L13 - Attachment Theory Flashcards
how are PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS LINKED TO ATTACHMENT?
PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS can be LINKED to ATTACHMENT PROBLEMS in CHILDHOOD.
SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS of PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS are LINKED TO ATTACHMENT, e.g PROTEST AT LOSS OF ATTACHMENT FIGURE is SIMILAR TO SEPARATION PROTEST SEEN IN INFANTS.
People with CHILDHOOD ATTACHMENT PROBLEMS form parasocial relationships to MEET THEIR NEED for ATTACHMENT/AFFECTION
how do SOME EXPERTS use ATTACHMENT to EXPLAIN PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS? - PT 1
SOME PSYCHOLOGISTS use BOWLBY’S MONOTROPIC THEORY and MATERNAL DEPRIVATION THEORY to EXPLAIN PARASOCIAL RELAITONSHIPS
BOWLBY note that FAILURE to FORM A MONOTROPIC ATTACHMENT BEFORE THE CRITICAL PERIOD of TWO YEARS OF AGE, or DEVELOPING A POOR ATTACHMENT, had SEVERAL LONG TERM IMPACTS
People can become AFFECTIONLESS PSYCHOPATHS, develop a POOR INTERNAL WORKING MODEL, become DELINQUENTS etc
how do SOME EXPERTS use ATTACHMENT to EXPLAIN PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS? - PT 2
BOWLBY’S THEORIES PREDICT that individuals who DIDN’T FORM A STRONG BOND with a PRIMARY CAREGIVER in EARLY CHILDHOOD will try to find an ATTACHMENT SUBSTITUTE AS ADULTS, and ENGAGING in PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS ALLOWS THEM TO DO THIS.
how are ATTACHMENT TYPES LINKED to FORMING PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS? - PT 1
According to the DESCRIPTION of the TYPES OF ATTACHMENT by AINSWORTH, individuals who formed INSECURE-RESISTANT RELATIONSHIPS with their PRIMARY CAREGIVER in EARLY CHILDHOOD will be MORE LIKELY to FORM PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.
This is because they are TOO AFRAID of the CRITICISM and REJECTION that are a PART OF REAL LIFE RELATIONSHIPS.
As was demonstrated by AINSWORTH’S FINDINGS in the STRANGE SITUATION STUDY, INSECURE-RESISTANT CHILDREN are VERY CLINGY TO THEIR MOTHERS and show LESS EXPLORATVE BEHAVIOUR than CHILDREN OF OTHER ATTACHMENT TYPES, as they DO NOT FEEL SAFE ENOUGH to LEAVE THEIR PARENT.
how are ATTACHMENT TYPES LINKED to FORMING PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS? - PT 2
They also SHOW GREAT DISTRESS when their MOTHERS LEAVE THE ROOM
According to HAZAN and SHAVER this behaviour TRANSLATES into CLINGY AND JEALOUS BEHAVIOUR in ADULTHOOD, making it DIFFICULT for people to DEVELOP COMMITTED and LASTING ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
INTENSIVE PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS allows people with an INSECURE-RESISTANT ATTACHMENT STYLE to ENGAGE IN A FANTASY about the PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS, WITHOUT THE RISK OF REJECTION
+ COLE and LEETS (EVALUATION OF ATTACHMENT THEORY)
+ COLE and LEETS found that individuals with an INSECURE-RESISTANT ATTACHMENT STYLE were MORE LIKELY to ENGAGE IN PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS with their FAVOURITE TV PERSONALITY, and INSECURE-AVOIDANT individuals were the LEAST LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
This suggests there is a RELATIONSHIP between EARLY ATTACHMENT in CHILDHOOD and ADULT PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
+ STALKERS (EVALUATION OF ATTACHMENT THEORY)
+ RESEARCH has found that 63% OF STALKERS EXPERIENCED LOSS OF A PRIMARY CAREGIVER IN CHILDHOOD usually from PARENTAL SEPARATION
50% reported CHILDHOOD EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL or SEXUAL ABUSE from their PRIMARY CAREGIVERS.
This SUPPORTS THE IDEA that DISTURBED ATTACHMENT in CHILDHOOD is RELATED TO EXTREME FORMS of PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS as an ADULT
+ PATHOLOGICAL ATTACHMENT TYPES (EVALUATION OF ATTACHMENT THEORY)
+ A STUDY found that ADULTS with INSECURE ATTACHMENT TYPES had POSTIIVE ATTITUDES to OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOURS AND STALKING
PATHOLOGICAL ATTACHMENT TYPES TEND TO STALK which IMPLIES STALKING is RELATED TO CHILDHOOD ATTACHMENT
- NOT VALID (EVALUATION OF ATTACHMENT THEORY)
- RESEARCH STUDIES into the LINK BETWEEN INFANT ATTACHMENT TYPE and PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS RELY ON PPS’ MEMORIES about their EARLY LIVES IN ORDER TO ASSESS THEIR INFANT ATTACHMENT STYLE
Such RECOLLECTIONS are LIKELY TO BE FLAWED because OUR MEMORIES OF THE PAST are NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE, meaning the STUDIES ARE NOT VALID
- POSITIVE? (EVALUATION OF ATTACHMENT THEORY)
- PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS aren’t NECESSARILY A BAD THING.
They CAN BE POSITIVE and NOT JUST ABOUT FULFILLING ATTACHMENT NEEDS
For example, they ALLOW FOR A SAFE EXPLORATION OF EMOTIONS and can HELP INDIVIDUALS to REPAIR THEIR SELF ESTEEM to a HIGHER LEVEL so that perhaps in the future they may be able to FORM REAL LIFE RELATIONSHIPS which are JUST AS INTENSE as their PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
