Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and extended by Mary Ainsworth, proposes that early relationships with caregivers create internal working models, templates for connection that shape how people relate to others across their lives.
Secure attachment develops when caregivers are consistently responsive and available. It produces adults who are comfortable with closeness and autonomy, able to depend on others and allow others to depend on them, and able to recover from conflict without lasting damage.
Anxious attachment develops when caregiving is inconsistent, present and responsive sometimes, unavailable at others. The child learns to escalate attachment behavior to maintain proximity. Adults with anxious attachment tend toward hypervigilance in relationships, reassurance-seeking, and fear of abandonment.
Avoidant attachment develops when caregivers are consistently unresponsive to emotional needs. The child learns to suppress attachment needs to maintain proximity without rejection. Adults with avoidant attachment tend to value independence, become uncomfortable with closeness, and minimize emotional needs.
Disorganized attachment develops in contexts of fear and inconsistency, particularly where the caregiver is also the source of threat. It produces contradictory impulses toward and away from connection and is associated with histories of trauma.