Chapter 11: Attachment to Others and Development of Self Flashcards
MIDTERM 2
adult attachment models
working models of attachment in adulthood that are believed to be based on adults’ perceptions of their own childhood experiences–especially their relationships with their parents–and of the influence of these experiences on them as adults
attachment theory
theory based on John Bowlby’s work that posits that children are biologically predisposed to develop attachments with caregivers as a means of increasing the chances of their own survival
attachment
an emotional bond with a specific person that is enduring across space and time. Usually, attachments are discussed in regard to the relation between infants and specific caregivers, although they can also occur in adulthood
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 often confused or even contradictory, and they often appear dazed or disoriented
ethnic identity
individuals’ sense of belonging to an ethnic or racial group, including the degree to which they associate their thinking, perceptions, feelings, and behavior with membership in that group
foreclosure status
a category of identity status in which the individual is not engaged in any identity experimentation and has established a vocational or ideological identity based on the choices or values of others
identity achievement
an integration of various aspects of the self into a coherent whole that is stable over time and across events
identity confusion
an incomplete and sometimes incoherent sense of self that often occurs in Erikson’s stage of identity versus identity confusion
identity foreclosure
premature commitment to an identity without adequate consideration of other options
identity versus identity confusion
the psychosocial stage of development, described by Erikson, that occurs during adolescence. During this stage, the adolescent or young adult either develops an identity or experiences an incomplete and sometimes incoherent sense of self
identity-achievement status
a category of identity status in which, after a period of exploration, the individual has achieved a coherent and consolidated identity based on personal decisions regarding occupation, ideology, and the like. The individual believes that these decisions were made autonomously and is committed to them
identity-diffusion status
a category of identity status in which the individual does not have firm commitments and is not making progress toward them
imaginary audience
the belief, stemming from adolescent egocentrism, that everyone else is focused on the adolescent’s appearance and behavior
insecure attachment
a pattern of attachment in which infants or young children have a less positive attachment to their caregiver than do securely attached children. Insecurely attached children can be classified as insecure/resistant (ambivalent), insecure/avoidant, or disorganized/disoriented
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. In the Strange Situation, they seem indifferent toward their caregiver before the caregiver leaves the room and indifferent or avoidant when the caregiver returns. If the infant gets upset when left alone, he or she is as easily comforted by a stranger as by a parent
insecure/resistant (or ambivalent) 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 get very upset when the caregiver leaves them alone in the room, and they are not readily comforted by strangers. When their caregiver returns, they are not easily comforted and both seek comfort and resist efforts by the caregiver to comfort them
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
moratorium status
a category of identity status in which the individual is in the phase of experimentation with regard to occupational and ideological choices and has not yet made a clear commitment to them
negative identity
identity that stands in opposition to what is valued by people around the adolescent
parental sensitivity
an important factor contributing to the security of an infant’s attachment. Parental sensitivity can be exhibited in a variety of ways, including responsive caregiving when an infant is distressed or upset and engaging in coordinated play with the infant
personal fable
a form of adolescent egocentrism that involves beliefs in the uniqueness of one’s own feelings and thoughts
psychosocial moratorium
a time-out during which the adolescent is not expected to take on adult roles and can instead pursue activities that may lead to self-discovery
secure attachment
a pattern of attachment in which infants or young children have a high-quality, relatively unambivalent relationship with their attachment figure. In the Strange Situation, a securely attached infant, for example, 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
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
self
a conceptual system made up of one’s thoughts and attitudes about oneself
self-esteem
one’s overall evaluation of the worth of the self and the feelings that this evaluation engenders
sexual orientation
a person’s preference in regard to males or females as objects of erotic feelings
sexual-minority youth
young people who experience same-sex attractions and for whom the question of personal sexual identity is often confusing and painful
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
Strange Situation
a procedure developed by Mary Ainsworth to assess infants’ attachment to their primary caregiver
