Attachment theory

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/attachment-theory

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the theoretical originator?John Bowlby, a British psychiatrist and psychoanalyst
2. What is the empirical validation?Mary Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation Procedure' identified key attachment styles
3. Why do babies want to stay close to their caregivers?Babies have a built‑in system that makes them seek their caregiver when they feel scared or need help. This keeps them safe and lets them learn about their surroundings.
4. What makes a child feel secure and ready to explore?When a caregiver is always there, listens, and comforts the baby, the child feels safe. That feeling lets the child explore confidently and return to the caregiver when needed.

Ethology: The scientific study of animal behavior, particularly in natural environments.
Internal Working Model: A cognitive framework representing one's own worth and the reliability of others in relationships.
Attachment Behavioral System: An innate system motivating infants to seek proximity to caregivers for safety and security.