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Attachment Flashcards

1
Q

What is an attachment?

A

Close two way emotional bond between 2 individuals who see each other as essential for their own emotional security.

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2
Q

What are the three attachment behaviours?

A

Proximity
Separation distress/anxiety
Secure base behaviour

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3
Q

How do attachments form?

A

Through interaction

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4
Q

What is reciprocity?

A

Interaction between baby and care giver involving mutual responsiveness, baby and care giver respond to each other’s signals to elicit a response.

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5
Q

What is interactional synchrony?

A

Mother and infant reflect the actions and emotions of the other (coordinated response).

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6
Q

Outline research into interactional synchrony.

A

Meltzoff and Moore (1977) observed babies (2 weeks +). Adult displayed one of three facial expressions and the child’s response was filmed.

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7
Q

Evaluate the research into reciprocity and interactional synchrony (strengths)

A

Controlled - mother and infant were filmed (high validity)
Highly reliable - similar findings in many studies

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8
Q

Evaluate the research into reciprocity and interactional synchrony (weaknesses)

A

Hard to know what infants mean by their actions - are they imitating?
Ethical considerations- socially sensitive (Isabella et al 1989 found high levels of synchrony were associated with better quality interactions)

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9
Q

Outline Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

A

Aim: investigate formation of early attachments (when, intensity + who they were directed towards)
Sample: 60 babies from Glasgow (31 male, 29 female)
Procedure: babies were visited every month for 1 year then again at 18 months. Researchers asked mother’s questions about kinds of protests their babies showed in separations - measured attachment. Measured stranger and separation anxiety.
Findings: stages of attachment

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10
Q

What are the stages of attachment according to Schaffer and Emerson?

A

1) Asocial
2) Indiscriminate attachment
3) Specific attachment
4) Multiple attachments

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11
Q

At what age do infants go through the asocial stage of attachment?

A

0-8 weeks

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12
Q

At what age do infants go through the indiscriminate attachment stage of attachment?

A

2-7 months

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13
Q

At what age do infants go through the specific attachment stage of attachment?

A

7-12 months

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14
Q

At what age do infants go through the multiple attachment stage of attachment?

A

1+ years

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15
Q

What behaviours are displayed in the asocial stage of attachment?

A

Recognise specific faces
Happier in presence of humans than when alone
Preference for familiar individuals
Behaviour between humans and non-human objects are quite similar
Smile at anyone
Prefer faces to non faces

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16
Q

What behaviours are displayed in the indiscriminate attachment stage of attachment?

A

Recognise and prefer familiar people
Smile more at familiar than unfamiliar faces (observable social behaviour)
Accept comfort from any adult
Preference for people rather than inanimate objects

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17
Q

What behaviours are displayed in the specific attachment stage of attachment?

A

Show separation anxiety
Use familiar adults as secure base
Primary attachment to one particular individual (the person who shows most sensitivity to their signals)
Show stranger anxiety

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18
Q

What behaviours are displayed in the multiple attachments stage of attachment?

A

Form secondary attachments with familiar adults with whom they spend time with. Form quickly after specific attachment.

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19
Q

Evaluate Schaffer and Emerson (strengths)

A

Good external validity- most observations made by parents the reported to researcher (no distraction from researchers)
Gave observations at time of behaviour so didn’t rely on memory.
Large sample
High ecological validity

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20
Q

Evaluate Schaffer and Emerson (weaknesses)

A

Validity - mothers may miss some things as they are unlikely to be objective observers.
Problem studying asocial stage (methodological issues) - babies are immobile so may be difficult to observe.
Sample is limited - all from Glasgow so not generalised. Collectivist cultures may differ.
Social sensitive - child may not follow the stage model - abnormal?

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21
Q

Name a piece of research into the role of the father

A

Grossman (2002)

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22
Q

What was the aim, procedure and findings of Grossman (2002)?

A

Aim: how important are fathers in a child’s development & do they have a distinct role?
Procedure: longitudinal study (44 families) judged attachments at ages 6,10,16. In toddlerhood father and mother play sensitivity was evaluated with the sensitive and challenging interactive play scale (SCIP). Looked at parent behaviour and the relationship with attachment quality.
Findings: Quality of infant attachment with mothers related to attachment in adolescence. Quality of father’s play with infant was related to adolescent attachments.

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23
Q

What did Grossman (2002) conclude?

A

That father’s attachment is less important for later attachments.
Play has a different role in attachment (stimulation).

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24
Q

What does SCIP stand for?

A

Sensitive and challenging interactive play scale

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25
Evaluate the research into the role of the father
Inconsistent findings - different research questions Doesn’t explain why children without a father develop no differently Doesn’t explain why fathers don’t generally become primary attachment figures.
26
Explain how classical conditioning is used as a learning theory for attachment.
Mother (neutral stimulus) = baby doesn’t respond (neutral response) Food (unconditioned stimulus) = pleasure (unconditioned response) Mother (neutral stimulus) + food (unconditioned stimulus) = pleasure (unconditioned response) Mother (conditioned stimulus) = pleasure (conditioned response) Babies form attachments with their mothers because they are there every time they’re fed.
27
Explain how operant conditioning is used as a learning theory for attachment.
The baby cries and is positively reinforced by the primary reinforcer (food) and the secondary reinforcer (mother who has become associated with food). The crying stops as a result, an example of negative reinforcement.
28
What is the ‘cupboard love theory’?
Babies will form an attachment with whoever feeds them.
29
Why do we use animals in research?
Ethics- less damaging to deprive animals as they’re less aware. Practical issues - have greater control over animals - can observe lifetimes/generations in a shorter lifespan
30
What is ethology?
The study of animal behaviour helping us to understand how certain behaviours have evolved and how they aid survival and reproduction.
31
What is imprinting?
Forming an attachment with the first large, moving object that an infant meets.
32
Outline the procedure of Lorenz (1935)
Split grey goose eggs into two: 1) hatched naturally by mother 2) hatched in an incubator where Lorenz was the first thing they saw.
33
What were the findings of Lorenz (1935)?
2nd condition imprinted onto Lorenz. Imprinting is restricted to a ‘critical period’ of between 12-18hrs. Imprinting is irreversible and will not take place after critical period.
34
What is sexual imprinting?
Later mate is chosen based upon the object they imprinted on.
35
Evaluate Lorenz (1935)
Can’t generalise birds to humans Support - Guiton (1966) found chicks who imprinted onto a yellow rubber glove tried to mate with it. However this could be reversed by spending time with own species.
36
Outline the procedure of Harlow (1959)
Had a wire monkey which dispensed food and a cloth monkey without food. Observed how baby monkeys behaved around them.
37
What were the findings of Harlow (1959)?
Secure attachments formed with the comfort monkey. The baby would spend more time with it and go to it when scared. The baby monkey explored the room when the cloth monkey was present but didn’t when the wire monkey was (no secure base attachment). Found that the deprived monkeys used in the study became aggressive later in life and as mothers attacked and killed their babies.
38
Evaluate Harlow (1959)
Not generalisable
39
Evaluate the learning theory of attachment (strengths)
Some elements of conditioning may be involved- babies associate warmth and comfort with presence of a particular adult. Social learning theory states parents teach children to love them by demonstrating attachment behaviour. Behaviour is then reinforced by showing approval.
40
Evaluate the learning theory of attachment (weaknesses)
Counter evidence (animal research)- Lorenz (Geese imprinted onto 1st thing they saw) and Harlow (when given a choice monkeys attached to soft mother) Counter evidence (human research) - Schaffer and Emerson (main attachment = mother) Babies have an active role in attachment formation (social releasers) how conditioning suggests they have a passive role by simply responding to comfort/reward.
41
What is Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment?
Babies form an attachment with one primary care giver and it’s necessary for survival. A reciprocal process where mothers and infants are innately programmed to attach (innate programming).
42
Why are social releasers important in attachment formation?
Elicit a care giving response from caregiver.
43
What are social releasers? Give some examples.
Innate behaviours necessary for survival without them attachments will not form. Cute faces - big eyes, small nose
44
What is the internal working model?
A template for future relationships. A way to develop skills and an understanding of how to attach and bond to others.
45
Monotropic theory: According to Bowlby when is the critical period?
6 months - 2 years
46
Monotropic theory: According to Bowlby when is the sensitive period?
6 months - 5 years
47
What is caregiver sensitivity?
Being attuned to the child’s needs and providing consistent, warm and continuous care that promotes secure attachment.
48
What is the continuity hypothesis?
The idea that early relationships with caregivers predicts later relationships in adulthood.
49
Evaluate Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment (strengths)
Research support - Harlow and Lorenz (attachment is innate and aid survival) - Brazelton et al (evidence of social releasers, babies become distressed if SRs are ignored by adult) - Hazan and Shaver (supports continuity hypothesis) Practical application- importance of nurturing children = reforms in care homes and hospitals
50
Evaluate Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment (weaknesses)
Deterministic - fails to recognise people can work on relationships and change attachment styles. Other explanations - learning theory of attachment Role of the father - questions monotropy Conflicting evidence- Schaffer (multiple attachments) Testability- Socially sensitive (blames mothers)
51
What factors were being observed during Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
Separation anxiety Stranger anxiety Willingness to explore Reunion behaviour
52
What was the aim of Ainsworth’s strange situation?
To test how secure attachments were.
53
Outline the procedure of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
1) Mother and infant go into room. The mother sits and the child is placed on the floor, free to explore. 2) A stranger enters and briefly talks to mother 3) Stranger tries to engage with the infant through play and talk. 4) Mother leaves the room. Baby is left with the stranger. Stranger comforts baby if upset and plays with them. 5) Mother returns and stranger leaves. 6) Motger leaves the room and the infant is alone. 7) Stranger returns instead of mother and tries to comfort and play with the baby. 8) The mother re-enters and stranger leaves.
54
What were the findings of Ainsworth’s strange situation?
Identified 3 types of attachment: Type A - avoidant insecure infants Type B - securely attached infants Type C - resistant insecure infants
55
What factor affected attachment type?
Caregiver sensitivity
56
True or false: Mothers who are more sensitive to infants needs have securely attached infants.
True
57
If mothers are unresponsive to crying and less affectionate what attachment does this lead to?
Insecure attachment
58
What behaviour do mothers show to their infant to result in insecure avoidant attachments?
Mothers are rejecting, pay less attention to their infants.
59
What behaviour do mothers show to their infant to result in insecure resistant attachments?
Mothers tended to be occupied with routine activities when holding the child.
60
Evaluate Ainsworth’s strange situation (strengths)
Validity - predicts a number of aspects of the baby’s later development. Research shows type B infants have better outcomes in education later. Good inter-rater reliability - trained observers agreed on attachment type 94% of the time Reliable - controlled Useful - provided a way of measuring attachment
61
Evaluate Ainsworth’s strange situation (weaknesses)
Lacks ecological validity - controlled in a room which all babies were put in Extraneous variables - babies may cry because they’re hungry, tired or ill. Sample - not representative (100 babies from USA + GB) Ethics - made babies distressed and couldn’t get informed consent. - socially sensitive (labelling attachment type)
62
What are the characteristics of type A attachment?
Explores freely without bothering where mum is. Is not at all upset when mum leaves. Not bothered by appearance of stranger. Not bothered when mum comes back.
63
What are the characteristics of type B attachment?
Explores happily while keeping an eye on mum. Is moderately upset when mum leaves. A little wary of stranger. Is readily comforted by mum when she returns.
64
What are the characteristics of type C attachment?
Doesn’t explore very much; keeps very near mum. Extremely upset when mum leaves. Does not like the stranger at all. Is cross with mum on return and isn’t easily comforted.
65
What percentage of British babies were insecure avoidant?
20-25%
66
What percentage of British babies were insecure resistant?
3%
67
What percentage of British babies were secure?
60-75%
68
What is a collectivist culture?
Group effort, interpersonal development and less anti social behaviour
69
True or false: collectivist cultures have more anti social behaviour
False
70
What is an individualistic culture?
Personal achievement, praising initiative and independence and more anti social behaviour
71
What is a meta analysis?
Combining the results from a number of studies on a particular topic to provide an overall view.
72
What did Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) find?
Secure attachments were most common in all cultures surveyed. Britain and Sweden had the highest proportion of secure attachments. Avoidant attachments were more common in W.Germany than any other western culture. Resistant attachments were most common in Japan and Israel.
73
Which countries were part of Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s meta analysis?
GB, USA, Sweden, West Germany, China, Japan, The Netherlands, Israel
74
Does Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg research support the Strange Situation?
Yes but in cultures with high levels of insecure attachments this could be explained by cultural variations in child rearing practices.
75
Evaluate research into cross-cultural variations in attachment (strengths)
Most studies used indigenous researchers- avoids misunderstanding of language to increase validity
76
Evaluate research into cross-cultural variations in attachment (weaknesses)
Confounding variables- methodology of the study wasn’t matched eg poverty, social class Imposed etic - in GB and USA a lack of affection indicates avoidant attachment whereas in Germany this is independence. So can’t compare
77
What is deprivation?
Prolonged separation between a child and its caregiver. Results in a loss of attachment.
78
What is privation?
Failure to form an attachment.
79
What does Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis state?
If a warm,intimate and continuous relationship is not formed with its PCG during the critical period the child will have difficulty forming relationships with others and be at risk of behavioural disorders.
80
What does Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation hypothesis explain?
Explains what happens if early attachments are disrupted.
81
True or false: According to Bowlby’s MDH emotional care is as important as physical care.
True
82
What does Bowlby’s MDH say will happen if an infant is deprived in the critical period?
Psychological damage is inevitable, critical period (0-2.5 yrs)
83
True or false: There is no continuing risk of psychological damage in the sensitive period (2-5yrs)
False
84
What research supports MDH?
44 Juvenile thieves (1944)
85
Outline the 44 juvenile thieves study
Aim: to see if frequent separations were associated with a risk of behavioural disorders Procedures: 88 children age 5-16 referred to Bowlby. 44 due to stealing (16 of these were affectionless psychopaths) and 44 had committed no crimes but emotionally maladjusted. Interviewed children and family. Findings: 86% of AP experienced of prolonged separation, 17% of remaining 28 also experience separations, 4% of control experienced separation. Conclusion: in its most severe form separation leads to affectionless psychopathy and less severe = theft
86
Evaluate Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis (strengths)
Supporting evidence - 44 thieves, spitz, goldfarb Usefulness - mother-baby wings in prisons and parents can stay with their children if child is in hospital.
87
Evaluate Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis (weaknesses)
Conflicting evidence - Robertson and Robertson (child developed normally if given alternative care) Other explanations- Rutter says Bowlby failed to distinguish between separation, loss and complete lack of PCG. Argues they have different LT effects Testability- unethical to separate child from PCG. Needs to be a natural experiment so there may be confounding variables.
88
What is institutionalisation?
The effects of living in an institutional setting.
89
What are the effects of institutionalisation?
Disinhibited attachment if adopted after 6 months Attachment disorder if no attachment forms Ex institutionalised women find it hard to parent, their children spend more time in care (Quinton et al, 1984) Intellectual disabilities
90
Name one Romanian Orphan study
Rutter et al (2007)
91
Outline Rutter et al (2007)
Aim: see if good quality care can make up for poor quality institutionalised experiences Procedure: 165 Romanian orphans ages 4, 6, 11 & 15. 52 British adoptees as control. Findings: when first arriving - 50% show signs of delayed intelligence and majority malnourished. IQ if adopted between 6 months and 2yrs = 77 and showed indiscriminate attachment, IQ if adopted before 6 months = 102
92
Evaluate the effects of institutionalisation (strengths)
Lack of confounding variables - orphans mostly experience the same thing (parents can’t afford to keep them) Range of methods used - detailed + holistic Application- improved conditions of children in care (1-2 key care givers per child)
93
Evaluate the effects of institutionalisation (weaknesses)
Can fully assess quality of care - care in institutions was poor so may not represent institutional care but poor care. Longitudinal study - don’t fully know LT effects (latest data from pre in mid 20s) Social sensitivity- late adopted children have poor developmental outcomes. Results released as children grew up so may be treated differently (lower expectations)
94
Influence of early attachment: If a baby has type A attachment how does that impact the internal working model?
Insecure avoidant attachment leads to being too emotionally distant and uninvolved.
95
Influence of early attachment: If a baby has type C attachment how does that impact the internal working model?
Insecure resistant attachment leads to being controlling and argumentative.
96
How does early attachment affect relationships in childhood?
Attachment type is associated with quality of peer relationships in childhood.
97
Outline a study into the influence of early attachment of childhood.
Simpson et al (2007) Procedure: 78 ppts aged 1 yrs assessed with strange situation. Age 6-8 class teachers rate social competence in peer groups. Age 16 interviewed to assess quality of behaviours with close friends. 20-23 rating scale and observations used to measure experience and expression of romantic relationships. Results: secure attachment was a predictor of competence with peers age 6. Competence was a predictor of closeness with friends age 16. Closeness was a predictor of emotional experience in early adulthood.
98
Outline a study into the influence of early attachment on adulthood.
Hazard and Shaver (1987) Procedure: 620 ppts who read an American local newspaper. 3 part questionnaire: 1) current/most important relationship assessment 2) general love experiences assessment (no of partners) 3) assessed attachment type (chose statement) Results: 52% securely attached, 25% avoidant, 19% resistant. Secure = good + long lasting relationships Avoidant = jealous + fear intimacy
99
Evaluate the influence of attachment on early relationships (strengths)
Closed questions - objective + reliable Large sample - more likely to represent a wider range of people + generalisable Findings in line with SS - reliable
100
Evaluate the influence of attachment on early relationships (weaknesses)
Closed questions- subjective Self report - social desirability bias Response rates - can’t chose who responds (volunteer) effects sample Retrospective data- people may not accurately remember childhood.

Psychology (7 decks)

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