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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–3Cite as

Effect on Attachment

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Synonyms

Attachment opportunity; Attachment security; Caregiving; Quality of attachment

Definition

Attachment is the strong, affectionate bond we feel for individuals who provide pleasure when we interact with them and comfort by their propinquity when under stress.

Introduction

Attachment is something that many creatures develop with those that provide care for them. Typically, infants form attachments by the second half of their first year of life. Infants will form an attachment to individuals that respond to their needs. These needs can be items such as food and shelter, or they can be more emotional as in providing comfort when we are in a stressful situation. While most infants will form an attachment with their parents, this may not always be the case.

Attachment Based on Food or Touch

It was thought by behaviorists that a mother would satisfy an infant’s hunger, which was a primary drive, and this is what leads to attachment. Because of this feeding, the infant would prefer the...

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References

  • Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment. Eribaum: Hills-dale.

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  • Spitz, R. A., & Wolf, K. M. (1946). Anaclitic depression; an inquiry into the genesis of psychiatric conditions in early childhood, II. The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 2, 313–342.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Carolina – Beaufort, Bluffton, SC, USA

    Jody Thompson

Authors
  1. Jody Thompson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jody Thompson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of South Carolina - Beaufort, Bluffton, SC, USA

    Carey Fitzgerald

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

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Thompson, J. (2017). Effect on Attachment. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2436-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2436-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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