Attachment

Question 1

What is the definition of attachment?

Answer 1

Infants develop and display attachment behaviour in their primary relationship in order to receive protection and comfort in times of distress..

Question 2

What is the impact of attachment on development?

Answer 2

• Exploratory behaviour and the infant’s developing brain
• Emotional development and the ability to self regulate
• Internal working model or sense of self
• Social interaction

Question 3

What is emotional regulation?

Answer 3

The process of managing feelings alone or with the help of others, so that one can experience a broad range of emotions without being overwhelmed and losing the capacity for reflection.

Question 4

Describe the concept of a secure base

Answer 4

• secure attachment*
• Balance between attachment and exploration
• Able to express their feelings directly and openly to responses

Question 5

Describe secure base through lifespan with children

Answer 5

• Directly express feeling
• Ask for help when distressed
• Full range of emotion is acceptable
• Empathic
• Share experiences
• Understand reciprocity
• Self reliant
• Explore environment easily

Question 6

Describe secure base through lifespan with adults

Answer 6

Belief that their attachment figures (initially parents, and
then partners/close supports) will be sufficiently reliable and effective at times of stress

Question 7

Describe the insure avoidant attachment?

Answer 7

• Dominance of exploration over attachment

- Hide feelings

Question 8

Describe insecure avoidant through lifespan with children

Answer 8

• Downplay/masks feelings
• Appears independent
• Indirect
• Uncomfortable with negative emotion
• When distressed withdraws or inappropriately teases
• Risk taking behaviours

Question 9

Describe insecure avoidant through lifespan with adults

Answer 9

Tend to dismiss the possibility of another person being of assistance to them at times of stress

Question 10

Describe insecure ambivalent attachment?

Answer 10

• Dominance of attachment over exploration

- Heighten feelings

Question 11

Describe insecure ambivalent though lifespan with children

Answer 11

• Chronic, low level dependency
• Preoccupied with parent
• Little initiative, wait for invitation
• Boundary problems
• Emotionally labile
• Lack confidence

Question 12

Describe insecure ambivalent through lifespan with adults

Answer 12

Have little faith in their own ability to manage and tend to have poor control of distress and be seen as clingy by others

Question 13

What is disorganised attachment?

Answer 13

Irresolvable paradox when the parent is both:

• Source of the child’s fear
• Haven for the child’s safety

Question 14

What do children experience with a disorganised attachment?

Answer 14

• Chronic anxiety
• Inability to empathise
• Controlling behaviour with caregiver
• Aggressive or dissociative behaviour
• Extremes of insecure behaviours
• Mistrust
• Inability to mentalise
• Boundary problems

Question 15

What do adults experience with a disorganised attachment?

Answer 15

Have a high rate of mental health problems - few healthy ways of managing distress

Question 16

What are clinical implications of attachment experiences?

Answer 16

• Early attachment experiences can be a risk factor for mental illness/poor developmental outcomes: intervene to support parent/infant
• Illness (physical/mental) stimulates attachment behaviour
• Likely clients will replicate early attachment relationships with health workers
• Health workers become temporary attachment figure

Question 17

What is the difference in value of relationships between children and adults?

Answer 17

• Children: significant other can make a difference to resilience
• Adult: reworking internal representations of relationship through relationship with workers