attachment

Question 1

what is attachment

Answer 1

• the bond that an infant forms with their primary caregiver. it is characterised by proximity and feelings of being comforted and content

Question 2

what are attachment styles

Answer 2

• the bond can take different forms

Question 3

what are attachment behaviours

Answer 3

which attachment style a child has is examined by looking at their responses to different situations

Question 4

why is attachment important

Answer 4

• babies are vulnerable
• large brain size - born before brain is fully developed
• need for intensive proximal care
• long childhood
• 12 years until puberty

Question 5

what is the sexual maturity for gorillas

Answer 5

7-8 years

Question 6

what is the sexual maturity for baboons

Answer 6

5-8 years

Question 7

what is the sexual maturity for lemurs

Answer 7

20 months

Question 8

what is the sexual maturity for humans

Answer 8

13-17 years

Question 9

who is bowlby

Answer 9

• founder of attachment theory in 1950s
• contrast to psychoanalytical views
• influenced by empirical findings

Question 10

what are some origins of attachment theory

Answer 10

• lorenz - imprinting and critical period
• harlow - wire vs cloth mother

Question 11

what are the five phases of attachment

Answer 11

• first few months - orientating towards people indiscriminately
• 5-7 months - orientating and preferentially engaging with caregiver
• 7-9 months - going to caregiver and expressing distress when separated
• 2-3 years - goal-corrected partnership where child also accommodates caregivers needs
• 4 years - switch from physical proximity to the more abstract emotional closeness

Question 12

what is an internal working model

Answer 12

• a cognitive prototype influencing perception of and our reactions to other relationships
• a blueprint

Question 13

what evidence is there for lifelong significance of attachment

Answer 13

• a meta-analysis of 27 samples
• age 12 months to 21 years
• attachment style at 12 months does indeed predict attachment later in life but diminishes with age

Question 14

what did mary ainsworth do

Answer 14

• longitudinal observations
• defined 3 attachment types
• strange situation

Question 15

what is avoidant attachment

Answer 15

• not distressed when alone
• ignore on reunion

Question 16

what is secure attachment

Answer 16

• may be distressed when separated
• actively seeks proximity

Question 17

what is anxious attachment

Answer 17

• distressed being alone
• seeks proximity but then resists interaction

Question 18

what is disorganised attachment

Answer 18

• no obvious pattern to the baby’s behaviour varies over time

Question 19

what is the universality hypothesis

Answer 19

• when given an opportunity, most infants will become attached to at least one specific caregiver

Question 20

what is the normativity hypothesis

Answer 20

• most infants are securely attached in contexts that are not inherently threatening to human health and survival

Question 21

what is the sensitivity hypothesis

Answer 21

• attachment security depends on sensitive and prompt responses to the infants signals

Question 22

what is the competence hypothesis

Answer 22

• secure attachment leads to positive child outcomes

Question 23

reasons for cultural differences

Answer 23

• western middle class assumption that sign of healthy maturity is individual autonomy
• differences in socialisation goal
• wide variety in caregiving arrangements