Attachment Flashcards
Define attachment
An emotional bond between 2 people
It’s a 2 way process that endures over time
What are the 4 behaviours?
Separation anxiety: stress shown by an infant when deprecated from caregiver
Stranger anxiety: stress shown by an infant when approached by someone unfamiliar
Reunion behaviour: relief shown by infant when reunited with caregiver
Willingness to explore: using caregiver as a safe base to explore the immediate area
What are the infant caregiver interactions?
Reciprocity: responding to the action of another with a similar action
Intersectional synchrony: when 2 people interact they tend to mirror what the other person is doing in terms of facial/body movements
Can include emotions as well as behaviours
What are Schaffer & Emerson’s stages of attachment
Pre attachment (0-6weeks)
Show similar responses to animate & inanimate objects
Show preference to social stimuli towards end of stage - more content with people
Indiscriminate attachment (6weeks-7months)
Can distinguish between familiar & unfamiliar people
Still easily comforted by anyone
Specific attachment (7-24months) Formed specific attachment to primary caregiver Show separation/stranger anxiety & reunion behaviour
Multiple attachments (>8months) Secondary attachment Attach to multiple individuals in which they interact with regularly
Define learning theory
The name given to a group of explanations that explain behaviour in terms of learning rather than inborn tendencies
What is the main principle of learning theory as an explanation for forming attachments?
We love our caregivers because they feed us
Explain classical conditioning as an explanation for attachment
Baby has sucking reflex for food (food=UCS)
Food produces pleasure (UCR)
Mother is originally NS
person giving food is associated with pleasure of food
Eventually mother is associated with the pleasure of giving food (mum=CS) (pleasure=CR)
Explain operant conditioning as an explanation for attachment
Behaviour is repeated if positively reinforced
Baby cries when hungry
Baby given food (reward) - baby happy
(Food=primary reinforcer)
Mum associated with giving food (secondary reinforcer)
Mum is source of reward, behaviour is repeated and attachment is eventually formed
Evaluate learning theory as an explanation for attachment
It suggests food is main element of forming attachment but this is contradicted by Harlow’s study which shows monkeys form attach based on contact comfort
All learning theory is based of animal research - can’t be generalised to humans
Why did Bowlby believe attachments formed?
He believed attachment behaviour evolved because it is important for our survival
How did Bowlby believe attachments formed?
Critical period
A biologically determined period of time in which attachment must occur, otherwise it never will
Critical period for babies - 3-6 months
Social releases
Social behaviour/characteristics that elicits caregiving & leads to attachment
Include features such as smiling & babyface
Monotropy
One relationship that infant has with primary caregiver that is of special significance in emotional development
Define innate predisposition
Infant is born with need to form attachment to caregiver
What did Bowlby believe the consequences of deprivation were?
Internal WM
Mental model of the world which enables individuals to predict & control their environment
It acts as a template for future relationships because it generates expectations of what a relationship should be
Evaluate Bowlbys theory of explanations for attachment
Rutter et al proved it was more difficult to form attachments after critical period but not impossible (more of a sensitive period)
Grossman & Grossman contradict monotropy because they found fathers secondary attachment play a key role in social development
What are the characteristics of secure attachment?
Explores environment when with caregiver
Shows distress upon separation with caregiver
Easily soothed/comforted by caregiver
Show some distress when left with stranger
What are the characteristics of insecure avoidant attachment
Characterised as children who tend to avoid social interaction or intimacy with others
Show little response upon separation
Do not seek close proximity with caregiver upon reunion
Little nervousness around strangers
What are the characteristics of insecure resistant attachment?
Both seeks & resists social intimacy & social interaction
Respond to separation & stranger with immediate distress
Upon reunion show conflicting desires - resistant to being picked up but may seek close proximity
Define deprivation
The loss of emotional care that is usually provided by a caregiver
Define separation
When an infant experiences repeated/prolonged separation from caregiver
What is the main principle of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Any separation from mother will inevitable result in severe, irreversible effects
How is the critical period an important factor in Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Bowlby believe prolonged or repeated separation from primary caregiver will result in infant becoming emotionally disturbed
However this will only have this effect if it occurs before 2.5 years & there is no substitute mother figure
What where the long term consequences of maternal deprivation?
Emotional maladjustment or depression
What are the effects of institutionalisation?
Physical underdevelopment - research has shown lack of emotional care is cause of deprivation dwarfism
Intellectual under functioning - cognitive development is affected by emotional deprivation
Disinhibited attachment - children do not discriminate between people they choose as attachment figures (over familiar with strangers)
Poor parenting - Quinton et al compared 50 institution mothers to control group - ex institution women in 20s had difficulty parenting
Define the internal WM
Mental model of world which enables individuals to predict & control their environment
In terms of attachment it relates to a persons expectations about relationships (how people should behave towards each other)
What are the behaviours influenced by the IWM
Childhood friendships - securely attached at infancy tended to be more popular, empathetic & less isolated
Poor parenting - lack of IWM means individual lacks a reference point to subsequently form relationships with own children
Romantic relationships - Hazan & Shaver demonstrated link between early attachments & later relationships (secure=longer relationship)
Mental health - lack of attachment results in lack of IWM causing inability to react or relate to others
Evaluate the influence of early attachments on later relationships
Research is only correlational (may be other factors)
Hazan & Shaver’s data relied on retrospective data - may be inaccurate
