9 Attachment and self identity Flashcards
What do we mean by ‘mentalising?’
Seeing from another persons point of view - a trait which is distinctly human
Why do humans show higher levels of attachment than other species?
- Standing and walking required radical change to the pelvis so human babies are born much earlier
- they are less developed and can’t move around instantly so rely on their mother for protection, food and warmth.
- skulls aren’t yet fully formed
What do human babies rely on their mothers for?
- food
- temp regulation
- protection from predators
- learning
- comfort
- emotional regulation
Why do human babies have to form particularly close bonds with their mothers and how do they do it?
- because they are unable to cling to their mothers like monkey ancestors so need to come up with a different strategy for keeping mum close
- form a special bond with a specific person
- researchers believe that childrens early interactions with their parents shape them and their reactions with others
What was Bowlbys work on?
-looked at children that had been evacuated vs those that hadn’t - those that hadn’t did better
looked at 44 juveniles and 44 goodies and found the juveniles had disruptions in relationships with primary caregivers e.g. foster homes
What was the monkey experiment on attachment?
-monkeys always prefer the mother that gives them comfort and warmth over just food
What where the stages in Bowlbys attachment theory?
- preattachment phase (0-6weeks)
- attachment in the making (6 weeks to 6-8months)
- clear cut attachment (6/8 months - 1/2 years)
- reciprocal relations (1-2 years)
What age is the preattachment phase?
0-6 weeks
What age is the attachment in the making phase?
6 weeks - 6/8 months
What age is the clear cut attachment phase?
6/8 months -1/2 years
What age is the reciprocal relations phase?
1-2 years
What happens in the preattchmnet phase?
Infants produce innate signals that bring others to their sides and are comforted by the interaction that follows
What happens in the attachment in the making phase?
Infants begin to respond preferentially to familiar people
What is the clear cut attachment phase?
Infants actively seek contact with their caregivers and show distress/protest when they leave
What happens in the reciprocal relations phase?
Involves children taking an active role in developing working partnerships with the caregivers
What is secure attachment?
- child has a high quality, relatively unambivalent relationship with their caregiver (2/3 of american kiddies)
- in the strange situation child will be distressed when parent leaves but happy to see them return, they recover quickly from distress
- more easily comforted by caregiver than stranger
- use parents as a base for exploration
What is insecure avoidant attachment?
- child seems relatively indifferent to their caregiver and may even avoid them
- indifferent when caregiver leaves and returns to the room
- just as easily comforted by strangers as by caregivers
- emotionally unavailable parent
What is insecure resistant attachment?
otherwise known as ambivalent attachment:
- infants are clingy and stay very close to their caregiver instead of exploring (15% american kiddies)
- tend to become very upset when the caregiver leaves the room in the strange situation and are not easily comforted by strangers
- not easily comforted when caregiver returns and both seek comfort and resist efforts by the caregiver to comfort them
- inconsistent parenting
What is disorganised attachment?
Essentially for when infants don’t fit into the other categories..
- they have no consistent way of dealing with stress in the strange situation and often seem dazed and disorientated
- most likely abused children
What are the long term effects of attachment?
Securely attached children:
- have more harmonious relationships with peers
- have better romantic and peer relationships in adolescence
- achieve higher grades and are more involved in school
What does avoidance stem from?
deactivation of attachment needs and negative affect
What does anxiety stem from?
Hyperactivation of attachment needs and negative affect
When and how does the childs sense of self develop?
Emerges in the early years but continues to develop into adulthood, becoming more complex as childs emotional and cognitive development deepens
-Adults contribute to the sense of self by providing descriptions ‘‘what a pretty little girl’’ etc
What age does the slightly more distinct sense of self develop?
8 months when children show distress at separation from caregiver
