L14 - attachment theory

Question 1

attachment theory

Answer 1

• attachment = an emotional bond between two people
  = two way process that endures over time
• early attachment creates internal working model
• securely attached = +ve internal working model
• Bowlby’s continuity hypothesis
• insecure-resistant attachments = most likely to form para-social relationships
  = unfulfilled needs

Question 2

attachment behaviour

Answer 2

• parasocial relationships may be similar to face to face relationships
• proximity seeking = individual aims to reduce the distance between them and their attachment figure e.g. stay informed about favourite celebs
• secure base = little chance of rejection from the attachment figure, so they provide a safe way to explore other relationships
• protest = fans will show raw emotion e.g. crying when attachment figure is lost

Question 3

ads of attachment theory

Answer 3

• stalkers
• insecure attachment

Question 4

stalkers - ads of attachment theory

Answer 4

• psych found supporting research evidence
• 63% of stalkers experienced a loss of a primary caregiver in childhood usually from parental separation
• 50% reported childhood emotional, physical or sexual abuse from primary caregiver
• supports the idea that disturbed attachment is related to extreme forms of parasocial relationships

Question 5

insecure attachment - ads of attachment theory

Answer 5

• psych found viewers had the same -ve response to a loss of parasocial relationships as real life rels
• adults filled a questionnaire
  = asked about relationship to TV character + reaction to loss
  = attachment style noted
• found that anxious-resistant attachment people anticipate the most negative responses
  = supporting the idea that insecure attachment being linked to investment in parasocial relationships

Question 6

research

Answer 6

• research on why some people are more likely to develop parasocial relationships based on attachment style
• insecure-resistant people were most likely to enter parasocial relationships w/ a TV personality
  = person can satisfy unrealistic + unmet needs
• insecure-avoidant individuals were least likely to form parasocial relationships w/ TV personalities
  = find it hard to develop intimate relationships

Question 7

disads of research

Answer 7

• questionnaires (self report techniques)
• contradicting research found that there was no relationship between childhood attachment + mild celeb worship
• there is only a relationship between more intense forms of parasocial relationships + attachment

Question 8

ad of research

Answer 8

• psych found supporting evidence when measuring attraction to celebs
• adults w/ insecure attachment types had +ve attitudes to obsessive behaviours + stalking
• pathological attachment types tend to stalk
  = implies stalking is related to childhood attachment