Intermittent Attachment: A New Psychoanalytic Perspective

Abstract

This article explores the concept of intermittent attachment, a novel pattern of attachment behaviour observed in children who experience inconsistent caregiving. Intermittent attachment is characterized by a caregiver's unpredictable availability, leading to unstable emotional bonds and internal representations. This phenomenon is analysed through the lens of psychoanalytic theory, animal behaviours, integrating contemporary insights from developmental psychology and neuroscience. By examining the role of early object relations and neurobiological mechanisms in attachment, this article aims to elucidate the implications of intermittent caregiving on the development of the self and relational capacities.