Developmental Psychology: Attachment Flashcards
Harry Harlow
Conducted experiment to determine importance of early attachment between parent and infant with his experiment on infant monkeys. He discovered that the infant monkeys preferred a cloth mother vs a wire nipple mother. “Contact Comfort” was more essential than physical need.
“Therapist Monkey”
A phenomenon from Harlow’s monkey experiment where some monkeys took on the task of integrating a year long isolated monkeys back into society. Monkeys who were isolated for over a year were sexually inept and overly aggressive
John Bowlby
Conducted a study on children who were brought up in institutions (ei foster home/ orphanages) He felt there were stages in the attachment process between birth - 3years.
Mary Ainsworth
Conducted a study on infants’s separation anxiety.
“Strange Situation” Procedure
A study that focuses on infant’s reaction to the separation and reunion. A mother brings the child into a new room with toys. The child is free to explore. A stranger enters. The mother leaves and the stranger plays with the child. The mother returns and the stranger leaves. The mother leaves. The stranger returns. The mother returns and the stranger leaves.
Insecure/ Avoidant Attachment
Infants are not distressed when left alone and avoid contact with mother when she returns.
Secure Attachment
Infants are mildly distressed during separations but greets mother positively.
Insecure/ Resistant Attachment
Infants are distressed during separation and are inclined to resist physical contact when mother returns.
Ainsworth’s Basic Types of Attachment
- Insecure/ Avoidant Attachment
- Secure Attachment
- Insecure/ Resistant Attachment
Konrad Lorenz
Studied the critical period of imprinting.
Imprinting
A rapid formation of an attachment bond between an organism and an object in the environment.
