Chapter 11 Flashcards
Attachment to others and development of the self
Attachment
An emotional bond with a specific person that is enduring across space and time
Attachment theory
Theory based on John Bowlby’s work, which posits that children are biologically predisposed to develop attachments to caregivers as a means of increasing the chances of their own survival
Secure base
Refers to the idea that the presence of a trusted caregiver provides an infant or toddler with a sense of security that makes it possible for the child to explore the environment
Internal working model of attachment
The child’s mental representation of the self, of attachment figure(s), and of relationships in general that is constructed as a result of experiences with caregivers. The working model guides children’s interactions with caregivers and other people in infancy and at older ages
Strange Situation
A procedure developed by Mary Ainsworth to assess infants’ attachment to their primary caregiver
Secure attachment
A pattern of attachment in which infants or young children have a positive and trusting relationship with their attachment figure. In the Strange Situation, a securely attached infant may be upset when the caregiver leaves but may be happy to see the caregiver return, recovering quickly from any distress. When children are securely attached, they can use caregivers as a secure base for exploration
Insecure-resistant attachment
A type of insecure attachment in which infants or young children are clingy and stay close to their caregiver rather than exploring their environment. In the Strange Situation, insecure-resistant infants tend to become very upset when the caregiver leaves them alone in the room. When their caregiver returns, they are not easily comforted and both seek comfort and resist efforts by the caregiver to comfort them
Insecure-avoidant attachment
A type of insecure attachment in which infants or young children seem somewhat indifferent toward their caregiver and may even avoid the caregiver. If the infant gets upset when left alone, they are as easily comforted by a stranger as by a parent
Disorganized/disoriented attachment
A type of insecure attachment in which infants or young children have no consistent way of coping with the stress of the Strange Situation. Their behavior is confused or even contradictory, and they often appear dazed or disoriented
Parental sensitivity
Caregiving behavior that involves the expression of warmth and contingent responsiveness to children, such as when they require assistance or are in distress
Self-concept
A conceptual system made up of one’s thoughts and attitudes about oneself
Social comparison
The process of comparing aspects of one’s own psychological, behavioral, or physical functioning to that of others in order to evaluate oneself
Personal fable
A form of adolescent egocentrism that involves beliefs in the uniqueness of one’s own feelings and thoughts
Imaginary audience
The belief, stemming from adolescent egocentrism, that everyone else is focused on the adolescent’s appearance and behavior
Self-esteem
An individual’s overall subjective evaluation of their own worth and the feelings they have about that evaluation
Identity
A description of the self that is often externally imposed, such as through membership in a group
Identity achievement
An integration of various aspects of the self into a coherent whole that is stable over time and across events
Moratorium
Period in which the individual is exploring various occupational and ideological choices and has not yet made a clear commitment to them
Identity foreclosure
Period in which the individual has not engaged in any identity experimentation and has established a vocational or ideological identity based on the choices or values of others
Identity diffusion
Period in which the individual does not have firm commitments regarding the issues in question and is not making progress toward developing them
Ethnic and racial identity
The beliefs and attitudes an individual has about the ethnic or racial groups to which they belong
Acculturation
The process of adjusting to a new culture while retaining some aspects of one’s culture or origin
Sexual identity
One’s sense of oneself as a sexual being
Sexual orientation
A person’s romantic attraction toward people of the same or different sexes and genders
Sexual minority youth
Young people who experience same-sex attractions
Intersectionality
The complex ways in which a person’s multiple identities, such as their race, gender, or sexual identity, combine with systems of inequality and discrimination related to those various identities to produce unique effects
