Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books Saylor.org
Figure 6.8 Proportion of Children With Different Attachment Styles
The graph shows the approximate proportion of children who have each of the four attachment styles. These
proportions are fairly constant across cultures.
You might wonder whether differences in attachment style are determined more by the child
(nature) or more by the parents (nurture). Most developmental psychologists believe that
socialization is primary, arguing that a child becomes securely attached when the mother is
available and able to meet the needs of the child in a responsive and appropriate manner, but that
the insecure styles occur when the mother is insensitive and responds inconsistently to the child’s