Section 2.5 Attachment theories

2. Formation of attachments in infancy and beyond

An infant’s attachment behaviours can attract the caregiver’s attention in a positive way (e.g. cooing, smiling and reaching out), as well as in the form of protest behaviours (e.g. crying and fretting). All these behaviours give strong signals, which lead caregivers to approach and respond to the needs of the baby. The adults who respond to these attachment behaviours become highly significant and, as a result, selective attachments begin to form from birth and early infancy (Messages, 2016).

A physically and emotionally available mother spends a lot of time cuddling and gazing at her baby, who responds by snuggling, babbling and smiling. This creates a reciprocal positive feedback loop of pleasure and satisfaction the ‘maternal-infant dance’ from which attachment develops (Schofield & Beek, 2014).