A one year old cautiously toddles over and attempts to pet a cat. As the child reaches down to pet the cat, the cat playfully swipes at the child. This scares the child and the child’s reaction is to run to his mom clinging onto her and crying. What characteristic of John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory is this child demonstrating? a. Proximity Maintenance b. Safe Haven c. Secure Base d. Separation Distress
The child has an attachment style with the mother where he feels comfortable running to her because he knows that she represents a "safe haven". John Bowlby conducted extensive research on the subject of children and attachment. Bowlby concluded that early childhood experiences have a profound influence on development and behavior across the life span. His philosophy was that early attachment styles are established in childhood through the relationship between the infant and the caregiver. Bowlby identified four characteristics of attachment style: Proximity Maintenance, the desire to be close to people we are bonded or attached to; Safe Haven, the act of returning to the attachment source f
