1. Attachment Flashcards
what is meant by attachment?
an intense emotional relationship that is specific to two people, that endures over time, and in which prolonged separation from the partner is accompanied by stress and sorrow - Kagan
a strong emotional bond that an infant has with one or more of his/her caregivers.
it connects one person to another across time and space and each seeks closeness and feels more secure when in the presence of the attachment figure
how do we know an attachment has been formed?
attachments in infancy have the following qualities:
- the are selective (formed with specific people)
- they involve proximity seeking (efforts to be physically close or near to the attachment figure
- they provide comfort and security
- there will be distress in separation from the attachment figure (separation anxiety)
why are attachments important?
human babies are altricial which means they are born at a relatively early stage of development compared to other species (precocial), which is a consequence of bipedalism
this means babies need to form bonds with adults who will protect them and nurture them
in the short term, this is important for survival
in the long term it is important for emotional and cognitive development and for future relationships
