Attachment key terms Flashcards
Reciprocity
A description of how two people interact. Caregiver and enfant interaction is reciprocal in that both caregiver and baby respond to each others signa and each elicit a response from each other.
Interactional synchrony
Caregiver and baby reflect both the actions and emotions of the other in a coordinated way.
Stages of attachment
Many developmental theories identify a sequence of qualitatively different behaviors linked to specific ages. The ‘stages of attachment’ show different behaviors enfants go through as they get older in the same order.
Multiple attachments
Attachments to two or more people. Most babies appear to develop multiple attachments once they have formed one strong attachment to one of their carers.
Father
In attachment research, the father is anyone that takes the role of the main male caregiver. This does not need to be the biological father.
Animal studies
Studies carried out on non-human animal species, either for ethical or practical reasons. ( this could be because animals breed faster so we can see results over multiple generations)
Learning theory
A set of theory’s from the behaviorist approach , that emphasizes the role of learning behaviors. Their explanations include classical and operant conditioning.
Monotropic
Mono means one and tropic means ‘learning towards’ . This indicates that one particular attachment is different to others and has a central importance in childrens development.
Critical period
The time in which an attachment must be formed, if it to form at all. This was noted by Lorenz and Harlow as monkeys and birds had critical periods. Bowlby also proposed that babies have a sensitive period after which it is must more difficult to form an attachment.
Internal working model
Our mental representations of the world, eg the representation we have of our primary caregiver. This model effects our future relationships because it carries our perception of what relationships are like.
The strange situation
A controlled observation designed to test attachment security. Babies are tested on their response to playing in an unfamiliar room, being left alone, being left with a stranger and reunited with their caregiver.
Secure attachment
Generally thought of a the most desirable attachment style, associated with psychologically helpful outcomes. In the strange situation this is shown by moderate stranger and separation anxiety and ease of comfort at reunion.
Insecure-avoidant attachment
An attachment type characterized by anxiety and weak attachment. In the strange situation this is shown by low stranger and separation anxiety and little reaction to reunion, maybe even avoidance of the caregiver.
Insecure-resistant attachment
An attachment type characterized by strong attachment and high anxiety. In the strange situation this is shown by high levels of stranger and separation anxiety and by resistance to being comforted at reunion.
Cultural variations
‘Culture refers to the norms and values that exist within any group of people. Cultural variations are the differences in norms and values that exist between people in different groups. In attachment research we are concerned with the differences in the proportion of children with different attachment types.