ATTACHMENT THEORY

ATTACHMENT THEORY AND GENDER IDENTITY

RELATIONSHIPS

WHAT IS ATTCHMENT THEORY?

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

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

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

TYPES OF ATTACHMENT

Secure attachment (distressed when separated and joy when reunited)

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

Avoidant-insecure attachment(Avoiding emotional bounding)

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

The stages of attachment in a relationship

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

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

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

Theories on gender identity

• 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