Attachment

Question 1

Define attachment

Answer 1

A close 2 way emotional bond between 2 individuals where individuals see the other as essential for their own emotional security. It endures our time and serves to protect the infant.

Question 2

What signs display attachment?

Answer 2

Proximity
Separation distress
Secure base behaviour

Question 3

Define care giver infant interactions

Answer 3

Refers to the communication between a caregiver and infant. It is believed that these interactions have important functions for the child’s social development and form the basis of the attachment between the two.

Question 4

Describe Interaction 1: Reciprocity

Answer 4

It is a caregiver infant interaction. It is two-way or mutual process where each party responds to the others signals to sustain the interaction.

Question 5

Describe Interaction 2: Interactional Synchrony

Answer 5

It is when a caregiver and infant reflects the actions and emotions of the other in a coordinated way. They mirror each other in terms of facial expressions and body language.

Question 6

Primary attachment figure

Answer 6

Is the person to whom an infant is most intensely attached. They are the person a child responds to most intensely at separation. This is usually the mother, but other people can fulfil this role.

Question 7

Secondary attachment figure

Answer 7

Is a person that an infant receives additional support from. They provide an emotional safety net.

Question 8

Describe Schaffer and Emerson’s research

Answer 8

Found that the majority of babies did become attached to their mother’s first. Therefore, the primary attachment figure is more likely to be the mother than the father. They found that within a few weeks or month of the primary attachment, the infants formed secondary attachments to other family members, including their father. In 75% of the infants studied, an attachment was formed with the father which was determined by the fact that the infants protested when their father walked away. Therefore, father are more likely to be secondary attachment figures.

Question 9

Why are mother and father roles might be different?

Answer 9

• Possible men are not psychologically equipped because they lack the emotional sensitivity that women offer. This could be due to biological or social factors
• Traditional gender roles
• Female hormones create higher levels of nurturing and therefore women are biologically predisposed to be the primary attachment figure.

Question 10

Describe Grossman’s research

Answer 10

He carried out a longitudinal study looking at both parents behaviour and its relationship to the quality of children’s attachment in their teens. Quality of infant attachment to mother’s but not fathers, was related to children’s attachments in adolescents, suggesting that father attachment was less important.

However, the quality of father’s play with infants was related to the quality of adolescent attachments. This suggests that fathers have a different role in attachment- one that is more to do with play and stimulation, and less to do with nurturing

Question 11

What are Schaffer and Emerson’s stages of attachment?

Answer 11

1. Asocial attachment
2. Indiscriminate attachment
3. Specific attachment
4. Multiple attachment

Question 12

Asocial Attachment

Answer 12

• Behaviour towards non human objects and humans is quite similar
• Happier in the presence of other humans
• recognise specific faces
• Smile @ anyone

Question 13

Indiscriminate Attachment

Answer 13

• Preference for people rather than inanimate objects
• Accepts cuddles and comfort from any adult
• Smile @ familiar rather than unfamiliar faces

Question 14

Specific Attachment

Answer 14

• Display anxiety towards strangers and separation anxiety
• Baby has formed specific attachments
• Use familiar adults as secure base

Question 15

Multiple Attachments

Answer 15

• Show attachment towards other adults, making multiple attachments.

Question 16

What are the animal studies of attachment?

Answer 16

Animal studies on attachment look @ the formation of early bonds between non human parents and their offspring.

Question 17

Imprinting

Answer 17

Is an innate readiness to develop a strong bond with the mother

Question 18

Sexual imprinting

Answer 18

Is the idea that imprinting can affect adult male preferences. Animals will choose to mate with the same object they imprinted on.

Question 19

Critical Period

Answer 19

There is a critical period where imprinting takes place. If it doesn’t happen then it probably won’t happen/

Question 20

Name 2 main animal studies of attachment

Answer 20

Harlow’s monkeys and Lorenz’s geese

Question 21

Learning Theory of Attachment: ‘Cupboard Love’

Answer 21

Suggests that children learn to love whoever feeds them

Question 22

Learning Theory

Answer 22

Is a set of ideas from the behaviour approach

Question 23

Drive reduction theory

Answer 23

Argues that when we feel discomfort this creates a drive to reduce this comfort

Question 24

Primary Reinforces

Answer 24

Directly supplies a reward e.g. food

Question 25

Secondary Reinforces

Answer 25

Person who supplies the food e.g. Mother

Question 26

Monotropic Theory: Social Releases

Answer 26

Bowlby suggested that babies are born with a set of innate cute features and behaviours that encourage attention from adults.

These activate the innate adult attachment system- the tendency for adults to care for them.

Question 27

Types of social releases

Answer 27

Physical- baby face, big eyes and small nose

Behavioural- crying, cooing and gripping

Question 28

Critical Period

Answer 28

Bowlby proposed that there is a critical period around two years when the infant attachment system is active.

Question 29

Internal Working model

Answer 29

Bowlby proposed that a child forms a mental representation with their primary caregiver. This is called an internal working model because it serves as a model for what relationships are like. A child whose first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver will tend to form an expectation that all relationships are as loving and reliable and they will bring these qualities to future relationships.

Additionally, people tend to base their parenting behaviour on their own experiences of being parented.

Question 30

Continuity Hypothesis

Answer 30

Individuals who are securely attached in infancy continue to be socially and emotionally competent.