Attachment Theory & Childcare Flashcards
How did Bowlby contribute to attachment theory?
Leading theorist in attachment.
Three stages when separated from caregivers: protest, despair, detachment.
Describe attachment theory.
Caregiver is used by infant as a secure base for explorations and separations.
Internal working model of themselves and primary caregivers.
How did Mary Ainsworth contribute to attachment theory?
Developed the strange situation.
Maternal sensitivity - Ugandan mothers.
Secure, insecure, not yet attached.
Explain the 4 main classifications of attachment.
Anxious/avoidant - child may not be distressed at mother’s departure and may avoid her on her return.
Securely attached - child is distressed by departure and easily soothed on return. Caregiver is a secure base.
Anxious/resistant/ambivalent - may stay close to mother for first few minutes and become highly distressed at her departure. Mother returns - seek both comfort + distance from mother. Child not eager to explore.
Disorganised/disoriented - none of the above. No strategy for handling separations or reunions.
What brain areas are activated depending on attachment type (Dawson, 2011)?
Insecurely attached babies - activity in the right side of prefrontal cortex (specialised in negative emotions).
Securely attached - opposite pattern.
What is the sensitive hypothesis?
Main factor influencing attachment is the mother’s sensitivity.
What are the two main hypotheses of attachment?
Sensitivity + competence.
Name some studies that explored the sensitivity hypothesis.
Mesman (2016) - correlation of .68.
Seifer & Schiller (1996) - no relation between sensitivity + strange situation. Temperament was related to maternal sensitivity.
Zreik (2017) - Arab-Israeli children; no religious differences.
Study - stronger relationship for Christian mothers compared to Muslim mothers (sensitivity + attachment).
Study - still-face paradigm + attachment; parents of avoidant infants showed less sensitivity than parents of secure infants.
De Wolff & van Ijzendoorn (1997) - sensitivity = .22. Contiguity of response = .10.
What is the competence hypothesis?
Attachment will lead to differences in children’s emotional, social and cognitive competencies.
Describe a study that explains the link between attachment and aggression (Booth-Laforce, 2006).
Booth-Laforce (2006) - resistant; excessive need for mother in stressful situations. Avoidant; denial of need + affection. Secure; availability + responsiveness of parents.
Aggression was related to avoidant mother.
Aggression negatively related to security with father.
Social competency was related to security with both parents.
Describe a study that explains the link between attachment and blame (Dwyer, 2010).
Spilt milkshake scenario.
Boys - internal blame when father attachment was negative.
Girls - external blame when father attachment was negative.
Describe a study that explains the link between attachment and teacher’s ratings of friendliness (Scarf, 2014).
Related for boys but not for girls.
Describe a study that explains the link between attachment and peer relationships (Schneider, Atkinson & Tardif, 2001).
Small relationship between the two. Stronger for friends than other peers.
What are some criticisms of the sensitivity hypothesis (Rothbaum, 2000)?
Cultural differences.
Caregiving reflects values + goals of a society.
Japanese vs US parents.
Japanese = dependence, seeking of acceptance + commitment, dependence + safety are the main link.
US = Individuation, autonomous mastery of the environment, safety + exploration are the main link.
Describe 2 studies which show the cultural differences in attachment.
Miyake (2001) - Japanese mothers are more sensitive. Maternal sensitivity has been previously shown to correlate with secure babies.
Attachment in various communities - US has lowest rate of secure attachment. Japan has no avoidant attachment but the highest level of resistant attachment.
