The Impact of Attachment Relationships Attachment theory pertains to the developmental changes that a child and its parents or surrogate figures will go through during infancy and the years beyond. The attachment theory can also be applied to other affectional bonds or relationships that one will create throughout their life cycle (Ainsworth, 1989). This paper discusses the different types of attachment relationships and how attachment relationships that a person makes with his or her parents at a young age impact other attachments that are made later in life. Friendship, romantic, and marital attachments are the different types of attachments made later in a persons life that this paper will focus on. Patterns of Attachment Attachment is defined as a reciprocal, enduring emotional tie between infant and caregiver. The infant and the caregiver both contribute to the relationship quality (Papalia & Feldman, 2011). There are currently four main patterns of attachment. Mary Ainsworth and her associates identified three of the four patterns of attachment that are currently used to describe the different coping responses that infants have with their parents or caregivers (Barnett & Vondra, 1999). The three patterns of attachment that Ainsworth identified are secure, avoidant, and ambivalent (Barnett & Vondra, 1999). The fourth pattern of attachment is identified as disorganized-disoriented attachment (Main & Solomon, 1986). In order to understand the impact that attachment relationships made during childhood have on the attachment relationships that one makes later in life it is important to have an in-depth understanding of the four main attachment patterns. The secure attachment pattern (Type B) that Ainsworth identified is the most common pattern of attachment; sixty to seventy percent of North American babies that are considered low-risk fall into this category (Barnett & Vondra, 1999). A baby with a secure attachment pattern can quickly and effectively find comfort from a caregiver when faced with a stressful situation. These babies also demonstrate flexibility and resiliency when they are put in a stressful situation. A secure attachment is the result of responsive caregiving and is indicative of a well-adjusted child. (Papalia & Feldman, 2011). Ainsworth identified two different patterns that reflect insecure attachment. The first was identified as avoidant attachment (Type A), which is the second most common attachment pattern; fifteen to twenty-five low-risk North American babies are apart of this category (Barnett & Vondra, 1999). A baby with an avoidant attachment pattern is one that does not usually cry when separated from the caregiver and avoids contact with the caregiver when he/she returns. These babies also tend not to show positive or negative emotions. Avoidant attachment is typically the result of an intrusive caregiving style. This attachment style creates a compulsively self reliant, manipulative, and controlling child (Papalia & Feldman, 2011). The last attachment pattern that Ainsworth identified was the ambivalent attachment (Type C). This attachment pattern is also referred to as a resistant or preoccupied attachment pattern. Ten to fifteen percent of low-risk North American babies fall into this attachment category (Barnett & Vondra, 1999). A baby with this type of attachment pattern would become very anxious before the primary caregiver leaves, becomes upset while the caregiver is gone, and then both seeks and resists the caregiver once he or she returns. Ambivalent babies can also be very difficult to deal with and are hard to comfort. Infants with ambivalent attachment patterns tend to grow up and show signs of low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety (Papalia & Feldman, 2011). Main and Solomon identified the fourth attachment pattern, disorganized-disoriented attachment (1986). This attachment p