Attachment Theory and The Circle of Security
- Heidi Reeves
- Jul 6, 2020
- 2 min read
Attachment is considered to be what the infant or child should develop toward the parent or significant adult. Bonding is considered what the parent or significant adult develops toward an infant or child.
Attachment is not only significant to the survival of infants, but it continues to play an important role in the emotional and cognitive development of children. Depending on how a parent or significant adult responds to the child, the child may develop a secure attachment or one of the types of insecure attachment.
Circle of Security is an approach to parenting that supports secure attachment, and helps to turn around insecure attachment. https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/
You may have noticed the "circle" in your own child as they start to move about and explore the world, but then come back to you to touch base before venturing out again. For instance, at StrongStart or in a park. (Image below)
I have posted some information on Attachment Theory and Circle of Security.
From Wikipedia: "Attachment Theory is a psychological, evolutionary and ethological theory concerning relationships between humans. The most important tenet is that young children need to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for normal social and emotional development. The theory was formulated by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby.[1]
Within attachment theory, infant behaviour associated with attachment is primarily the seeking of proximity to an attachment figure in stressful situations. Infants become attached to adults who are sensitive and responsive in social interactions with them, and who remain as consistent caregivers for some months during the period from about six months to two years of age. During the latter part of this period, children begin to use attachment figures (familiar people) as a secure base to explore from and return to. Parental responses lead to the development of patterns of attachment; these, in turn, lead to internal working models which will guide the individual's feelings, thoughts and expectations in later relationships.[2] Separation anxiety or grief following the loss of an attachment figure is considered to be a normal and adaptive response for an attached infant. These behaviours may have evolved because they increase the probability of survival of the child.[3]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_theory
These two files are 2-page pdfs from Circle of Security:
This is their book for parents:
These are some quick visuals of the circle.
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