Chapter 14

Question 1

attachment theory

Answer 1

the theory of close relationships developed by Bowlby and Ainsworth and grounded in ethological theory; it says that close emotional bonds such as parent-child attachments are biologically based and contribute to species survival

Question 2

attachment

Answer 2

a strong affectional tie that binds a person to an intimate companion and is characterized by affection and desire to maintain proximity

Question 3

imprinting

Answer 3

an innate form of learning in which the young of certain species will follow and become attached to moving objects (usually moms) during a critical period early in life

Question 4

oxytocin

Answer 4

a hormone that plays important roles in facilitating parent-infant attachment as well as reducing anxiety and encouraging affiliation in other social relationships

Question 5

bonding

Answer 5

more biologically based process in which parent and infant form a connection through contact in the first hours after birth when both are highly alert

Question 6

internal working model

Answer 6

in attachment theory, cognitive representation of self and other that children construct from their interactions with caregivers and that shape their expectations about relationships

Question 7

peer

Answer 7

a social equal

Question 8

chumship

Answer 8

according to Sullivan, a close friendship in childhood that provides emotional support and teaches children how to participate in intimate relationships

Question 9

self-conscious emotion

Answer 9

a “secondary emotion” such as embarrassment or pride that requires an awareness of self; unlikely to emerge until about 18 months of age

Question 10

social referencing

Answer 10

Infants monitoring of companions emotional reactions in ambiguous situations and use of this information to decide how they should feel and behave

Question 11

emotion regulation

Answer 11

the process involved in initiating, maintaining, and altering emotional responses

Question 12

synchronized routines

Answer 12

harmonious, dance like interaction between infant and caregiver in which each adjusts behavior in response to that of the other

Question 13

goal-corrected partnership

Answer 13

In Bowlby’s attachment theory, the most mature phase of attachment in which parent and child accommodate to each other’s needs and the child becomes more independent

Question 14

separation anxiety

Answer 14

a wary or fretful reaction that infants display when separated from their attachment objects

Question 15

stranger anxiety

Answer 15

a wary or fretful reaction that infants often display when approached by an unfamilar person

Question 16

secure base

Answer 16

a point of safety, represented by an infant’s attachment figure, that permits exploration of the environment

Question 17

Strange Situation

Answer 17

a series of mildly stressful experiences involving the departure of the parent and exposure to stranger to which infants are exposed to determine the quality of their attachments; developed by Ainsworth

Question 18

secure attachment

Answer 18

an infant-caregiver bond or intimate relationship in which the individual welcomes close contact, uses the attachment object as a source of comfort, and dislikes but can manage separations

Question 19

resistant attachment

Answer 19

an insecure infant caregiver bond or other intimate relationship characterized by strong separation anxiety and a tendency to show ambivalent reactions to the attachment object upon reunion, seeking and yet resisting contact

Question 20

avoidant attachment

Answer 20

an insecure infant caregiver bond other intimate relationship characterized by little separation anxiety and a tendency to avoid or ignore the attachment object upon reunion

Question 21

disorganized disorientated attachment

Answer 21

an insecure infant-caregiver bond, common among abused children, that combines features of the resistant and avoidant attachment styles and is characterized by the infant’s dazed response to reunion and confusion about whether to approach or avoid the caregiver

Question 22

contact comfort

Answer 22

the pleasurable tactile sensations provided by a parent or a soft, terry cloth mother substitute; believed to foster attachments in infant monkeys and possibly humans

Question 23

dis-inhibited attachment

Answer 23

a disturbed attachment pattern observed in socially deprived children that involves indiscriminate friendliness toward both parents and strangers, and difficulty regulating emotions well enough to participate in real, reciprocal social interactions

Question 24

pretend play

Answer 24

symbolic play in which one actor, object, or action symbolizes or stands for another

Question 25

social pretend play

Answer 25

a form of play that involves both cooperation with playmates and pretend or symbolic activity

Question 26

sociometric techniques

Answer 26

methods for determining who is well liked and popular and who is disliked or neglected in a group

Question 27

co-rumination

Answer 27

excessive discussion and analysis of personal problems with a close friend

Question 28

clique

Answer 28

a small friendship group that interacts frequently

Question 29

crowd

Answer 29

a network of heterosexual cliques that forms during adolescence and facilitates mixed sex social activities

Question 30

social convoy

Answer 30

the changing cadre of significant people who serve as sources of social support to the individual during the life span

Question 31

socioemotional selectivity theory

Answer 31

Carstensen’s notion that our needs change as we grow older and that we actively choose to narrow our range of social partners to those who can best meet our emotional needs

Question 32

positive effect

Answer 32

the tendency of older adults to pay more attention to, better remember, and put more priority on positive information than on negative information

Question 33

homogamy

Answer 33

mate selection or marriage on the basis of similarity in demographic and personal characteristics

Question 34

triangular theory of love

Answer 34

Stemberg’s model describing types of love in terms of three components: passion, intimacy, and decision/commitment

Question 35

consummate love

Answer 35

in theory of love, love with high levels of all three components of love: passion, intimacy, and commitment

Question 36

companionate love

Answer 36

affectionate love characterized by high intimacy and commitment but low passion

Question 37

equity

Answer 37

a balance of contributions and gains in a social relationship that results in neither partner feeling over- or under benefited

Question 38

reactive attachment disorder

Answer 38

a psychiatric diagnosis affecting socially deprived and maltreated children that involves either emotionally withdrawn behavior or “dis-inhibited” attachment that involves indiscriminate interest in people with lack of appropriate wariness of strangers

Question 39

confidant

Answer 39

a spouse, relative, or friend to whom a person feels emotionally close and with whom that a person can share thoughts and feelings.