Attachtment

Question 1

Attachment

Secure base

Attachment hierarchy

Answer 1

Attachment: A bond or tie between an individual and an attachment figure which is based on a need for safety, security and protection

Secure Base (Bowlby) V Safe Haven (Ainsworth): safe place from which to explore the world V knowing you can come back/retreat when threatened

Attachment hierarchy: while individuals maintain bonds with multiple attachment figures, they will have a consistent order of preference for whom they would seek out when the attachment system is activated, children show a selective preference for other people- an order of preference

Question 2

Caregiving vs parenting

Answer 2

• When caregiver notices child’s distress signals or potential danger it gets close to the child, removes source of stress or distances child from it and comforts the child.
• Parenting includes feeding, learning, role modelling, discipline, play, material support. Child can still benefit from this even with insecure attachment.
• Can be a good parent and a bad caregiver

Question 3

Caregiver and influence on attachment

4 determiniants of attachment style

Answer 3

• Ainsworth studies: most important aspect was sensitive responsiveness to infant signals and communication.
• ‘Mind- mindedness’ – sensitivity to child’s mental state and ability to ‘read’ it. Carer provides model for self-regulation.

o Proximity and availability
o Interest in baby
o Perceptiveness about baby’s needs
o Promptness of response to baby’s signals.

Question 4

Antecedents of disorganised attachment

Answer 4

• frightening or frightened behaviour in the attachment figure
• intrusive/insensitive caregiving, abuse and neglect in first year of life.
• Researchers have begun to look beyond maltreatment as leading to Disorganised Attachment: communication errors, role/boundary confusion, intrusiveness/negativity and withdrawal.

Question 5

cross cultural attachment

Answer 5

1. Universality Hypothesis: (when you give the infant the opportunity they will attach)
2. Normativity hypothesis: (if the child is in a normal environment they will securely attach)
3. Sensitivity Hypothesis: (to be securely attached requires caregiver sensitivity)
4. Competence Hypothesis: secure attachment leads to positive outcomes in child’s development.

Question 6

Anxity/avoidance and attachment stylrs

Answer 6

Low anxiety + low avoidance = Secure

Low avoidance + high anxiety = anxious/ambivalent

High anxiety + high avoidance = disorganised

High avoidance + low anxiety = resistant/avoidant

Question 7

Attachment style
veiw of self/others
descriptions
intimiacy

Answer 7

Question 8

Assessment of attachment

Answer 8

Attachment
- Family history and collateral info (eg early bonding, maternal stress/dx etc)
- Idea family dynamics
- Goodness of fit bwtn parent and child
- Intimate rela history
- Attachment questionnaires
- Reactive attachment dx and disinhibited social engagement dx

Question 9

Causes

Answer 9

Genetic - temprament (not attachment style)

Mis-fit between parent child (if child difficult temperament parent likely same makes it even worst)

Number/order of child

Question 10

Tx

Answer 10

CBT
- Relaxation techniques/coping strategies
- Challenge cognitions that are barriers to expressing emotions (eg ppl will reject me/don’t care, any experiences of that not being true?)
- Challenge catastrophic cognitions re emotions (i’m happy or in danger zone, living in emotional extremes)

Question 11

Internal Working Models:

Answer 11

Internal working models are like cognitive maps that can evolve with experience over time (impacted by quality of attachment relationship)
NB. insecure attachment ppl likely to dismiss info/exps that contradict IWM

Question 12

Always good to be securely attached

Answer 12

. some environments insecure attachment may be adaptive eg abusive parent - anxious avoidant (not seek out parent)