Psychology - Attachment

Question 1

Define attachment?

Answer 1

-Lasting psychological CONNECTION between human beings.

-ATTUNEMENT and RESPONSIVENESS of caregiver to child

Question 2

What is the value of secure attachment?

Answer 2

-Provides a SECURE base for GROWTH and LEARNING

• Enables child to develop TRUSTING and EMPATHETIC relationships

Question 3

4 attachment styles

Answer 3

• Secure: needs CONSISTENTLY met by caregiver –> WELL ADJUSTED adults
• Avoidant: needs consistently IGNORED –> struggle with emotional INTIMACY
• Anxious: INCONSISTENT responsiveness –> ANXIOUS adults
• Disorganised: THREATENING and fear inducing –> unable to trust people

Question 4

Conditions for building secure attachment?

Answer 4

• Caregiver RESPONDS sensitively and appropriately to childs needs
• INTERPRETS signals accurately
• CONSISTENT, predictable, adaptable and reliable to enable a trust bond to form

-Appreciate the child’s PERSPECTIVE (see them as their own person)

• in secure attachment, child misses parent when absent and seeks proximity on their return

Question 5

How do children cope with serious disease?

Answer 5

Safety seeking behaviours and attachment

• Presenting as a younger child
• Not wanting to be left by parent
• Highly expressed emotion
• Withdrawal

Question 6

How do parents cope with serious disease?

Answer 6

Own ATTACHMENT processes activated

• May want to AVOID the situation (hospital)
• Want a lot of REASSURANCE
• May NEGLECT other children