Attachment Flashcards
The history of the study of attachment. Brief overview of Bowlby's theory of attachment. Mary Ainsworth and the 'Strange Situation'. The 'why' & 'so what' of attachment security. The importance of emotions in the context of interactions. Critical, concluding points.
Define Attachment
A close emotional relationship between two persons, characterised by mutual affection & a desire to maintain proximity (Bowlby, 1969; Cohen, 1974)
Define Attachment object
Someone (or something) with whom we are motivated to maintain contact (Ainsworth, 1989)
Define Attachment complex
Set of behaviours & mental states responsible for establishing and maintaining attachments (Keil, 2014)
State the timeline history of the study of attachment (early 1900s, 1930s - 1950s, late 1950s, 1960s)
Drive reduction - develop ideas about infant caregiver bond based on feeding.
Informed by imprinting (Lorenz) - demonstrate feeding is not most important determinant of attachment.
Attachment for comfort & love (Harlow) & protection & survival (Bowlby) - argue psychoanalytic explanations are inadequate.
Significance of close contact, togetherness & reinforcement (Ainsworth; Anisfeld) & Infants active, not passive (Thomas & Chess) - caregiver attachment biological part learned, with emotional aspect linked to intellectual development.
Explain the theoretical approaches to attachment
- Learning Thoery
- Cognitive Theory
- Ethological Theory
- Caregivers play an important role in the infants emotional development.
- Timing of emotional attachment related to the child’s level of intellectual development.
- Infants as active participants in the attachment process.
Bowlby’s phases of attachment (4 phases)
- Pre-attachement (birth - 6 weeks)
- Attachment-in-the-making (6w - 6m)
- Clear-cut (6 - 8m)
- Goal-corrected partnership (18 - 24m)
The 3 classifications in Ainsworth attachment theory - ‘strange situation’
A. Avoidant
B. Secure
C. Resistant (anxious)
The type D attachment later developed (Main & Solomon, 1986)
Disorganised attachment
Describe an attachment disorder
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
Two types:
- Inhibited - child not able to form any attachment.
- Disinhibited - child indiscriminate in whom they go to.