Child Development: Attachment

Question 1

What are emerging adults? Who was the psychologist that founded this theory?

Answer 1

The transition from adolescent to adults (18 - 25 years). In this stage, the young adults are still dependent on their parents: this includes financially, they may live at home and unmarried.
Psychologist: Jeffery Arnett

Question 2

What is the attachment theory by John Bowlby?

Answer 2

Bowlby defines attachment as a lasting psychological connectedness between human beings. His theory suggests that infants have an innate need to form an attachment bond with a caregiver.

Question 3

What are the functions of secure attachment?

Answer 3

Secure attachment enables children to avoid anxiety and deal with stress. As a result they are able to manage emotions better.

It also helps establish a positive internal working model. According to Bowlby, an internal working model is a mental representation of our relationship with our primary caregiver that becomes a template for future relationships and allows individuals to predict, control and manipulate their environment.

Question 4

What is the effect of separation during childhood such as hospital care, divorce or bereavement?

Answer 4

This can lead to a lack of secure attachment and so can affect adult relationships and can lead to emotional instability. The child can become angry and sad; it can also lead to isolation, loneliness and other social difficulties.

Question 5

What is the stage approach to the development of attachment?

Answer 5

0 - 2 months pre-attachment
2-7 attachment in the making
7 - 24 clear-cut attachment
24+ months goal-correcetd attachment

Question 6

When does stranger anxiety develop?

Answer 6

Around 10 months

Question 7

When does separation distress develop?

Answer 7

Around 12 months

Question 8

What is Harlow and Harlow’s evidence for attachment?

Answer 8

Harlow and Harlow devised an experiment with monkeys to see what young monkeys prioritised. They dressed a robot as a monkey and covered it in a warm blanket. They got another robot that provided the monkeys with food. The monkeys favoured the robot that supplied them with warmth preferentially, supporting the argument that one of the main things needed to secure attachment is comfort. This provided empirical evidence to signify the importance go maternal touch in infant development.

Question 9

How does attachment contribute to individual identity?

Answer 9

Attachment helps to develop autonomy in adolescent and exploration in adulthood.

Question 10

What are the characteristics of attachment in young children?

Answer 10

1. It is selective
2. Involve physical proximity seeking
3. Provide comfort and security
4. Produce seperation distress

Question 11

What is the Strange Situation?

Answer 11

A 7 step investigation undertaken by Ainsworth to measure attachment attachment. The child is subjected to a variety of scenarios with their parent and stranger.

1. Parent and infant are alone. Parent does not participate while infant explores.
2. Stranger enters, converses with parent, then approaches infant. Parent leaves conspicuously.
3. First separation episode: Stranger’s behavior is geared to that of infant.
4. First reunion episode: Parent greets and comforts infant, then leaves again.
5. Second separation episode: Infant is alone.
6. Continuation of second separation episode: Stranger enters and gears behaviour to that of infant.
7. Second reunion episode: Parent enters, greets infant, and picks up infant; stranger leaves conspicuously.

Question 12

What are the four types of attachment?

Answer 12

1. Secure attachment
2. Insecure avoidant attachment
3. Insecure resistant attachment
4. disorganised

Question 13

What are the reactions of children belong to the different types of attachment in the Ainsworth experiment?

Answer 13

Secure: The child initially stays with mum; they are upset by her leaving but greets her positively on return.

Insecure avoidant: Avoids contact with mum on reunion; is not upset by her leaving

Insecure resistant: Very upset by mum leaving but difficult to console on her return. seeks both comfort and resists.

Question 14

How can maternal sensitivity affect attachment?

Answer 14

The mother perceive/interpret signals/communication in infant’s behaviour and respond. This can lead to secure attachment.

Question 15

What is mind-mindedness? What is it applicable ?

Answer 15

caregivers’ tendency to treat their children as individuals with minds of their own; enables caregivers to “tune in” to what their infants may be thinking or feeling

Applicable in the first 12 months.

Question 16

How can the different types of attachment continue into adult relationships?

Answer 16

Secure attachment can lead to comfort in relationships and the ability to seek support from partner.

Insecure avoidant attachment can lead to a greater sense of autonomy but individuals tend to be less emotionally available to the partner.

Insecure resistant attachment can lead to the individual fearing rejection form the partner and a strong desire to maintain closeness.

Question 17

Extra information:

Answer 17

• Attachment status can change
• Insecure attachment does not equal no attachment
• Attachment status can continue through generations
• Attachment to different people develops at later stages
• There is potential for innervation through parenting interventions and sure start centres.