15 - ATTACHMENT

Question 1

What is Freud’s theory of attachment?

Answer 1

Drive-reduction. Babies have drives and satisfying these drives leads to pleasure. Mum becomes associated with pleasure, and so the baby becomes attached to the mum.

Question 2

What is imprinting according to Lorenz?

Answer 2

Newborns of most species seek proximity to the first object that they encounter

Question 3

What did Harlow (1958) find with his Rhesus monkeys?

Answer 3

Comfort is at least as significant as need for nourishment in the monkeys.

Question 4

What did Bowlby discover about institutionalised children?

Answer 4

Those who had little contact with mum had a 37% death rate compared to 0% in those with regular contact with their mum.

Question 5

How did Bowlby suggest that we develop attachment?

Answer 5

Step 1: Identify primary caregiver

Step 2: Proximity seeking

Question 6

What is the goal-corrected stage of attachment (2+ years)?

Answer 6

Child negotiates with the caregiver, accommodate his/her needs, and both share responsibility for maintaining contact. Have internal working model to guide relationships.

Question 7

What are Ainsworth’s (1978) attachment types?

Answer 7

20% Avoidant
70% Secure
10% Resistant/Ambivalent
Disorganised

Question 8

What are the four types of internal working model?

Answer 8

Secure, Avoidant, Resistant, and Disorganised.

Question 9

How does parental sensitivity produce secure attachment?

Answer 9

Consistently responsive parental sensitivity produces secure attachment

Question 10

How does parental sensitivity produce resistant attachment?

Answer 10

Inconsistent parental sensitivity produces resistant attachment

Question 11

How does parental sensitivity produce avoidant attachment?

Answer 11

Over-stimulating parental sensitivity produces avoidant attachment style

Question 12

How does parental stress / SES affect attachment?

Answer 12

Stress and SES affect parental sensitivity, which in turn affect attachment

Question 13

How does daycare affect attachment?

Answer 13

Belsky (2007) found that more than 20 hours a week in child care makes a child more likely to be insecurely attached.

Question 14

How do infant characteristics affect attachment?

Answer 14

Infant temperament may affect attachment type

Question 15

How does the parents’ internal working model affect attachment?

Answer 15

The parent’s Internal Working Model (measured by adult attachment interview) is strongly related to the child’s attachment security.

Question 16

What are the long term effects of secure attachment?

Answer 16

In the long-run, secure attachment produces better adjusted individuals, with better social skills.

Question 17

What are the long term effects of insecure-avoidant attachment?

Answer 17

In the long-run, insecure-avoidant attachment produces individuals with less social support and other detriments e.g. more risky sexual behaviours

Question 18

Does attachment type remain consistent in adulthood?

Answer 18

Waters et al., (2000) found that 72% kept same attachment classification in adulthood, suggesting attachment type is consistent through adulthood. Internal working model is hard to change as it is based on expectations and patterns.

Question 19

What are the parallels for avoidant, secure, and resistant attachment types in adulthood?

Answer 19

Avoidant - Dismissive
Secure - Autonomous
Resistant - Preoccupied