Attachment formation. The foundations of personality are laid in the early years of life. J. Bowlby

The making and breaking of affectional bonds Children once mobile and from around 8 months old, use mother as a safe base from which to explore the world. When conditions are favourable, they move away from mum and explore around them and then return. If mum is absent, these excursions are less evident or even cease. The way a particular infant behaves with and without mum at home , and with and without mum in an unfamiliar environment have much in common.. Infants are therefore classified into 5 groups considering A) How much or little they explore in different situations. B. How they treat mum when she is present, departs and returns. 1. Exploratory behaviour in the infant varies with situation. If mum is present he uses her as a base, notes her whereabouts, and exchanges glances with her. From time to time he returns to her , enjoys contact with her. When she returns after a brief absence, he greets her warmly. 2. These children are like the ones in the first group. The difference is that they explore outside home than at home. They are ambivalent towards the mum. If she ignores the infant , he becomes demanding. However, he might ignore or avoid her on return. He can also enjoy his time with mum sometimes. 3. Infant explodes actively whether mother is present or not in any environment, home or not. This child has little to do with mother and is not interested in being picked up by her. If be is left by mum in unfamiliar environment, he might seek and avoid her. 4. Inconsistency in infants behaviour. They appear briefly independent,then markedly anxious regarding the whereabouts of mum. The infants are ambivalent about contact with mum ,seeking it but not enjoying it, and even strongly resisting it. They both ignore mother's proximity and contact in unfamiliar environment. 5. These infants are passive both at home and in an unfamiliar environment. They do not explore and show auto-erotic behaviour. They are both anxious about mum's absence, but are markedly markedly ambivalent towards her when she returns. The last 2 groups of children are least likely to develop stable reliance and trust in others. The first group of children are likely to develop a stable Self-reliance combined with trust in others. They move freely and confidently between a busy interest in exploring their environment, and the people and things in it, and keeping in intimate touch with mum. They show less self-reliance than the 2 and 3 groups, and are more affected by mother's absence outside home. Yet, they have cheerful and confident and affectionate.