Attachment Flashcards

1
Q

What are innate actions?

A

Things all babies do

Pre-programmed behaviours

Internal (biological)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is reciprocity?

A

Description of how two people interact

Turn-taking

Sensitive responsieveness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is turn-taking?

A

Interaction flows both ways between adult and infant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is sensitive responsiveness?

A

Adult attends sensitively to infant’s communications

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is interaction synchrony?

A

Adults and babies respond in time to sustain communication

Imitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is imitation?

A

Infant mimics/copies the adult’s behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What was Meltzoff and Moore’s experiment?

A

When a face was made at a baby, the baby made the same face back

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What was the still face experiment?

A

Asked mother to interact with baby and baby’s reaction was positive

When baby had still face, baby showed signs of distress

Shows importance of interacting with baby

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is imprinting?

A

When a baby recognises another object/person as a parent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What was Lorenz’s procedure?

A

Randomly divided clutch of goose eggs

One half hatched with mother goose in natural environment

Other half hatched in a incubator where the first thing they saw was Lorenz

Mixed goslings together to see who they would follow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What were the results of Lorenz’s experiment?

A

Incubator group followed Lorenz

Control group followed mother

Identified critical period in first few hours after hatching where imprinting takes place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a critical period?

A

Span of time in which a certain behaviour must be achieved and if it’s not completed during this time, the ability is lost forever

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How did Lorenz test critical period?

A

Varied time between birth and seeing moving object

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is extrapolation?

A

Applying findings from animal studies to humans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the differences between humans and animals?

A

Human attachments more complex

Not based on sight

No imprinting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the similarities between humans animals?

A

Both have critical period

Benefit of introducing skin on skin contact

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Strength of Lorenz - imprinting

A

Regolin and Vallortigara

Exposed chicks to simple shape-combinations that moved

When shown range of moving shapes, chicks followed these in preference to other shapes

Suggests young animals born with innate mechanism to imprint on a moving object

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What was Harlow’s procedure?

A

Separated monkeys from real mother

Put monkey in cage with cloth-covered “mother” and food “mother”

Observed who monkey spent the most time with

Observed which “mother” the monkey went to when frightened

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What were the results of Harlow’s experiment?

A

Cuddled cloth “mother” instead of food “mother”

22 hours with comfort
2 hours sporadically with food

When frightened, monkey went to cloth-covered mother

Monkeys who were deprived of real mothers were more aggressive, less sociable and less skilled in mating

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Limitation of Harlow - ethical issues

A

Baby monkeys immediately taken away from mothers after birth

Missed 90 day critical period

Cannot replicate study so cannot validate the original experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Strength of Harlow - practical application

A

Zoo keeping

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Limitation of animal studies - extrapolation

A

Problem with generalisability from findings of animals to humans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What was Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

A

Bowlby believes that baby have one main attachment figure known as primary attachment figure, which is typically mothers (or female figure)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are social releases?

A

Any behaviour a baby shows to get an adult’s attention

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is a baby's critical period?
Time in which a baby must make an attachment, otherwise they will never make an attachment 0-2/2.5 years
26
What is an internal working model?
From this monotropic attachment, baby forms mental model of what relationships are meant to be like, which they use for future relationships
27
Strength of Bowlby's monotropic theory - research support
Bailey et al Interviewed 99 mothers Mothers had the same attachment style with their mothers as with their children Supports IWM as states relationship created with mother's monotropic figure would be template for them when they are a parent
28
Limitation of Bowlby's monotropic theory - evidence of multiple attachments
Van Ijzendoorn Babies in collectivist cultures form multiple attachments straight away rather than one specific attachment
29
Strength of Bowlby's monotropic theory - evidence for social releases
Tronick Babies distressed when mothers no longer responded to their actions Social releases vital for forming relationships
30
Limitation of Bowlby's monotropic theory - Czech twins
"Discovered" at age 7 Locked up and isolated from outside world and abused by stepmother since birth Had no language ability After loving care from two sisters, by age 14, twins showed normal social and intellectual functioning and were able to form meaningful attachments
31
Counterpoint Bowlby's monotropic theory - Czech twins
Made each other primary attachment
32
Limitation of Bowlby's monotropic theory - socially sensitive
Fathers don't play important in child's life Lead to fathers being treated unfairly in custody cases
33
What is the learning theory of attachment?
Classical conditioning Before conditioning: - UCS (food) --> UCR (happy baby) - NS (caregiver) --> NR (no response) During conditioning: - NS (caregiver) + UCS (food) --> UCR (happy baby) After conditioning: - CS (caregiver) --> CR (happy baby)
34
Limitation of learning theory - animal studies
Lorenz's geese - imprinted on first moving object they saw Harlow's monkeys - attached to soft surrogate in preference to wire one with milk Imprinting/attachment didn't develop as result of feeding
35
Limitation of learning theory - counter evidence
Schaffer and Emerson - many babies main attachment wasn't person who fed them Isabella et al - interactional synchrony (unrelated to feeding) predicted attachment quality
36
Strength of learning theory - some elements of conditioning may be involved
Unlikely that associated with food But could be associated with warmth and comfort
37
What is institutionalisation?
Being raised within an institute (hospital, orphanage) without any family members
38
What was the procedure of Rutter's Romanian orphans study?
165 Romanian orphans adopted to Britain Physical, cognitive and emotional development was tested at 4, 6, 11, 15 Compared to 52 British children who were adopted at same tim
39
What were the findings of Rutter's Romanian orphan study?
1/2 orphans showed intellectual development when came to UK Average IQ for UK = 100 Adopted before 6 months = mean IQ of 102 Adopted between 6 months-2 years = mean IQ to 86 Adopted after 2 years = mean IQ of 77 Differences continued to be apparent at 16 Disinhibited attachment apparent in children adopted after 6 months but rare in children adopted before 6 months
40
What is disinhibited attachment?
Clinginess Attention-seeking Indiscriminate affection to strangers
41
Strength of Rutter's Romanian orphans - practical application
Improving institutions One or two key workers per child
42
Strength of Rutter's Romanian orphans - research support
Bucharest early intervention project Used Strange Situation to assess attached in 95 Romanian children aged 12-31 months who'd spent most of their lives in institutional care Compared to control group of 50 children who'd never experienced institutional care 19% of institutionalised group securely attached (74% of control) 44% of institutionalised group had disinhibited attached (20% of control)
43
Limitation of Rutter's Romanian orphans - situational variables
Romanian orphans orphanage was unique situation Lacked intellectual stimulation, poor standards of care and poor relationships Not generalisable
44
Strength of Rutter's Romanian orphans - extraneous variables
Previous research had focused on orphans who'd experienced loss or trauma Meant researcher couldn't be sure if it was institution or trauma which caused attachment behaviour (lacks internal validity) Romanian orphans hadn't had any trauma
45
Who were the researchers that developed the Strange Situation?
Ainsworth and Bell
46
What does proximity seeking/secure base?
How close babies stay to caregiver/exploration
47
What is stranger anxiety?
How the baby reacts to a stranger
48
What is separation anxiety?
How the baby reacts when caregiver leaves
49
What is response of union?
How the baby reacts when caregiver returns
50
What was the method of Strange Situation?
Proximity seeking = caregiver and baby in same room Stranger anxiety = added stranger Separation anxiety = caregiver leaves Reunion behaviour = caregiver returns Measured by watching reaction
51
What were the three types of attachment?
Secure Insecure avoidant Insecure resistant
52
How does a baby with a secure attachment react to each of the Strange Situation tests?
Secure base/proximity seeking --> = / wandered but came back Separation anxiety --> = / moderate Stranger anxiety --> = / moderate Reunion behaviour --> wants comfort
53
How does a baby with a insecure avoidant attachment react to each of the Strange Situation tests?
Secure base/proximity seeking --> + / wandered and didn't come back Separation anxiety --> - / low Stranger anxiety --> - / low Reunion behaviour --> avoids comfort
54
How does a baby with a insecure resistant attachment react to each of the Strange Situation tests?
Secure base/proximity seeking --> - / clingy Separation anxiety --> + / high Stranger anxiety --> + / high Reunion behaviour --> resists comfort
55
Why would a child be secure?
Parents sensitive to needs
56
Why would a child be insecure avoidant?
Parents avoid and ignore their needs
57
Why would a child be insecure resistant?
Parents are inconsistent in responding to needs
58
What were the results of the Strange Situation?
Majority of children securely attached = 60-75% Insecure avoidant next most common = 25% Normally 10% or lower are insecure resistant
59
Limitation of Strange Situation - missing attachment type
Main and Solomon Missed the disorganised attachment type Mix between ISA and ISR Disorganised attachment children self-soothe by rocking
60
Limitation of Strange Situation - cultural bias
Caregivers and a child's upbringing depends on culture Takahashi - repeated Strange Situation on Japanese babies - most ISR because of upbringing
61
Strength of Strange Situation - inter-rater reliability
High inter-rater reliability When two or more observers collect the same information and give same results Bick - 94% of trials observers agreed on attachment classification
62
Strength of Strange Situation - good predictive validity
McCormick - secure babies typically have greater success at school ISR associated with worse outcome - bullying (Kokkinos) - adult mental health wards (Ward)
63
Who investigated cultural variations in attachment?
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg
64
What was Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's procedure?
Looked at proportions of S, ISA and ISR attachments across countries Found 32 STUDIES of attachment where Strange Situation used (conducted in 8 COUNTRIES, 15 IN USA) 1990 children in studies Data META-ANALYSED and results combined and weighted for sample size
65
What were the results of Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's study?
Secure attachment most common Individualistic cultures = ISR under 14% Collectivist cultures = ISR above 25% and ISA reduced Variations between results of studies WITHIN same country 150% GREATER than BETWEEN countries
66
Which country had the highest percentage of secure attachment?
75% Britain
67
Which country had the lowest percentage of secure attachment?
50% China
68
Which country had the highest percentage of insecure-resistant attachment?
30% Israel
69
Which country had the lowest percentage of insecure-resistant attachment?
3% Britain
70
Which country had the highest percentage of insecure-avoidant attachment?
Germany
71
Which country had the lowest percentage of insecure-avoidant attachment?
Japan
72
Strength of Strange Situation
Covert - reduced demand characteristics Controlled - reduced extraneous variables Non-participant - easier to take notes
73
Limitations of Strange Situation
Missing attachment types
74
Limitation of cultural variations in attachment - imposed etic
Used Strange Situation to assess attachment types which was created by an American researcher to assess American children May not be applicable to assess other cultures In Germany, lack of pleasure on reunion is classed as independence rather than avoidance Need to adapt procedure to assess cultural difference
75
Strength of cultural variations in attachment - use of indigenous researchers
Indigenous researchers - those from same cultural background as participants Grossmann - Germans working with German participants Aids communication between researchers and participants Helps prevent misunderstandings
76
How does having a secure relationship with the caregiver as a baby affect future relationships?
Secure friendships Secure romantic relationships
77
What study is used to test adult relationships?
Love Quiz
78
What was the procedure of the love quiz?
Analysed 620 Love Quiz responses printed in an American newspaper First section assessed responses current/most important relationship Second section assess general life experiences
79
What were the results of the Love Quiz study?
56% = securely attached 25% = insecure-avoidant 19% = insecure attachment
80
What are the romantic relationships like someone who is securely attachment?
Long-term Few Very trusting Very open with emotions
81
What are the romantic relationships like someone who has an insecure-avoidant attachment?
Short-term Few Trusting Very independent Doesn't share emotions
82
What are the romantic relationships like someone who has an insecure-resistant attachment?
Short-term Many Not trusting Very open with emotions
83
Limitation of Love Quiz - self-report
Demand characteristics Social desirability (however anonymity reduces this) Restricted answers
84
Strength of influence of early attachment of later relationships - research support
Bailey et al Tested 99 mothers and their relationships with their own mothers Type of attachment mirrored in mother's relationship with their own children
85
Limitation of influence of early attachment of later relationships - association not causation
Zimmerman Rejected IWM Found little similarity in infant attachment type and adolescent attachment type
86
What study was used to test childhood attachment?
Smith et al
87
What was the childhood study?
Peer relationships, bullying Secure = make friendships easily, trusting ISA = few friendships, doesn't try and make friends, bullying victims ISR = bullies, desperate for friendships, not trusting
88
What is maternal deprivation?
Lack of mother care
89
What was Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation?
All children needed continuous care from their mother to have "normal deprivation" If separated from their mothers, would be serious damage to child's emotional and intellectual development
90
What was a disruption to a maternal relationship result in?
Abnormal development
91
What are the consequences of maternal deprivation?
No attachment in your critical period Poor IWM - poor friendships/romantic relationships Lack of continuity - disruption in attachment Low IQ Emotional problems - affectionless psychopath
92
What was the procedure of Bowlby's 44 thieves study?
44 criminal teenagers Interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy, characterised by lack of affection, guilt and empathy Families interviewed to establish any prolonged separation from mothers Control group = non-criminally, emotionally-disturbed gang of people
93
What were the results of Bowlby's 44 thieves study?
14/44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths 12/14 had experienced prolonged separation from mothers in first 2 years of life Prolonged early separation/deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy
94
Limitation of 44 thieves - procedure
Researcher bias - Bowlby could affect what answers were given to get what he wanted Interview - social desirability bias
95
Limitation of Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation - social sensitivity/economy
Blamed mothers for everything Mothers should take 2 years off (negatively impacts economy) Insensitive to fathers (don't play a role) Pressure on mothers
96
Strength of Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation - practical application
Patient-family accommodation Family stay near/in the hospital to be able to visit children
97
What was the procedure of Schaffer and Emerson's study?
60 babies from Glasgow working class families Tested by psychologists in their own home Tested every month until first year and at 18 months Asked mothers questions about separation and stranger anxiety
98
What were the results of Schaffer and Emerson's study?
Four main stages of attachment Change based upon child's reaction to separation and stranger anxiety levels
99
What are the four stages of attachment?
Asocial stage Indiscriminate attachment Specific attachment Multiple attachments
100
When is the asocial stage?
First few weeks
101
What is the asocial stage?
Behaviour towards and inanimate objects similar (no preference)
102
When is the indiscriminate attachment stage?
2-7 months
103
What is the indiscriminate attachment stage?
No separation or stranger anxiety Preference for humans but attachment is indiscriminate
104
When is the specific attachment stage?
From around 7 months to a year
105
What is the specific attachment stage?
Stranger and separation from anxiety when separated from primary attachment figure
106
When is the multiple attachments stage?
By one year
107
What is the multiple attachments stage?
29% of babies had formed secondary attachment within a month of primary attachment Multiple secondary attachments
108
Limitation of Schaffer and Emerson - self-report design
Demand characteristics Social desirability bias Mothers could lie
109
Limitation of Schaffer and Emerson - sample
Limited sample size Only working class Only Glasgow Can't generalise
110
Strength of Schaffer and Emerson - procedure
Good external/ecological validity Babies were in their own home Mothers observed babies
111
AO3 stages of attachment - Van Ijzendoorn
Strength = multiple attachments Limitation = stages of attachment Babies have multiple attachments as their first stage Collectivist cultures share responsibility of baby with all family More opportunity to develop multiple attachments
112
What are stereotypical beliefs about the role of the father?
Secondary care givers - spend most time out of household - so less time with children Role of protection and providing - providing food - shelter - money For cognitive development and discipline - play - stimulation When primary caregiver, fathers adopt emotional role
113
How does sex of the baby affect the role of the father?
Fathers more involved if child is male as see themselves as role model
114
How does culture affect the role of the father?
South Africa - fathers secondary caregivers - bread winners and providers Tribe in Papa New Guinea - women as hunter-gathers Other cultures have fathers as more significant attachment
115
Limitation of role of the father - legal implications
Mothers favoured other fathers Not all fathers have parent responsibility
116
Can be primary caregiver - Schaffer and Emerson
Additional attachments developed in the proceeding months followed 4th stage 31% of infants displaying 5+ attachments by 8 months 3% had fathers as primary caregivers Not parent that spends most time, one whose MOST SENSITIVE TO NEEDS
117
Can be primary caregiver - Grossman
Longitudinal study of 44 families Compared role of fathers' and mothers' contribution to children's attachment experiences at 6, 10, 16 years Fathers' play style linked to fathers' own IWM Play sensitivity better predictor of child's long-term attachment representation than early measures of attachment type that infant had with father
118
Can be primary caregiver - Field
Compared behaviours of primary caretaker mothers with primary and secondary caretaker fathers Face-to-face interactions analysed from video footage with 4 month old infants Fathers engaged more in gameplaying and held infants less Primary caretaker fathers engaged in significantly more smiling, imitative grimaces and imitative vocalisations than secondary caretaker fathers and these were comparable with mothers' behaviour
119
Can be primary caregiver - Brown et al
Investigated father involvement, paternal sensitivity and father-child attachment security at 13 months and 3 years Involvement and sensitivity influenced father-child attachment security at age 3 Involvement greater predictor of secure attachment when fathers were rated less sensitive Gender of caregiver not crucial in predicting attachment types/quality, it's extent of caregiver involvement