Chapter 14 Flashcards
attachment theory
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
attachment
a strong affectional tie that binds a person to an intimate companion and is characterized by affection and desire to maintain proximity
imprinting
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
oxytocin
a hormone that plays important roles in facilitating parent-infant attachment as well as reducing anxiety and encouraging affiliation in other social relationships
bonding
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
internal working model
in attachment theory, cognitive representation of self and other that children construct from their interactions with caregivers and that shape their expectations about relationships
peer
a social equal
chumship
according to Sullivan, a close friendship in childhood that provides emotional support and teaches children how to participate in intimate relationships
self-conscious emotion
a “secondary emotion” such as embarrassment or pride that requires an awareness of self; unlikely to emerge until about 18 months of age
social referencing
Infants monitoring of companions emotional reactions in ambiguous situations and use of this information to decide how they should feel and behave
emotion regulation
the process involved in initiating, maintaining, and altering emotional responses
synchronized routines
harmonious, dance like interaction between infant and caregiver in which each adjusts behavior in response to that of the other
goal-corrected partnership
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
separation anxiety
a wary or fretful reaction that infants display when separated from their attachment objects
stranger anxiety
a wary or fretful reaction that infants often display when approached by an unfamilar person
secure base
a point of safety, represented by an infant’s attachment figure, that permits exploration of the environment
Strange Situation
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
secure attachment
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
resistant attachment
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
avoidant attachment
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
disorganized disorientated attachment
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
contact comfort
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
dis-inhibited attachment
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
pretend play
symbolic play in which one actor, object, or action symbolizes or stands for another
