According to psychology, attachment is an intense and lasting emotional bond.
In order to know the meaning of the term attachment , it is interesting to discover, first of all, its etymological origin. In this case, it can be said that it is a word that derives from Latin and is the result of the sum of two different parts:
-The prefix ad- , which can be translated as "towards."
-The verb picare , which is synonymous with "paste" or "unite."
What is attachment
The concept of attachment is used to name the affection , devotion or esteem that is felt or shown towards a person or thing. This is an idea that has been addressed by psychology , philosophy and religion .
For psychologists, attachment is an emotional bond that extends over time and is intense . Closeness to the other person provides protection and security : that is why an individual, when they feel threatened or distressed, tends to look for the person to whom they are attached.
It is important to mention that, beyond the feeling, attachment can be observed through the behavior adopted. A child with attachment to his mother will be with her all the time and will seek her hug .
Attachment parenting helps the child develop a secure and independent personality.
A theory of psychology
The attachment bond between a child and his parents, in fact, leads the child to feel distress when physically separated from his parents. That is why it is common for him to cry when left in the care of another person.
The so-called attachment theory is responsible for analyzing the dynamics of these bonds between human beings . Experts say that, for babies, forging an attachment relationship with their parents or caregivers is essential for their subsequent emotional and social development. Under this precept, attachment parenting emerged, a trend that promotes the establishment of a strong attachment bond between children and their parents so that children develop an independent and secure personality.
Attachment according to Bowlby
It must be established that the first psychologist to talk about attachment as such was John Bowlby , who established two different types of attachment:
– Secure attachment , which is characterized because parents maintain expressions and actions of affection at all times, often as a way to satisfy the children's demands.
– Insecure attachment . This is what takes place when there are deficiencies on the part of the parents when it comes to caring for their children. Within this type of attachment, three variants can be found: ambivalent , in which the child has a bad concept of himself and a good opinion of others; the avoidant , in which the minor trusts himself but not the rest; and the disorganized . The latter is characterized because the child has a bad concept of both himself and others.
Among the main causes that can cause a lack of attachment between minors and children and vice versa are some like these:
-More or less long family separations.
-The vital experiences that parents live at a given time.
-The difficult character of adults or minors.
The concept in Buddhism
For Buddhists , attachment (known by the Sanskrit term upadana ) and desire ( trisna ) are the causes of suffering .
According to Buddhism, to reach the state of fulfillment called nirvana , it is necessary not to cling to anything.