(3) Attachment

Question 1

What is attachment?

Answer 1

The establishment of specific and enduing emotional bonds during the first years of life

Question 2

Who are targets of attachment?

Answer 2

Targets of attachment are usually those persons who respond most consistently, predictably, and appropriately to the baby’s signals

Question 3

What are common signs of attachment?

Answer 3

• Greetings and vocalisations
• Smiles
• Bodily postures and gestures, e.g. touches, stretching arms towards target of attachment etc
• Active efforts to make contact
• Distress upon separation

Question 4

When to attachments form and evolve?

Answer 4

• Forms in second half of first year

- Evolves over first 2 years of life in stages or steps

Question 5

What is pre-attachment?

Answer 5

Pre-attachment (0-2 months): indiscriminate social responses

Question 6

What is attachment in the making?

Answer 6

Attachment in the making (2-7 months): recognition of familiar people

Question 7

What is clear-cut attachment?

Answer 7

Clear-cut attachment (7-24 months): separation protest, wariness of strangers; intentional communication

Question 8

What is goal-corrected partnership?

Answer 8

Goal-corrected partnerships (24 months onwards): relationships more two sided, children understand parent’s needs

Question 9

How to mother and fathers attachments differ?

Answer 9

Fathers more physical, mothers more verbal, fathers role affected by culture

Question 10

When does a fear of strangers emerge in infants?

Answer 10

9 months

Question 11

How do infants know how to act in uncertain situations?

Answer 11

Infants use social referencing to know how to act in uncertain situations

Question 12

When does separation anxiety appear in infants?

Answer 12

It appears to be universal and peaks in Western infants at about 15 months, can re appear at other ages

Question 13

What is attachment linked to in terms of the psychoanalytic theory?

Answer 13

Attachment is linked to gratification of innate drives (hunger, affection)

Question 14

Where does attachment derive from in terms of the psychoanalytical theory?

Answer 14

• Derives from oral phase of psychosexual development

- The baby first becomes attached to the mother’s breasts and then to the mother

Question 15

Where does attachment derive from in terms of the social learning theory?

Answer 15

Primary drive of hunger is reduced by primary reinforcer (food) and secondary reinforcer is one who feeds

Question 16

What does Harlow’s monkey’s experiment indicate?

Answer 16

Research suggest attachment is not dependent upon a child’s feeding

Question 17

What did Piaget believe attached was based on?

Answer 17

-Specific attachment based on object permanence

Question 18

What happens to physical proximity as an infant grows older?

Answer 18

• Physical proximity to attachment figures less important as children grow
• Psychological contact maintained through words, smiles and looks

Question 19

What did Bowlby believe about attachment?

Answer 19

• Infant attachment has roots in instinctual infant responses (biologically determined)
• Both parents and infants are ‘programmed’ to react and respond in a certain way

Question 20

What is an active role of attachment in Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 20

-Active role of children’s early emotional signalling systems in attachment

Question 21

What is a secure attachment?

Answer 21

• A kind of attachment displayed by babies who are minimally disturbed by brief separations from their mothers
• These are quickly comforted by their mothers when they return

Question 22

How many infants displayed a secure attachment?

Answer 22

-Secure attachment (60-65%)

Question 23

What is an insecure-avoidant attachment?

Answer 23

• A type of attachment shown by babies who do not seem bothered by their mothers’ brief absences
• They specifically avoid them on their return, sometimes becoming visibly upset

Question 24

How many infants displayed an insecure-avoidant attachment?

Answer 24

20%

Question 25

What is an insecure-resistant attachment?

Answer 25

• A type of attachment shown by babies, who become very upset at the departure of their mothers
• They exhibit inconsistent behaviour on their return, seeking contact or pushing them away

Question 26

How many infants displayed an insecure-resistant attachment?

Answer 26

10-15%

Question 27

What is an insecure-disorganised attachment?

Answer 27

A type of attachment shown by babies who seem disorganised and disoriented when reunited with their mothers after brief separation

Question 28

How many infants displayed an insecure-disorganised attachment?

Answer 28

<5%

Question 29

What happens to infants in the future who are securely attached?

Answer 29

• More positive emotions, better empathy (age 5)
• Better cognitive outcomes (7)
• More socially competent (8&12)
• More attentive and participate in school and better grades (9, 12 and 15)

Question 30

Sensitive care from a caregiver is likely to create an infant who is…

Answer 30

securely attached

Question 31

Rejecting care from a caregiver is likely to create an infant who is…

Answer 31

insecure attached

Question 32

Can day-care effect parent-child attachments?

Answer 32

There is no evidence that being in child care prevents infant-parent attachments

Question 33

How can staff in day-cares effect relationships?

Answer 33

Stability of staff affects quality of relationship between care providers and children in day-care

Question 34

What does high training in day-care staff promote?

Answer 34

High training level of staff promotes secure attachments with children

Question 35

What is quality of childcare linked to?

Answer 35

Quality of child care appears linked to social class of families using the services