Emotional Bonding In Social Relationships

The attachment between children and there mothers, known as an emotional bond is very significant as it provides a basis for the social relationships the child will have as they mature. The strength of the bond between a mother and her child can be classified into one of four categories as devised by developmental researchers. I will define each of the four bonds, following with a discussion of scenario one which illustrates a secure bond and concluding with a discussion of scenario two which is an example of an insecure ambivalent bond. I will support the examples by citing traits that define them as a specific type of emotional bonding.

The particular type of attachment a child has with its mother can be determined through an experiment known as the Strange Test. The test yields one a number of different reactions which demonstrate the type of attachment pattern a child has with its mother. The first attachment is a secure attachment. A secure attachment is indicated by a child that uses their mother as a home base, meaning the child is comfortable provided their mother is present and distressed why she is gone. The second attachment is indicated by indifference to the mother's presence, little to no distress when she is gone and avoidance when she returns. …show more content…
However, when the mother returns the child lashes out with hitting and kicking indicative of anger. This attachment pattern is known as ambivalent attachment. The final attachment pattern is known as the disorganized-disoriented pattern. This pattern is more unpredictable than the others and is marked by inconsistent and contradicting