10-11: Attachment

Question 1

Sensitive and responsive caregiving according to Ainsworth

Answer 1

4 qualities - sensitive, responsive, accepting, available. Infant develops positive expectations of mother’s availability and responsiveness -> secure attachment

Question 2

Parents’ insightfulness

Answer 2

Positive insightfulness - ability of parent to see situations from child’s POV associated with secure attachment. Also one-sided or disengaged.

Question 3

Predictors of insecure attachment

Answer 3

Intrusive or rejecting caregivers -> avoidant (A). Unaffectionate or inconsistent caregivers -> Ambivalent/resistant (C)

Question 4

Predictors of disorganized attachment

Answer 4

Abuse, neglect -> disorganized as caregiver is source of fear. Maternal depression -> insecure or disorganized as parents are not responsive.

Question 5

Bronfenbrenner and attachment

Answer 5

Mother-child attachment can be influenced by things like father’s depression, marital satisfaction. Contextual factors like food shortage, neighborhood, domestic abuse, alcohol/drugs. There are things that can buffer these.

Question 6

Trans-generational transmission and attachment

Answer 6

Parents tend to recreate Internal Working Model of attachment relations that they experienced early in life. Affects their own parental style. Significant correlation between parents’ and infant’s attachment classification

Question 7

Adult Attachment Interview

Answer 7

Because difficult to do strange situation over generations. Important to examine the coherency of the interviewee.

Question 8

Earned security

Answer 8

Many ways in which children ca develop positive expectations even if they didn’t have great relationships with parents. Other attachments such as other caregivers, friends, romantic relationships, therapy.

Question 9

Temperament vs Attachment

Answer 9

Both involved in child development. No temperament traits however that determine what type of attachment classification. Some evidence for risk alleles leading to disorganized attachment but effects small and don’t always replicate.

Question 10

Stability of attachment

Answer 10

Attachment classifications are relatively stable over time. When change happens, insecure/disorganized -> secure. Parents may be better at reading children over time. Goal corrected. Improvements in family circumstances. Secure attachment leads to positive outcomes even if parent/family condition gets worse. For insecure, improved leads to better outcomes and worsening turns to worsened outcomes.

Question 11

Attachment and cognitive development

Answer 11

Securely attached children more persistent, effective, interested, less frustrated/whiny. Likely because parents are better at showing attention and emotional control.

Question 12

Attachment and Play

Answer 12

Securely attached have more advanced forms of symbolic and imaginary play. Autonomy more quickly - playing and thinking about absent objects and people, more trust.

Question 13

Attachment and social development

Answer 13

Secure - more emotionally positive, empathic, socially competent, close/emotionally secure friendships, more popular, better at conflict resolution, better romantic relationships, empathy, seek adult assistance when necessary, can be vulnerable.

Question 14

Attachment and emotional development

Answer 14

Better emotional understanding and regulation leads to more fulfilling relationships.

Question 15

Attachment and self esteem

Answer 15

Secure - positive view of selves but able to acknowledge faults.
Insecure avoidant - idealize themselves
Insecure ambivalent - no consistent pattern of self-esteem.
Disorganized - may be controlling. Very negative self-concepts.

Question 16

Insecure attachment effects

Answer 16

Greater chance of externalizing problems such as aggression - especially ambivalent and punitive. More anxiety and depression. Lower in ego-resilience, self-esteem. Pessimism

Question 17

Ambivalent/resistant vs avoidant paths to anxiety and depression

Answer 17

Avoidant - attempt to maintain distant, more depressive symptoms when independence is threatened or compromised. Ambivalent/resistant - possess attachment concerns and fears, of inadequacy, less trusting, clingy and hypervigilant, relationship quality predicts distress, anxiety, depression.

Question 18

Disorganized attachment and psychopathology

Answer 18

Young adult self-injurious behavior, depression, adult borderline personality disorder, externalizing problems, dissociative symptoms.