Attachment types in children - week 24

Question 1

What is attachment?

Answer 1

relationship between child and care giver from approx 7 months

Question 2

What are the four attachment types?

Answer 2

Secure
Avoidant
Ambivalent
Disorganised/insecure

Question 3

Describe observations in children with secure attachment and parental style?

Answer 3

Child - upset when mother leaves, calms easily when returns, explores environment

parental style - consistent, responsive

Question 4

Describe observations in children with avoidant attachment and parental style?

Answer 4

child - not upset when mother leaves, turns away at mother return, mood is flat/play not animated

parent - rejecting, interfering

Question 5

Describe observations in children with ambivalent attachment and parental style?

Answer 5

child - upset when mother leaves, seeks contact and is rejected, remains upset

parent - inconsistent, unreliable

Question 6

Describe observations in children with disorganized/insecure attachment and parental style?

Answer 6

child - behavior is disorganized and incoherent/ remains distressed

parent - neglectful, abusive

Question 7

What do securely attached children develop?

Answer 7

positive view of themselves and others
trust and confidence in carers
sense of security/ safety to explore, play, learn

Question 8

What attributes securely attached children more likely to develop

Answer 8

emotional and social. competence
greater resilience
higher self esteem and independence
positive peer relations

Question 9

What do insecurely attached children develop?

Answer 9

Have rejecting, unavailable, inconsistent, unresponsive (or abusive) caregivers
Learn that caregiver is unavailable and not able to meet their needs (or is hostile)

distorted view of:

Of themselves as unworthy of love
Of others as emotionally unavailable or harmful

Question 10

What attributes insecurely attached children more likely to develop

Answer 10

Poor emotional and social competence
Poor regulation of emotions
Difficulties at school, more likely to be bullied
Difficulty in showing empathy
Unregulated biological stress system: abnormal patterns of cortisol release (link this with our Stress and Health lecture)
Lower self esteem, lack of trust in others
Emotional & behavioural problems: depression, aggression, over controlling or over compliant behaviour