Attachment Flashcards
Attachment
An intense, emotional, reciprocal bond between an infant and a caregiver
Insecure avoidant
A type of attachment that develops in children who do not experience sensitive responses from a parent or caregiver to there needs or distress
Leads to: isolated, independancy (both physically and mentally), have trouble trusting others to meet there needs in a relationship, avoid intimacy
Secure attachment
Occurs when a child feels safe, understood, and calm. Parents attend to there needs or distress. Leads to: healthy self awareness, empathy, trust and eagerness to learn. Capacity to connect well and securely in relationships with others. Essential for healthy childhood development and adult relationships.
Insecure resistant
Is when a child is clingy to their mothers or partner. Needs frequent reassurance, fearful of abandonment
Insecure attachment
An umbrella term that describes people who approach relationships with fear or distress
What causes insecure attachment?
Abuse and neglect as a child
Trauma and loss
Lack of responsive parenting
Reciprocity
A description of how two people interact. from birth babies and caregivers spend a lot of time in intense and pleasurable interaction.
Baby signals for interaction, caregiver responds. There Is a RECIPROCAL interaction. When one person responds to the other or elicits a response to eachothers signals.
Interactional synchrony
*When 2 people have a strong emotional bond they become ‘synchronised’ and mirror each other’s actions and emotions.
* Important for development of mother-infant attachment.
*High levels of synchrony were associated with better quality mother infant attachment
Primary attachment figure
The person who has formed the closest bond with an infant, demonstrated by the intensity of the relationship
Short term/ immediate benefits
Attachment is an innate behaviour that will ensure closeness between the child and a caregiver. This will ensure survival
Long term benefits
Provides the basis for emotional relationships. The early bond between infant and caregiver is the learning ground for future emotional relationships
Schaffer and Emerson (1964)
Developed the stages of attachment, based on a study involving Glasgow babies in 1964
Asocial stage
0-6 weeks, smiling and crying not directed at any specific individual
Indiscrimate attachment/stage
6 weeks to 7 months, Attentions sought from different people
Specific attachment/stage
7-11 months, strong attachment to one individual
