Child development Flashcards
What is the attachment theory?
Early life experiences strongly influence later adult functioning and vulnerability to psychopathology- secure vs insecure attachment
Who made the attachment theory?
John Bowlby
Who classified aged 18-25 as an emerging adult?
Jeffrey Arnett
What occurs during aged 18-25 as an emerging adult?
Re-evaluation of parent-child relationship: autonomy, switches from role of a dependent to a fellow adult
What is secure attachment?
Positive internal working models and emotion regulation ability.
What are the stages of attachment?
- 0-2 months pre-attachment
- 2-7 months attachment-in-the-making
- 7-24 months clear-cut attachment
- 24 months+ goal-corrected partnership
stranger anxiety ~ 10 months
separation distress ~ 12 months
Who came up with the stages of attachment?
John Bowlby
What are the practical consequences of attachment?
Effects of separation during childhood- hospital care, effects of divorce/bereavement
Effects of failure to achieve early secure attachment- for adult relationships, psychological health and well being
What is the function of attachment?
Helpless infant- mutual responsiveness. Attachment grows, exploration grows and then eventually so does autonomy.
Who studies monkeys to see want food or care giving and companionship?
Harlow and Harlow
What are the key maternal qualities the monkeys wanted?
- Food
- Warmth
- Contact
What are the characteristics of attachment in young children?
Attachments in young children:
- are selective
- involve physical proximity seeking
- provide comfort and security
- produce separation distress
Who came up with ‘the strange situation’ where you study didn’t type of attachment
Ainsworth
What is secure attachment?
Secure- child stays quite close to mum; upset by leaving her; greets positively
What is insecure (avoidant attachment)?
Insecure (avoidant)- avoids contact with mum on reunion; OK when left with stranger
What is insecure (resistant attachment)?
Very upset by mum leaving; return difficult to console; both seeks comfort and resists
What are the categorisations at 12 months of attachment?
Secure, insecure (avoidant; resistant), disorganised
What is the internal working model?
Mental representation of relationship with primary care giver which becomes a template for future relationships, allow individuals to process and control external world
How does the primary care’s behaviour affect a child’s internal working model?
Caregiver (maternal) sensitivity:
• perceive/interpret signals/communication in infant’s behaviour and respond
• concept vs the scale
Mind-mindedness:
• caregivers’ tendency to treat their children as individuals with minds to their own; enabling caregivers to ‘tune in’ to what their infants may be thinking or feeling
• appropriate vs non-attuned behaviour
How does attachment continue into adulthood?
Secure in adults- comfortable in relationships and able to seek support from partner
Avoidant now becomes dismissive- greater sense of autonomy, tend to cut themselves off emotionally from a partner
Resistant now becomes a fear of rejection and a strong desire to maintain closeness.
What is sure start?
Children centres looking after disadvantaged children
Mirroring expression- what is it?
Even at 12 hours old, baby will mirror expression of primary caregiver showing development of attachment. Reciprocal response. There is evidence that a foetus develops attachment to mother.
