attachment Flashcards
attachment
an emotional bond with a specific person that is enduring across space and time
Harry Harlow
monkeys attached to blanket, 2 artificial monkey mothers (wire with food and cloth)
- monkey’s preferred cloth mother
- healthy social and emotional development is rooted in children’s early social interactions with adults
John Bowlby
proposed attachment theory
- influenced by etholoigal theory
- internal working models construct expectations about relationships
attachment theory (Bowlby)
children are biologically predisposed to develop attachments with caregivers as a means of increasing chances of own survival
internal working models (WMs)
cognitive representations of themselves and other people
- guide processing of social info and behaviors in relationships
- secure: easy to love
- insecure: hard to lovr
Secure Base (Bowlby)
an attachment figure’s presence that provides an infant or toddler with a sense of security that makes it possible for the infant explore the enviornment
Mary Ainsworth
Strange Situation
Strange Situation
child exposed to several different episodes, two separations and reunions with the caregiver and interactions with a stranger when alone and when caregiver is present
Attachment related fears
- separation anxiety: restful/wary when separated from parents (peaks at 13-18 months)
- stranger anxiety: wary/fretful to unfamiliar person (peaks at 1 years old)
Secure attachment
infant/child has a high quality, relatively unambivalent relationship with his or her attachment figure
- upset in Strange Situation when parent leaves but happy when they return
- secure base present
- 60-65% of American middle class children
Insecure resistant (ambivalent) attachment
infants/children are clingy and stray close to caregiver rather than explore environment
- In Strange situation, very upset when caregiver leaves, not comforted by strangers or when caregiver returns
- ~10-15% of American middle class children
Insecure - Avoidant attachment
somewhat indifferent toward caregiver and may even avoid caregiver
- In Strange situation, avoidant/indifferent when caregiver leaves and returns
- ~15-20% of American middle class children
insecure - disorganized/disoriented attachment
fourth category for kids who don’t fit into the other three
- In Strange Situation, no consistent way of coping, behavior in confused/contradictory
Parental sensitivity
contributes to security, can be exhibited through…
- responsive caregiving when child is upset
- helping child to engage through guidance and supervision
causal relationship between parental sensitivity and security of relationship
Parental sensitivity study
mothers at risk for insecure attachment -
increase sensitivity = more secure children even after 3 and a half years
Effect of Daycare
not much different
- continue to seek approval from parents
- look to peers for support
long term effects of secure attachment
- closer with peers
- better grades
- increased involvement in school
- increased social competence
- decreased aggression
- increased ability to understand other’s emotions
three qualities that distinguish secure and insecure in later life
- intellectual competence
- social competence
- emotion regulation
intellectual competence in secure
more curious, self-directed and eager to learn
social competence in secure
initiate play activities, more sensitive to others feelings, more socially competent and popular
emotion regulation in secure
good emotion regulation and coping skills
adolescents attachment
need security/encouragement to explore (provided by supportive parents
secure have:
- stronger sense of identity
- increased self-esteem
- increased emotional adjustment/health
- decreased behavioral problems
- increased positive peer and romantic relationships
Adult attachment styles
relate to quality of romantic relationships, well-being, physical/mental health
insecure relationships can be converted into secure ones that..
serve as
- secure bases
- safe haves
- foundations for healthy development across lifespan by utilizing various applications of attachment theory
