Discuss how attachment is important in healthy child development

Question 1

What impact does an insecure attachment have on a child’s biological stress system?

Answer 1

abnormal patterns of cortisol release

Question 2

When does attachment start?

Answer 2

from 7 months

Question 3

What are the negative implications of insecurely attached children?

Answer 3

1. poor emotional and social competence
2. difficulties at school
3. difficulty showing empathy
4. unregulated biological stress system

Question 4

What do securely attached children develop?

Answer 4

1. a positive view of themselves and others
2. trust and confidence in carers
3. sense of security to explore, play and learn

Question 5

A child

• is not upset when mother leaves
• turns away from mother at return
• mood is flat/play not animates

What attachment type do they have?

What parenting style do they receive?

Answer 5

1. avoidant
2. rejecting and interfering

Question 6

How is a secure attachment formed?

Answer 6

1. Child feels fear, discomfort
2. This anxiety leads to attachment behaviour (eg. crying)
3. caregiver’s response re-establishes proximity
4. anxiety decreases
5. attachment behaviour drops
6. child feels safe

Question 7

What are the 4 types of attachment style?

Answer 7

1. secure
2. avoidant
3. ambivalent
4. disorganised

Question 8

A child:

• gets upset when mother leaves
• seeks contact and rejects it
• remains upset/play not animated

What attachment style do they have?

What parenting style do they receive?

Answer 8

ambivalent

inconsistent and unreliable

Question 9

When is attachment relevant to clinical practice?

Answer 9

1. during pre and postnatal reviews
2. when children do not reach the normal developmental milestones
3. when children struggle at school because of behavioural and/or emotional difficulties
4. in clinical populations - such as mood disorders etc.

Question 10

A child:

• displays disorganised and incoherent behaviour
• remains distressed regardless of mother leaving or returning

What attachment style do they have?

What parenting style do they receive?

Answer 10

Disorganised

Neglectful, abusive

Question 11

What do insecurely attached children develop?

Answer 11

• a distorted view of themselves as unworthy of love
• a distorted view of others as emotionally unavailable

Question 12

How can you identify a securely attached child?

Answer 12

• they have sensitive and responsible parents
• they know their carer is available to meet their needs with consistency

Question 13

How can you identify an insecurely attached child?

Answer 13

• they have rejecting, unavailable, inconsistent parents
• they learn that their caregiver is unavailable and unable to meet their needs

Question 14

What is secure attachment classified by?

Answer 14

children who show some distress when their caregiver leaves, but are able to compose themselves quickly when the caregiver returns

Question 15

A child:

• Gets upset when mother leaves
• calms down easily when she returns
• explores environment/animated play

What attachment type do they have?
What parenting style do they receive?

Answer 15

1. Secure
2. consistent, responsive

Question 16

What are 5 positive implications of securely attached children?

Answer 16

1. emotional and social competence
2. greater resilience
3. increased self-esteem and independence
4. positive peer relations
5. better overall psychological health

Question 17

What is attachment?

Answer 17

an enduring emotional relationship between a child and their primary caregiver