent to which their partner was anxious
about being abandoned or unloved.
The first study determined that the dimension scale was reliable as a source to
determine what strongly determined the component of an attachment. Concluding, that the
Adult Attachment scale allows the ability to asses dimensions and underlying attachment
styles, without losing framework that ties them together.
The second study showed evidence those differences in attachment linked patterns of
belief about self and others. Inevitably it provided more support for the Adult Attachment
Scale and this study was done simply to support study 3. Believing that analysis of the
dimensions provided was useful information for analyzing the dimensions.
The third study found that dimensions of an individual’s attachment style predicted
their partner’s evaluation of the individual themselves. Reasonable evidence was obtained
to provide the impact of the Adult Attachment Style. In regards, to the three aspects of an
ongoing relationship. Proving that people seeking relationships with their attachment was
readily responded to; demonstrating the importance of measures with dimensions sale to
understand relations to variables. This study suggests that attachment is not just “physical
proximity but it should maintain “felt security.” They initially followed in the footsteps of
Hazan and Shavers; using their terms f secure, anxious and avoidant to categorize the adult
relationships. They looked at examples siting, secure as happy, trusting, and friendship and
anxious as emotional highs and lows, jealousy, and obsessive preoccupation.

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The specific point of these studies according to Collins, N. L. (1992) is “If attachment
styles have important implications for behavior in relationship, they should have a role in
ones choice of love partners and in the quality of one’s romantic relationships.” Study 1
concluded that the evaluative scales used to measure dimensions was underlying in
attachment styles. Study 2 showed that to explore aspects of working models by assessing
beliefs about self, social world and romantic love the dimensions must be supported and
proven. Study 3 explored relationships among attachment style dimensions, partner choice
and relationship quality.
These two separate studies could not be any more separate from each other. The
study done by Zayas, Mischel, Shoda, & Aber, (2011) set out to work beyond the research
done by Collins, N. L. (1992). The study done by Zayas set out to use correlations and
longitudinal studies to give empirical evidence of Attachment Theory. The study done by
Collins set out to prove the scales and attachment types were correct. One set out to prove
a theory and did actual case study work. The other set out to prove that scales and
measurements could accurately be used. While the Collins study is necessary for the Zayas
study to be done inevitably it is Zayas study that gives us the empirical data. The two
studies support each other in the form of Collins study I believe was necessary to complete
Zayas study.
Now, to discuss Attachment Theory in correlation to the rest of Human Development;
and how this attachment falls within the broader schemes of Human Development. First I
would like to discuss the Lifespan Perspective. The Lifespan perspective is used to
categorize and conceptualize the age-related changes throughout life and divides them into
more manageable periods of time. The Lifespan Perspective categorizes the life states into

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these sections prenatal, infancy, toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood,
Adolescence, and early, middle and late adulthood. The Lifespan perspective generally is a
consideration for “average” people and does not take into account special circumstances.
This theory is a broad range of life and easily fits within Attachment Theory which is
looking into the effects of caregivers on kids at the age of 18 months; which would be
considered toddlerhood in the Lifespan Perspective and how it affects us growing up the
Zayas, Mischel, Shoda, & Aber, (2011) was specifically looking at the early adulthood stage
of the Lifespan. The Lifespan Perspective takes specific interest in categorizing physical and
cognitive developments within the lifespan; Attachment Theory fits within this category
because the difference in childhood attachment affects a child’s cognitive development.
Generally, the anxious/avoidant and anxious ambivalent areas of Attachment are considered to
have negative impacts on cognitive development and could easily knock somebody off the
“normal” cycle and off the Lifespan Perspective list.
The next theory of Human Development I would like to relate to Attachment Theory is
Bronfenbrenners Ecological Model. The Bronfenbrenners model explained life as Microsystems,
Mesosystem, Exosystem and Macrosystem. The Microsystem is yourself or the individual.
Mesosystem is your Immediate Family, Schools and Neighborhood. Ecosystems are considered
health care, work, extended family, and friends. Macrosystem is your values, laws and customs.
Lastly, there is a system called Chronosystem that is a system of changing nature in an
individual’s environment internally and externally and they illustrate themselves in the biological
and social interactions’ with other individuals.
It is easy to see how Attachment Theory falls within the Bronfenbrenners theory. The
Caregiver or Mesosystem affects the Microsystem which in turn affects the Exosystem and helps

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to create the Chronosystem. The study by Zayas, Mischel, Shoda, & Aber, (2011) eve
mentioned ecological systems in context of attachment theory. They mentioned that if they
had used a spate Ecological system the results of the study would be difference; which is
what you would expect the case to be.
The next theory that exists in the categories of Human Development is the Social -
Cultural Context. The Social-Cultural Context is a theory that explains events that are
strongly related to age and are predictable. These are called Age-Graded Influences. This is
an expectation of what should happen at what age and is looking at the norms of behavior
at an age. Age-Graded Influences are considered most prevalent during the early childhood
ages.
If you look at Attachment Theory it is easy to notice what the norms for development
is considered to be. The norm would be having a sensitive and generous caregiver which
would allow for healthy attachment as an adult. You would deviate from these norms when
incorrect caregiving is received. Once, again if a child is diagnosed as having an
anxious/avoidant and anxious ambivalent relationship with their caregiver it would be considered
that the child has deviated off the path of norms in relation to Attachment Theory. These types of
attachment would affect the decisions and the age-graded influences in how the individual reacts
or responds.
These norms become Nonnormative Events in the Lifespan View of Development. These
nonnormative events are what most research in the field of Human Development are looking into
especially within the case of Attachment Theory. They are looking at the multidirectionality or
multidimensionality of the factors. Multidirectionality shows the incline and decline of growth
through at lifespan and the divergence from the norms. Which leads to many branches or paths

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that a lifespan can take; it is these branches that become hard to observe and predict. Attachment
theory is one of these branches of multidirectionality caused by the relationship with the
caregiver. Multidimensionality I think would be the affect the caregiver has on the individual’s
ability to create attachment. After reading these theories in Human Development I hope that you
see that even the theories of Human Development are multidimensional and multidirectional.
One theory can fall into or be affect by many other aspects of development. Case studies can
easily be divergent and follow more than a few paths; which would lead one to understand the
multi-case study done by Collins, N. L. (1992). To show empirical proof that the scales and
dimensions he would be using in his case study cannot be debunked.
The last field of study I would like to discuss within Human Development in relation
to Attachment Theory is the Nature vs. Nurture debate. It is a big divider within both
sociology and psychology. It has essential split both fields of study into sides. Though there
are also scientists that conclude that they feed of each other and exist simultaneously.
The Nature side of the debate looks closely at natural, genetic or environmental
influences that affect behavior and issues within a lifespan. The Nurture debate looks
further into the caregivers or school systems for effects on individuals. The Attachment
Theory seems to fall in line more with the Nurture debate. Considering the nature of
caregivers they could also be considered nature because the caregiver is part of the child’s
environment, the child is inability to change the caregiver at a young age.
I hope this paper sheds light on attachment theory and how important the role of
caregiver is on a child’s life. Not only are their immediate ramifications for environment.
There are social, cognitive and emotional consequences for the way we interact with our

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children. Human Development is just scratching the surface on how our childhood affects
our development as adults. I am sure there is much more to come.

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Bibliography
Berk, L. E. (). Development through the lifespan (Sixth ed.). : .
Collins, N. L. (1992). Adult attachment, working models, and relationship quality in dating
couples. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58(4), 644 - 663. Retrieved April 9,
2014, from the Billington Library database.
Zayas, V., Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Aber, J. L. (2011). t Roots of Adult Attachment : Maternal
Caregiving at 18 Months Predicts Adult Peer and Partner Attachment. Social psychological
and personality science, 2(3), 289-297.