Exploring Adult Attachment Styles: What Is Ambivalent Attachment?
What is ambivalent attachment?
Many people have heard of attachment styles when it comes to how we relate to each other in the world.
Our attachment styles formed in early childhood set the stage for responding to our environment as adults. People with ambivalent attachment styles have different behavior patterns than people with other attachment styles.
This article takes an in-depth look at the ambivalent attachment style related to children and adults. We'll provide an ambivalent attachment definition and dive into the concepts of insecure ambivalent attachment and anxious ambivalent attachment. Let's start with the ambivalent attachment definition.
An Overview Of Attachment Styles
The Ainsworth study of attachment styles was done with the mother in the primary caregivers' role in this case. Infants who develop an insecure attachment style do so due to neglect or an inadequate response to the infant child's needs.
Ambivalent Attachment Style Basics
The ambivalent attachment style falls directly in-between the other two styles as someone suffering from the ambivalent attachment style has received intermittent support and nurturing in infancy. On the other hand, they cannot detach from their primary caregiver (source of affection, etc.), which often leaves them in an internal tug of war resulting from being in this ambivalent state.
Children with ambivalent attachment styles may develop behavior patterns that are clingy toward the primary caregiver. The ambivalent child reaches out excessively to the primary caregiver. When the caregiver eventually responds, the child then rejects the caregiver - and the cycle repeats. People who develop ambivalent attachment styles as children often carry these styles with them into adulthood.
Ambivalent Attachment In Adults
Adults with the ambivalent attachment style can experience turmoil in their lives due to their response to caregivers, partners, and other intimate connections. Like the ambivalent child, the ambivalent adult may consistently seek attention from the desired person. Once they get the attention they crave, - reject the person and then repeat the process. This is not a healthy coping style, and adults who behave have far more serious consequences in their lives than children who have this attachment style.
Issues with attention-seeking followed by indifferent behavior can cause ongoing issues in the ambivalent adult's life that place them on a never-ending cycle of ending jobs and relationships. This never-ending pattern can go on indefinitely without professional intervention. Adults who are experiencing repeated negative results should seek support from a licensed professional. A licensed professional therapist can help an ambivalent adult learn to recognize their negative behavior patterns to prevent repeating them in the future.
Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment
Ambivalent attachment in adults develops from a child having their needs met intermittently in early childhood. People who develop an anxious ambivalent attachment style in childhood feel like they have to cling to their primary caregivers to meet their needs.
The anxious ambivalent attachment style shows up in adulthood when adults behave in the same way toward their romantic partners as they did in childhood with their caregiver. For example, a husband or wife may repeatedly request and then demand that their spouse spend more time with them. However, if their partner only responds to their request for quality time intermittently, they may respond in a cold fashion when their request for attention is finally honored.
Insecure-Ambivalent Attachment
This attachment style is also referred to as insecure resistance and involves children developing an ambivalent attachment to their primary caregiver. According to the Ainsworth theory of attachment - the insecure ambivalent child behaves in a clingy fashion. However, the child refuses or rejects the caregiver when they offer comfort or support.
Simultaneously, the child cannot seek comfort in their caregiver offering support - as insecure attachment. The worst part is that they are also unable to emotionally attach - which sets them up for a vicious cycle of emotional turmoil. According to the Ainsworth theory, this attachment method develops due to an inconsistent response by the primary caregiver to soothing the child's needs during infancy.
Online Therapy Options
Online therapy provides a convenient, affordable option that connects mental health seekers with board-certified and licensed professional therapists.
These highly educated and trained professionals are available online in real-time to provide therapeutic support to clients who have issues with attachment. Online therapists also support mental health clients with other ongoing chronic mental health issues like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other chronic issues. Mental health clients who suffer from these chronic mental health issues can consult with therapists online via desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices.
Online Therapy Treatments
Today's online therapists provide innovative treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy to help people with attachment issues learn new healthier behaviors. Online therapists provide an affordable and easy-to-use solution for busy, homebound, or living in a rural area.
Online therapy treatments include a combination of talk therapy, medication management referrals, and supplemental resources for therapy support. Common talk therapy treatments for attachment disorder issues are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy (ERP). Cognitive-behavior therapy focuses on teaching individuals how to learn new social behaviors and apply them to their lifestyle. This brain-based therapy functions under the principles of maladaptive beliefs, rewards, and punishment.
In the case of attachment theory for negative attachments, a cognitive behavior therapist will likely apply techniques to let you know that your original beliefs about the amount of support available to you in the world no longer apply. That idea negates the original idea that there isn't any support available to you in the world - at least anymore.
Getting started with online therapy is easy. The first thing you need to do is register for an account on a leading therapy platform like BetterHelp.com. It is completely up to you to decide if you want to use your real name or a nickname on the platform. The only identifying information required is an email address for receiving notifications of your therapy appointments, logging in to the therapy platform, and reviewing online sessions.
Final Thoughts
If you or a loved one is suffering from issues related to ambivalent attachment, you're not alone. The good news is - there are options for getting help. Online therapists provide talk therapy treatments online, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, that help people develop healthier behaviors.
Ambivalent attachment is not a choice; this attachment style is developed due to engagement in early childhood. If you're ready to take the next step and start therapy - contact a BetterHelp.com professional to start today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What is ambivalent attachment?
Ambivalent attachment is a type of attachment that is identified by constantly looking for proof of love or affection in a relationship, even if that relationship has historically been sound. Those exhibiting this attachment style are typically more distrustful of others and often seek to verify their relationships. However, this often results in their efforts backfiring and the loss of a relationship.
Is ambivalent attachment the same as anxious attachment?
Typically, ambivalent attachment and anxious attachment are terms used interchangeably. This attachment style, commonly known as anxious-ambivalent, results in anxiousness forming from distrust or a lack of validation in a relationship. Under attachment theory, the anxious attachment can have different variations but can certainly be put in the same category as an ambivalent attachment.
What are the 4 types of attachment styles?
People who fall into the anxious-preoccupied category are qualified as having an insecure attachment style and often have pessimistic or paranoid views of their relationship. Should a person have a dismissive-avoidant style, also known as avoidant attachment, they are usually wary of relationships. They crave an overabundance of independence, specifically away from a romantic partner. Finally, the fearful-avoidant attachment style is known as a disorganized attachment. People living with this style find themselves in chaotic relationships where they seem to show attachment one day but are cold the next.
How do you help someone with ambivalent attachment?
The ambivalent attachment style, as discussed, is a style of attachment where a person seeks out love or affection from a partner but seems ambivalent when their partner tries. Helping someone with an ambivalent attachment style can be done through therapy and working closely to identify the root cause of their attachment style.
How do you know if you have attachment issues?
Under attachment theory, there are two main umbrella categories for attachment types. Namely, difficulty forming emotional bonds with others, anxiety in relationships, behavioral difficulties, consistent relationship trouble, and more. Identifying if you have a disorganized attachment style can be the first step toward building healthier relationships.
How do you fix attachment issues?
The first step towards fixing attachment issues is to identify what style of attachment is exhibited. Studying attachment theory can educate anyone on the common causes of each style of attachment and the associated attachment patterns.
What causes insecure ambivalent attachment?
An ambivalent attachment style is usually associated with inconsistent primary care when that person was an infant. Under attachment theory, sometimes this child’s needs were met, and other times, they were either ignored or not met. The avoidant attachment then emerges as a byproduct of ambivalent attachment, resulting from a child believing they are unworthy or unacceptable.
Changing one’s style of attachment is difficult but certainly possible. To overcome an ambivalent attachment style or unhealthy attachment pattern, learn the root cause of your insecure attachment. More often than not, your current attachment pattern is a reflection of something experienced in your childhood.
What is the impact of ambivalent attachment on one's development?
What is the impact of ambivalent attachment on one's relationships?
What parenting style might cause ambivalent attachment?
What behaviors are seen in people with ambivalent attachment?
How is ambivalent attachment managed?
Can this type of attachment be resolved for the better?
How can writing about your ambivalent behavior help resolve your issues?
How can I help my ambivalent child as a parent?
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