Attachment and parenting

Question 1

The family as a ‘social system’

Answer 1

Idea based on Brondenbrenner’s systems theory. Family = the way that larger society influences a child.
‘makes human beings human’.

Question 2

ecological systems theory

Answer 2

Child developing within a complex system of relationships affected by multiple levels of surrounding environment.

Question 3

Parent effects vs child effects

Answer 3

Parent effects the child but the child also affects the parent. E.g., the way the parent speaks to the child can affect how they respond, which affects how the parents speak to them and so on.

Question 4

Friendly attentive child

Answer 4

More likely positive patient reactions.

Question 5

Irritable/distractible child

Answer 5

negative/impatient

Question 6

3 main functions of families:

Answer 6

• they allow for reproduction
• socialisation (of infants)
• emotional support for all members

Question 7

What is attachment?

Answer 7

• a strong bond with someone else

- child is comforted by the presence of that person

Question 8

Affectional bond

Answer 8

Desire to maintain closeness to a partner is the essential feature.

Question 9

Other types of affectional bond

Answer 9

Sexual, friendship, caregiving

Question 10

Bowlby’s ethological theory

Answer 10

Sees attachment as an adaptive behaviour that promotes survival. Attachment is universal (present in all cultures). Attachment begins as innate reflexes, then becomes an emotional attachment

Question 11

Pre-attachment phase

Answer 11

• 0-6 weeks
• infant reflexes
• adult is close to infant, infant doesn’t mind being with strangers.

Question 12

Development of attachment

Answer 12

• 6 weeks - 6/8 months
• respond differently to different people.
• laugh/smile more with mother

Question 13

‘Clear-cut’ attachment

Answer 13

• 6/8 months - 18/24 months
• clear attachment with caregiver
• infants show separation anxiety and/or stranger anxiety

Question 14

Reciprocal relationship

Answer 14

• 18/24 months
• separation anxiety declines
• child can reason more
• negotiates with caregiver
• understands more that parent will return

Question 15

Secure attachment type

Answer 15

Base for exploration.
Child seeks caregiver when upset, doesn’t always show separation anxiety, prefers carer over stranger, seeks contact on reunion, immediately comforted.

Question 16

Avoidant attachment type

Answer 16

Unresponsive when parent present, not distressed on separation, avoidant on reunion, doesn’t seek out caregiver, no preference.

Question 17

Resistant attachment type

Answer 17

Doesn’t explore, clingy, distressed when separated, angry upon reunion, not easily reassured, simultaneously and avoids contact. Over-emphasis on the caregiver.

Question 18

Disorganised/Disorientated

Answer 18

Very insecure, contradictory behaviours on reunion, confused, dazed

Question 19

Why are some children securely attached but others not?

Answer 19

Attachment is thought to be a two-way process - the caregiver and child are both influential to the quality of attachment. Most important element = emotional availability of caregiver.

Question 20

Children who have emotionally warm caregivers show:

Answer 20

• better social adaptation and general social skills
• better behaviour in school and higher academic attainment
• lower levels of aggression

Question 21

Dimensions of family interactions

Answer 21

• parental responsiveness, sensitivity and emotional warmth all play a significant role in child’s emotional and social development

Question 22

Communication patterns impacting family functioning

Answer 22

• quantity as well as quality of communication
• importance of listening and talking with children
• openness of communication is important with adolescent children

Question 23

Methods of control impacting family functioning

Answer 23

• consistency of rules has a significant effect on behaviour

- punishing behaviours

Question 24

Kurdek and Fine

Answer 24

Children who understand and agree with home rules and know that they stand, become more competent and surer of themselves

Question 25

Physical punishment

Answer 25

associated with compliance in the short-term, associated with poorer mental health in the long term

Question 26

Four dimensions of parenting

Answer 26

Acceptance, control, involvement, autonomy granting

Question 27

Secure attachment

Answer 27

high emotional availability and responsiveness

Question 28

Insecure avoidant

Answer 28

Maternal rejection/withdrawal of contact

Question 29

Insecure resistant

Answer 29

mother is psychologically unavailable, e.g., depression

Question 30

Disorganised

Answer 30

Early trauma, life stress, abuse?

Question 31

Karavasilis, Doyle and Markiewicz

Answer 31

Measured children’s ‘insecure attachment’, ‘secure attachment’, and perception of their parenting through self-report

Question 32

What also affects family dynamics/parenting style?

Answer 32

• size of family
• birth order
• gender
• parental characteristics
• parental employment
• level of social support
• family structure