A3: Theories of Attachment

Question 1

What are the benefits of attachment between child and caregiver?

Answer 1

• means the child will feel secure loved
• will have a sense of belonging
• can lead to happier and healthier attachments with others in the future
• care givers should ensure children have the physical and mental and emotional encouragement to develop healthily

Question 2

How could a lack of attachments impact development?

Answer 2

• a mistrust of caregivers of adults with authority
• can develop insecure attachments leading to behavioural issues and inability to develop secure attachments in life-span

Question 3

Who is John Bowlby?

Answer 3

• notable for his interest in child development
• known for his pioneering work in attachment theory

Question 4

John Bowlby referred to attachment as…

Answer 4

a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects the child to their primary caregiver

Question 5

John Bowlby’s work with emotionally disturbed children:

Answer 5

• 1930s
• looked at relationship with the mother
• he linked the importance of social, emotional and cognitive development to the relationship that the child had with their mother

Question 6

What are the characteristics of am emotionally disturbed child?

Answer 6

• unusual rage or anger
• hyperactivity
• gets irritated fast
• immaturity
• unhappy or depressed (withdrawal)
• anti-social

Question 7

What are the reasons for poor attachment?

Answer 7

• prematurity
• post-natal depression
• disability
• emotional unavailability
• foster care / adoption
• separation

Question 8

Why might prematurity be a reason for poor attachment?

Answer 8

• if in an incubator they cannot be picked up and held
• this can affect the attachment process

Question 9

Why might post-natal depression be a reason for poor attachment?

Answer 9

• some mothers are depressed after birth
• PND lasts longer and may affect a mother’s ability to bond with her baby

Question 10

Why might disability be a reason for poor attachment?

Answer 10

• some parents find it harder to attach to a baby with a disability
• might struggle with their feelings
• some babies with disabilities may experience difficulties forming attachments

Question 11

Why might emotional unavailability be a reason for poor attachment?

Answer 11

may be due to parents having problems with:
- alcohol
- drug abuse
- illness
- struggling with their role

Question 12

Why might foster care and adoption be a reason for poor attachment?

Answer 12

• children within care systems and “looked after children” may experience inconsistency of caregivers
• this can affect attachments
• can also affect their sense of identity

Question 13

Why might separation be a reason for poor attachment?

Answer 13

• separation of parents from their baby could be due to:
  
  • illness
  • bereavement
  • parents divorcing
• these can affect attachment
• can also impact on a baby’s sense of identity

Question 14

What was Schaffer and Emerson’s stages of attachment?

Answer 14

birth-3 months:
- responds to any caregiver

4-7 months:
- shows preference for primary caregiver
- accepts care from others

7-9 months:
- prefers primary caregiver and seeks comfort from them
- unhappy when separated
- shows fear of strangers

10 months+
- begins to develop attachments with others who respond to them
- by 18 months, most infants have formed multiple attachments