Attachment Flashcards
Defintion
Attachment is a strong, emotional and mostly reciprocol bond between and infant and a caregiver, which is characterised by the desire to maintain proximity
Bowlby’s Deprivation Theory of Attachment
Babies are born with innate emotions called social releasers which they use to encourage caregiving responses from adults which over time forms an attachment.
This caregiver acts as a internal working model- acting as an example for future relationships
He Viewed the first few years of a child’s life as a ‘critical period’- if a child hadn’t formed an attachment within the first few years then they would suffer permanent and irreversible consequences (maternal deprivation)
4 Stages of Attachment
1) Pre-attachment Phase: Can distinguish between people and inanimate objects but respond equally to all adults
2) Indiscriminate Phase: Responds equally to all adults but can begin to recognise familiar faces
3) Discriminate Phase: Preference to a single attachment figure, and begins to display stranger anxiety and separation distress
4) Multiple Attachment Phase: Become increasingly independent and forms several attachments, but the strongest still remains with their primary caregiver
Mary Ainsworth- Strange Situation
Infants were observed under 12 different situations which tested for stranger anxiety, separation distress and reunion behaviors.
From the results she defined 3 attachment types: Secure, insecure- avoidant and insecure- resistant
Secure Attachment
Use the attachment figure as a secure base to explore the new environment. Experience stranger anxiety and separation distress but are easily calmed on caregivers return
Insecure Avoidant
Do not orientate to their caregiver but explore independently. They do not experience separation distress and there is a lack of reunion behaviours
Insecure Resistant
Often display clingy or dependent behavior. Experience separation distress and stranger anxiety but sought and reject comfort on caregivers return
