Attachment Theory

Question 1

What are the different attachment styles?

Answer 1

Secure→ 60%
- use parent as secured base
- distress at separation
- seeks the parent at reunion and easily soothed

Avoidant→ 15%
- avoid caregivers
- easily explore the environment
- ignore parent when return after separation
- no preference for stranger to parent

Resistant (Anxious)→ 10%
- Clingy/ does not separate
- wary of strangers even with parent
- extremely distressed upon separation
- difficult to soothe OR demonstrates anger at the parent after reunion

Disorganized
- no consistent patterns in behaviour towards parent
- often freezes and dissociates
- want to approach caregiver but show fear with parent

Question 2

What are the insecure attachment styles?

Answer 2

Avoidant, Resistant and Disorganized

Question 3

What are the phases for the development of attachment ?

Answer 3

Pre-attachment phase→ birth-6 weeks
- display innate behaviours eliciting care from caregivers
- no clear preference for specific caregiver

Attachment-in-the making phase→ 6 weeks- 6 months
- start to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people
- still open to care from strangers
- don’t show separation distress

Clear-cut attachment phase→ 6months- 18/24months
- clear attachment and preference for primary caregiver
- separation distress and fear of strangers

Formation of reciprocal relationships→ 24+ months
- interested in creating bonds with others
- better able to tolerate distress from separation

Question 4

What are some benefits of being securely attached?

Answer 4

Children that are securely attached vs. insecurely attached
- Are more emotionally expressive (in appropriate ways)
- Experience more positive emotion
- Have closer relationships with peers
- Are less anxious and depressed
- Are less likely to have behavioural problems, like aggression and delinquency
- Show more empathy and helping behaviour
- Are more socially competent in general
- Do better in school
- Have more positive romantic experiences in adolescence and adulthood

Question 5

What is Bowlby’s attachment theory?

Answer 5

Def→ Children and their primary caregiver are biologically predisposed to
develop a deep emotional bond
- forms the foundation for a child’s sense of security

Question 6

What are the features of an attachment system?

Answer 6

Secure base
- sense of security from which they can explore environment
- cannot explore if attachment system is activated

Proximity maintenance and seeking
- biologically motivated to stay close to caregiver

Separation distress
- become distressed when separated from caregiver
- activates attachment system and motivates child t seek proximity

Safe haven
- Caregiver helps manage arousal through co-regulation
- once reassurance achieved→ attachment system deactivates

Question 7

What is the sensitive period for attchment?

Answer 7

first 6months of life

Question 8

What are the parenting infleunces on attachment styles?

Answer 8

Cf table notion

Question 9

What is the differential susceptibility hypothesis?

Answer 9

Some children are more sensitive to negative AND positive conditions
- “sensitive” temperament+ negative parenting experiences = negative
outcomes
- “sensitive” temperament + positive parenting experiences = positive
outcomes
—>most kids are dandelions (resistant) but some are orchids (more sensitive)

Question 10

What is an internal working model and desbribe the 4 types?

Answer 10

Def→ Mental representations of the self, of attachment figures, and of
relationships in general
- constructed as results of experiences with caregivers
- attachment styles influence it
- act as a filter for all next relationship

CF table in notion for types

Question 11

What is the impact of low quality daycare on attachment?

Answer 11

• childcare had no effect on attachment security
• maternal support→ strongest predictor of children’s attachment security
• quality of daycare had an effect only if low maternal sensitivity