Early Life
Mary Ainsworth was born in Glendale, Ohio.
She attended the University of Toronto in the honors psychology program.
The Strange Situation Assessment
In 1950, she married Leonard Ainsworth and moved to London.
JHU Sheridan Libraries/Gado Archive Photos/Getty Images
After leaving this position, she spent time researching mother-child interactions in Uganda.
After returning to the U.S., Ainsworth took a position at John Hopkins University.
She divorced in 1960 and underwent therapy that contributed to her interest inpsychoanalytic theory.
In addition to Ainsworth’s three styles, other researchers identified a fourth style known as disorganized-insecure attachment.
While these styles change with time and experience, researchers believe that childhood attachment styles influence adult romantic attachments.
Adults with a secure romantic attachment style tend to have lasting relationships and believe love is enduring.
Those with aninsecure romantic attachment stylebelieve that love is more temporary.
Takeaway
Mary Ainsworth was a significant figure in the field of developmental psychology.
Her work also inspired further exploration of how early relationships continue to shape interpersonal attachments throughout life.
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Duschinsky R.The emergence of the disorganized/disoriented (D) attachment classification, 1979-1982.Hist Psychol.
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