Anxious Attachment Style: Signs and Healing

Bowlby’s research found that infants labeled as having a secure attachment style were distressed when separated from their parent but managed to self-soothe and later reacted well when reunited with them. Other infants, namely those with an avoidant attachment style, did not exhibit any signs of distress when their caregiver left, despite their inner anxiety, and later ignored their parent upon their reunion.  Whereas, infants with an anxious attachment style showed extreme signs of distress that carried on even after reuniting with their parent. These three attachment styles identified by Bowlby are said to persist through adulthood. A fourth attachment style, anxious avoidant attachment style, was later discovered and is said to share some traits with both the anxious and the avoidant attachment styles.