Child development: ATTACHMENT Flashcards
What is John Bowlby’s attachment theory?
Early life experienecs strongly influence later adult functioning and vulnerability to psychopathology.
What are three benefits of secure attachment?
- Child has better view of self & self in relation to others
- Social competence
- Better regulation of emotions (expression, recognition, dealing with stress)
At what age is the ‘pre-attachment’ stage?
0-2 months
What developmental stage is 0-2 months?
Pre-attachment
At what age is the ‘attachment in the making’ stage?
2-7 months
At what age is the ‘clear-cut attachment’ stage?
7-24 months
At what age is the ‘goal corrected partnership’ stage?
24 months+
What developmental stage is 2-7 months?
Attachment in the making
What developmental stage is 7-24 months?
Clear-cut attachment
What developmental stage is 24+ months?
Goal corrected partnership
At what age does stranger anxiety occur?
Around 10 months
At what age does separation distress occur?
Around 12 months
Who created the ‘strange situation’ study?
Mary Ainsworth
What creates a securely attached child?
Parents who consistently (or almost always) respond to their child’s needs will create securely attached children. Such children are certain that their parents will be responsive to their needs and communications.
What did Field et al find in 1982 regarding the child/parent relationship?
Babies will mirror the facial expressions of their mothers
What did Harlow and Harlow find are key maternal qualities when studying monkeys?
Food, warmth, contact, rocking
What are four characteristics of attachments in young children?
- Selective
- Involve physical proximity seeking
- Provide comfort and security
- Produce separation distress
What are the four types of attachment?
Secure, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant, disorganised
In the strange situation study, what is the reaction of a securely attached child?
Child stays close to mum, upset by her leaving and greets her positively.
In the strange situation study, what is the reaction of an insecurely aviodant attached child?
Avoids contact with mum on reunion, ok when left with stranger
In the strange situation study, what is the reaction of an insecurely resistant attached child?
Very upset by mum leaving, on return difficult to console, child both seeks comfort and resists it.
What type of attachment means the child stays close to mum, is upset by her leaving and greets her positively in the strange situation study?
Secure
What type of attachment means the child avoids contact with mum on reunion and is ok when left with stranger in the strange situation study?
Insecure avoidant
What type of attachment means the child is very upset by mum leaving, on return is difficult to console, both seeks comfort and resists in the strange situation study?
Insecure resistant
What did the Minnesota Longitudinal Study find?
5 year old children who had been insecurely attached as infants were:
- more reliant on teachers
- more socially isolated
- more often rated by teachers as passive and easily frustrated.
