ATTACHMENT THEORY

ATTACHMENT THEORY AND GENDER IDENTITY

WHAT IS ATTCHMENT THEORY?

RELATIONSHIPS

It studies how our relationships with other people determine the kind of person we become.

The attachment theory is a psychological approach that connects the emotional bonds and relationships of people that influence our personality building.

Attachment, then, is a special emotional relationship that involves an exchange of comfort, care and pleasure.

Avoidant-insecure attachment(Avoiding emotional bounding)

Secure attachment (distressed when separated and joy when reunited)

Ambivalent-insecure attachment (distressed when the bounded person leaves)

Disorganized attachment(Partners may serve as both a source of comfort and fear)

TYPES OF ATTACHMENT

- The Deep Attachment Stage: 7 years and beyond. The couple now feels secure in their relationship.

- The crisis stage: From 5 to 7 years. Couples start to distance and drift apart and they either continue drifting or come back together.

- The Early Attachment Stage: 1 to 5 years. In this stage memories of the relationship have been integrated and the couple has attained a solid connection.

- The Euphoric Stage: the first year. You have only eyes and ears for your partner.

The stages of attachment in a relationship

• Biological: The psychological and behavioural differences are explained through genes’ legacy and sex hormones and aim at reproduction.

• Social: Gender differences are explained through the different treatment boys and girls receive from people in their lives and the gender stereotypes prevailing in society.

• Cognitive:
• Gender consistency stages:
•  Gender identity
•  Gender stability
•  Gender consistency
• Gender schemas theory
• The attitudinal pathway model indicates that gender attitudes predict behaviours.

Approaches

Theories on gender identity