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“Attachment is the biological need for relationships that all human beings are born with. It is especially important in the early years of life because it shapes the ways our brains and bodies handle emotions.” -Suzanne Zeedyk
What is Attachment?
What is Attachment?
Attachment is defined as a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings” (Bowlby, 1969, P. 194), and may be considered interchangeable with concepts such as “affectional bond” and “emotional bond.”
A human being’s first attachment is often established during infancy with the primary caregiver; however, it must be noted that attachment is not unique to infant-caregiver relationships, but may also be present in other forms of social relationships.
Attachments of various kinds are formed through the repeated act of “attachment behaviors” or “attachment transactions,” a continuing process of seeking and maintaining a certain level of proximity to another specified individual (Bowlby, 1969).
Because caregivers vary in their levels of sensitivity and responsiveness, not all infants attach to caregivers in the same way.
The 4 S's of Attachment
The 4 S's of Attachment
In the book The Whole Brain Child, Dan Siegel a key theorist in attachment developed a useful framework for understanding key principles behind the attachment process. This framework consists of the 4 S's:
Seen- more than being seen visually, this is about a child knowing they are perceived deeply and empathetically, that we see into their mind
Safe- helping build a sense of safety by avoiding actions and responses that might frighten or hurt the child
Soothed- making sure we can regulate children when they are experiencing difficult emotions and stressful situations, enabling them to calm down
Secure- being seen, feeling safe, and being soothed helps to establish a sense of feeling secure so that children can develop an internalised sense of self and personal well-being which in turn empowers them to explore and learn about the world
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