Lecture #9 Flashcards
1
Q
Rene Spitz & Attachment
A
- Initially observed infants in hospital settings
- Noticed that infants who did not receive regular care from an individual caregiver showed “affect hunger”- emotion, impoverished and diminished emotional development
- That is, the infants showed impoverished emotional development and a desire for affection (early on)
- Point of view of parenting from the medical model Looked at children who were being raised in a hospital
- Hints that parenting had to do with your emotional outcome
2
Q
Harlow and the cupboard theory
A
- The Cupboard Theory of attachment was initially proposed to explain the mother-infant bond
- Infants bonded to the mother because she was a “cupboard” for their needs (e.g., food, water, heat)
- Idea was that you bonded with somebody because they acted like a cupboard. Inside the cupboard you could get food, drink, warmth
3
Q
Significance of Harlow’s monkey experiment
A
- Reinforced the importance of mother and child bonding
- Suggested the same results apply for human infants
- The timing is critical when it comes to separating a child from the mother
- 90 days for monkeys and about 6 months for humans
- Bowlby was a psychoanalytical psychologist interested in studying children
- Synthesized evolution, psychoanalysis, and developmental psychology
- Believed that there is an innate psychological mechanism for promoting a bond between caregiver and infant
- Studying relationships, PSTD and children with psychological problems - Found these children with problems psychologically had problems with their parents
- Called it attachment
4
Q
Tenets of attachment
A
- Emotional bond has a basic survival value (particularly for our ancestors)
- Bond is mediated by the CNS
- Each partner builds a mental working model of the relationship
- That progression is gradual and sets up later mental models
5
Q
Phase one of attachment
A
- Pre-attachment (0-6 weeks): the infant is indifferent to particular caregivers (indiscriminate)
- This is likely due to energetic demands of newborns
Some evidence that newborns do prefer their mothers (prefer her smell)
6
Q
Phase two
A
- Attachment in the making (2-7 months): infants can discriminate between caregivers and start to build a working model of relationships based on experiences
- Begin to learn social rules and norms
- Limited by lack of object permanence (now disrupted)
7
Q
Phase three
A
- Clear cut attachment (7-24 months): stranger and separation anxiety appear
- The mother serves as a secure base from which the child can explore their environment
- Separation is actively protested
8
Q
Phase four
A
- Reciprocal relationships (2yrs+): stranger and separation anxiety begin to diminish as a sense of independent autonomy develops
- Relationship becomes increasingly reciprocal (sharing)
9
Q
Attachment and fathers
A
- Attachment is independent of the age and sex of the caregiver
- Typically studied in mothers because they are typically the primary caregiver, but fathers, grandparents, and teachers, can all form attachments
- Attachments can differ from each other (e.g., secure with Mom, not with Dad)
- Bond can change over time
- Primary attachment bond – who spend the most amount of time with the child
10
Q
Strange-situation test
A
- Developed by Mary Ainsworth (Bowlby’s student) after observing mothers in Uganda
Her goal was to be able to measure attachment - Involves a parent and infant entering a new room that the child then explores
- The child then has to respond to different situations without the parent
- If the infant is distressed, and then quiet upon return, the infant is said to have secure attachment
- If the infant is distressed and then is inconsolable upon the parents return, it is said to have resistant attachment
- A more recent category is disorganized attachment; the label when the child exhibits a mixture of other categories
- Evidence that attachment styles predict later relationships
11
Q
Attachment Groups
A
65%- securely attached
20%- insecure avoidant
15%- insecure resistant
12
Q
Modern Mothers
A
- Mothers are still the primary caregivers
- Women have almost equal power as men (equal rights)
- However, an increasing number of women are working outside of the home
- This has led to conflict in defining the role of mothers and an increase in the number of external caregivers
13
Q
Baumrind’s 4 parenting types
A
- Authoritative
- Expects child to behave in a mature manner
- Uses rewards more than punishments
- Communicates expectations clearly and provides explanations to help the child understand the reasoning behind the expectations
14
Q
Authoritarian
A
- Who relies on coercive techniques to discipline the child and displays a low level of nurturance.
- Coercive techniques include threats or physical punishment
- Places firm limits and controls on the child
- Little verbal exchange between the parent and the child Effects on the child
- Does not exhibit a strong social responsibility or sense of independence
- Appears anxious about social comparison
15
Q
Permissive
A
- Parents who sets few limits on the child’s behaviour
- Makes few demands on mature behaviour
- Allows child to make own decisions about routine behaviours including TV viewing, bedtime, and mealtimes
- Can be moderate to very nurturant
