What is the attachment theory by Bowlby?

This theory emphasizes on the importance of the early relationship between mother and baby known as bonding he stated that mother love in childhood was just as important for mental health as vitamins and minerals are for physical health.  As adults when we meet people and develop friendships/relationships the early experience of secure and safe attachments or anxious and insecure attachments will have a huge effect on the way in which we trust people and bond with them.

There are four basic characteristics of attachment;

A secure base – Another person who meets their needs and is defiantly and reliably there for them.

A haven – A safe and secure place where you are protected from harm or danger, a reliable foundation.

Proximity maintenance – The need to be near those who we are emotionally attached too.

Separation distress – The anxiety and discomfort felt when someone you are emotionally attached to dies or leaves.

When Jackie married into a violent relationship and moved overseas to an army base in Germany her whole environment changed, she no longer had a haven or secure base to return to for comfort when distressed, and the huge proximity between her and her home/family would have caused Jackie to experience separation distress.  I feel this experience had a big impact on her life, as this is when she first started to drink heavily.  The anxiety and stress of it all caused her to feel more lonely, depressed and isolated leading her to drink more for self-comforting/soothing reasons resulting in her becoming alcohol dependent.