Attachment theory, which was developed by John Bowlby in 1969, is the basis of the

explanation of the parent-child relationship and its impact on the socioemotional development of
children. Bowlby said that attachment is a natural behavioral system that has been developed to
ensure the survival and protection of the offspring. The main idea of this theory is the attachment
behavioral system that makes infants seek their caregivers when they are distressed or
threatened. Thus, the feelings of security and safety are promoted. Mary Ainsworth, who was a
follower of Bowlby's work, enhanced his work through her own research on attachment patterns.
Through the use of the Strange Situation procedure, Ainsworth identified three primary
attachment styles. The three types of insecure attachment are secure, insecure-avoidant, and
insecure-anxious/ambivalent. These attachment styles are the way the child perceives the
caregiver-child relationship and the child's internal working model of themselves and others.
Secure attachment is when the caregivers of the child always respond to their needs in a sensitive
and responsive way, and thus, the child feels trusted and confident. Children with secure
attachment styles show better emotional regulation, social competence, and resilience in the face
of adversity. They are more prone to discovering their surroundings and to create good
relationships with others.