Child Psychology Flashcards
What is meant by child psychology?
It is part of developmental psychology. child psychologists look at the development of children and adolescents. They look at the impact of early events on development and later relationships, arguments over day care and whether parenting skill can determine autism.
what is proximity seeking?
Wanting to be close to the attachment figure
We use our attachment figure as a secure base. What is secure base behaviour?
exploring the world but constantly coming back to feel secure
what is stranger anxiety?
anxiety in the presence of strangers
What is separation anxiety?
anxiety when apart from the attachment figure
what year was Lorenz?
1935
what did Lorenz (1935) do?
he got baby geese to imprint on him
is imprinting a one way or 2 way bond?
one way bond
why is a 2 way bond better than a one way bond?
because the mother is then motivated to protect and nurture
What did Lorenz come up with and what is it?
Critical period - if you do not form an attachment in this time you never will
what is the critical period for babies
up to 2 years
why does Belsky (1999) say insecure attachment has evolved?
insecure attachment leads to young sexual activity and emotionally less intense adult relationships
In places with high morbidity this is good as the population continues and you will cope better when losing loved ones
what year was Bowlbys theory of attachment?
1957
what is monotropy
having one main attachment figure
what is Bowlbys explanation of attachment and evolution
1 million years ago cave men were at risk of being eaten by wolves and big cats so had to form an attachment in order to survive
definition of social releasers
behaviours babies are born with to get attention off of adults
examples of social releasers (5)
smiling, sucking, gesturing ,gripping and cooing
what is an internal working model?
a mental representation of your first relationship that all other relationships are based on
How do you measure attachment?
The strange situation
what year was Mary Ainsworths study
1967
What are the 8 stages of ainsworths model
1) the child and carer placed in empty room
2) child free to explore
3) stranger enters, greets mother and attempts to pay with child
4) carer leaves the child with stranger
5) carer re-enters and stranger leaves
6) carer leaves the child alone
7) stranger re enters
8) stranger leaves and carer re enters
what are the 3 attachment types?
A: avoidant
B: Secure
C: resistant
what are sensitive and insensitive parents?
sensitive parents can identify their child’s needs effectively and respond to social releasers so have secure babies. Insensitive parents are the opposite.
3 explanations for cultural variations in attachment types
1) Germany - more a’s because they value independence
2) Takahashi (1990) more c’s in Japan because the procedure is not appropriate for Japanese mothers as they are rarely separated and rushed the stages
3) Belsky (1999)
Evaluation of bowlbys evolutionary theory ( 6 points)
+ explains both how and why we form attachments
+Brazelton et al (1975) found when mothers were asked to ignore their babies the babies quickly became distressed showing the importance of responding to social releasers
+Bailey et al (2007) found teenage mums had insecure attachments to both their mums and babies showing the internal working method is right and attachments are passed on
+ has face validity - evolution theory makes sense
- impossible to test so lacks evidence
- ignores relationship with father, what about same sex couples?
who found when mothers were asked to ignore their babies the babies quickly became distressed showing the importance of responding to social releasers
Brazelton et al (1975)
who found teenage mums had insecure attachments to both their mums and babies showing the internal working method is right and attachments are passed on
Bailey et al (2007)
What us deprivation and privation?
deprivation - seperation from the attahcment figure
privation - never forming an attachment with anyone
what year was bowlbys maternal deprivation hypothesis?
1951
what study supports the maternal deprivation hypothesis?
Bowlby (1946) 44 thieves
aim of 44 thieves (1946)
to see if those with an early separation were more likely to be affectionless psychopaths or not
participants in 44 thieves (1946)
44 teenagers at the child guidance clinic. all took part in criminal activities and lived with biological parents
procedure of 44 thieves (1946)
bowlby interviewed the teenagers for affectionless psychopath
bowlby interviewed parents to determine any prolonged separation
a control group of non delinquents was used to see how common maternal deprivation is in them