Chapter 8 Flashcards
Social bonds
are hypothetical links between known people that induce a sense of happiness or well-being in the presence of the bonded other and a sense of wanting or longing (perhaps even distress) in their absence
Love
the emotion that is associated with being in an attachment relationship
Attachment
A powerful type of social bond that tends to be limited to particular kinds of relationships (e.g. infant-parent, romantic partners).
Imprinting
The process by which animals (particularly birds) recognize and seek proximity with a mother figure.
Oxytocin
A hormone involved in attachment formation that acts on certain receptors in the brain.
Vasopressin
A similar attachment-forming hormone to oxytocin for which males have greater sensitivity than females.
Strange Situation Test
A measure of attachment during infancy is the infant’s experiences of separations and reunions with a stranger and an attachment figure.
Medial pre-optic area (MPOA)
A region of the hypothalamus that, in many mammalian species, triggers parental behaviors by responding to pregnancy-related hormonal changes.
Securely attached
A type of attachment characterized by proximity seeking with the attachment force and distress at separation.
Insecure/avoidant
A type of attachment characterized by ambivalence towards the attachment fgure and avoidance of contact at reunion.
Insecure/anxious
A type of attachment characterized by extreme distress at separation
Loneliness
A perceived social isolation and/or lack of intimacy.
Pair bonding
A long-enduring attachment with a sexual partner.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
A neural pathway that is activated during stress and produces changes in stress-related hormones such as cortisol.
Grief
An intense feeling of loss that occurs as a result of permanent separation (normally death) from a loved one.
