Psychology - Attachment Flashcards
1
Q
What is attachment?
A
Attachment is an emotional bond between two people in which each seeks closeness and feels more secure when in the presence of the attachment figure.
2
Q
How are caregiver-infant interactions typically initiated?
A
Caregiver-infant interactions are baby-led, with the adult responding to the behavior of the baby.
3
Q
What is reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions?
A
Reciprocity is a form of interaction where the infant and caregiver respond to each other’s signals, eliciting responses from one another.
4
Q
Give an example of reciprocity.
A
Smiling – when a baby smiles, it triggers a smile in the caregiver, and vice versa.
5
Q
Why is reciprocity important for development?
A
Reciprocity influences a child’s physical, social, and cognitive development, forming the basis for trust or mistrust and shaping future relationships.
6
Q
What did Jaffe et al. observe about newborns and reciprocity?
A
From birth, babies move in a rhythm during interactions, resembling the turn-taking in a conversation.
7
Q
What is interactional synchrony?
A
Interactional synchrony is when two individuals mirror each other’s emotions and behaviors during interaction.
8
Q
Provide an example of interactional synchrony.
A
A caregiver laughing in response to an infant’s giggling sound and tickling them.
9
Q
How does a caregiver’s attentiveness affect interactional synchrony?
A
Synchrony develops best when the caregiver attends to the baby’s state, stimulates playfully when appropriate, and avoids overstimulation when the baby is tired.
10
Q
What did Heimann find about imitation and relationship quality?
A
Infants who demonstrate a lot of imitation early tend to have better quality relationships at 3 months, although causation is unclear.
11
Q
What are the limitations of research on interactional synchrony?
A
Observations may not reveal whether infant behaviors are deliberate or unconscious, making it hard to determine the special meaning of these behaviors.
12
Q
What are the stages of attachment development identified by Schaffer and Emerson?
A
- Asocial stage (0-6 weeks)
- Indiscriminate attachments (6 weeks-7 months)
- Specific attachment (7-9 months)
- Multiple attachments (10+ months)
13
Q
What behaviors indicate the development of specific attachment?
A
Fear of strangers and distress when separated from a particular caregiver.
14
Q
What is sensitive responsiveness?
A
The ability of a caregiver to respond accurately to a baby’s signals, crucial for forming strong attachments.
15
Q
What are some criticisms of the Schaffer and Emerson study?
A
Low population validity, small sample size, unreliable diary data, and lack of historical validity due to changing gender roles.
16
Q
What is the significance of multiple attachments in infants?
A
By 18 months, most infants form multiple attachments that vary in strength, often structured in a hierarchy.
17
Q
How would you explain Laura’s distress when her mother drops her off at the childminder?
A
Laura, at 7 months, is in the specific attachment stage. Her distress shows separation anxiety, a normal behavior in this stage.
18
Q
How long might Laura’s separation anxiety last?
A
This behavior typically diminishes as she transitions into the multiple attachments stage around 10 months.
19
Q
What roles do fathers typically adopt compared to mothers in child-rearing?
A
Fathers usually adopt a play-mate role, engaging in physical games and encouraging risk-taking, whereas mothers often take a caregiving and nurturing role.
20
Q
When do infants typically prefer contact with their fathers versus their mothers?
A
Infants prefer fathers when in a positive emotional state and wanting to play, and mothers when distressed and seeking comfort.
21
Q
What factors affect the role of the father in attachment?
A
Culture, the father’s age, time spent away from home, and psychological factors such as emotional sensitivity.
22
Q
What did Field’s research suggest about the father’s ability to be a primary caregiver?
A
Fathers can adopt behaviors typical of mothers when in the main caregiver role, showing that responsiveness, not gender, determines attachment.
23
Q
How do cultural and social policies influence the role of fathers?
A
Cultural expectations and policies like paternity leave shape fathers’ involvement. For instance, lack of paternal leave in the UK historically reinforced mothers as primary caregivers.
24
Q
What did Harlow’s study with rhesus monkeys demonstrate about attachment?
A
Attachment is based on contact comfort rather than food, as monkeys spent more time with a cloth-covered surrogate than a wire one that provided food.
25
What are criticisms of Harlow’s study?
Ethical concerns due to emotional harm caused to the monkeys, limited generalizability to humans, and confounding variables (e.g., differing appearances of surrogate mothers).
26
How does Harlow’s study relate to real-life implications, such as robotic caregiving?
It suggests emotional care is vital, so replacing human caregivers with robots could negatively affect children’s emotional development.
27
What is imprinting, according to Lorenz?
Imprinting is the process where young animals attach to the first moving object they see during a critical period (12-17 hours post-hatching).
28
What did Lorenz’s research suggest about attachment?
Attachment is innate and occurs during a critical period, supporting the idea that attachment behaviors are biologically programmed.
29
What are criticisms of Lorenz’s theory?
Imprinting may not be irreversible, as Hoffman and Guiton found that animals could form normal behaviors after exposure to their own species.
30
What does the learning theory of attachment propose?
Attachment is learned through classical conditioning (association of caregiver with food) and operant conditioning (reinforcement from interaction).
31
How has research contradicted the learning theory?
Harlow’s monkeys preferred comfort over food, and Schaffer and Emerson found infants attached to those who responded sensitively, not just feeders.
32
What is a limitation of the learning theory?
It oversimplifies human attachment by focusing solely on learned behaviors and neglecting innate biological predispositions.
33
What does Bowlby’s monotropic theory emphasize about attachment?
Attachment is vital for survival, is biologically programmed, and involves a primary attachment figure (monotropy).
34
What is the critical period for forming attachment, according to Bowlby?
The critical period is between 0–2.5 years, during which attachment must form, or it may not occur at all.
35
What is the internal working model in Bowlby’s theory?
It is a cognitive framework from early attachment experiences that influences future relationships and interactions.
36
What evidence supports Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
Lorenz’s imprinting study and Ainsworth’s Strange Situation provide support, showing the importance of a primary attachment figure and internal working models.
37
What are criticisms of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
Schaffer and Emerson found multiple attachments are common, and research like Van Ijzendoorn suggests networks of caregivers can provide better support than a single figure.
38
What was the main aim of Ainsworth and Bell's Strange Situation study?
To observe and assess the attachment behaviors of infants in a controlled setting when exposed to situations of separation and reunion with their caregiver and interactions with a stranger.
39
What type of study design was used in the Strange Situation?
A controlled observation.
40
Who were the participants in the Strange Situation study?
About 100 middle-class American infants and their mothers.
41
What was the primary method of observation in the Strange Situation study?
Observing the child’s behavior from behind a one-way mirror to ensure the child was unaware of being observed.
42
What behaviors were the observers specifically noting in the Strange Situation?
Willingness to explore, separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, and reunion behavior.
43
What does the Strange Situation procedure simulate?
The flow of familiar and unfamiliar presence in a child’s everyday life.
44
How do securely attached infants respond to separation anxiety?
They show distress when the mother leaves.
45
How do resistant infants respond to separation anxiety?
They show intense distress when the mother leaves.
46
How do avoidant infants respond to separation anxiety?
They show no sign of distress when the mother leaves.
47
What is the response of securely attached infants to stranger anxiety?
They avoid strangers when alone but are friendly when the mother is present.
48
How do resistant infants respond to stranger anxiety?
They avoid the stranger and show fear of the stranger.
49
How do avoidant infants respond to stranger anxiety?
They are okay with the stranger and play normally when the stranger is present.
50
How do securely attached infants behave during reunion with the mother?
They are positive and happy when the mother returns.
51
How do resistant infants behave during reunion with the mother?
They approach the mother but resist contact and may even push her away.
52
How do avoidant infants behave during reunion with the mother?
They show little interest when the mother returns.
53
How do securely attached infants use their mother in relation to their environment?
They use the mother as a safe base to explore their environment.
54
How do resistant infants interact with their environment?
They cry more and explore less than the other attachment types.
55
How do avoidant infants interact with their environment?
Both the mother and stranger can equally comfort them.
56
What percentage of infants are classified as securely attached?
70%
57
What percentage of infants are classified as resistant?
15%.
58
What percentage of infants are classified as avoidant?
15%.
59
What are the main characteristics of secure attachment?
1. Infants are upset when left alone by the mother.
2. Infants are happy when the mother returns and seek contact.
3. Infants avoid the stranger when alone but are friendly when the mother is present.
4. Infants use the mother as a safe base to explore their environment.
60
What causes secure attachment?
The mother meets the emotional needs of the infant.
61
What are the main characteristics of insecure-avoidant attachment?
1. Infants are unconcerned by the mother’s absence.
2. Infants show little interest when reunited with the mother.
3. Infants strongly avoid both the mother and the stranger, showing no motivation to interact with either adult.
62
What causes insecure-avoidant attachment?
The mother ignores the emotional needs of the infant
63
What are the main characteristics of insecure-resistant/ambivalent attachment?
1. Infants are clingy to their mother and unwilling to explore.
2. Infants are extremely distressed when left alone.
3. Infants cannot be comforted by a stranger.
4. Infants may show anger toward the mother even when seeking comfort.
64
What causes insecure-resistant/ambivalent attachment?
The mother sometimes meets the infant’s needs and sometimes ignores them, showing inconsistent behavior.
65
What type of attachment is Johan displaying if he treats strangers and parents the same?
Johan is displaying disinhibited attachment, likely due to early experiences in an institution with little emotional care.
66
What is disinhibited attachment?
It is a type of insecure attachment where children are overly friendly, clingy, attention-seeking, and indiscriminately attach to adults, including strangers.
67
What did Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg’s (1988) meta-analysis find about attachment styles?
1. Secure attachment was the majority style across cultures (70%).
Western cultures like 2. Germany had high levels of insecure-avoidant.
3. Eastern cultures like Japan had high levels of insecure-resistant.
4. China had an equal number of avoidant and resistant infants.
68
What was a major criticism of Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg’s study?
1. Many studies had biased samples that were not representative of each culture.
2. The Strange Situation procedure may be ethnocentric, reflecting American norms and values.
69
What does Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis suggest?
Continual disruption of the attachment bond with the primary caregiver can lead to long-term cognitive, social, and emotional difficulties.
70
What are the effects of maternal deprivation? (Use ADDIDDAS)
Aggression, Delinquency, Dwarfism, Intellectual retardation, Depression, Dependency, Affectionless Psychopathy, and Social maladjustment.
71
What was the key finding of Bowlby’s 44 Juvenile Thieves study?
14 of the 44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths, and 12 of these had experienced prolonged maternal separation in their first two years.
72
What were the findings of Rutter’s study on Romanian orphans?
1. Children adopted before 6 months showed normal emotional development.
2. Those adopted after 6 months often displayed disinhibited attachment and peer problems.
73
What did the Bucharest Early Intervention Project find about attachment?
1. Only 19% of institutionalized children were securely attached.
2. 65% showed disorganized attachment.
3. Many institutionalized children displayed disinhibited attachment.
74
What is the internal working model?
A mental representation of relationships formed during early attachment, which acts as a template for future relationships.
75
How does the internal working model affect childhood relationships?
Securely attached children tend to have higher social competence, better peer relations, and are more confident in interactions.
76
How does the internal working model affect adult romantic relationships?
Early attachment styles influence expectations and attitudes toward adult relationships. Securely attached individuals are more likely to have long-lasting relationships.
77
What is the continuity hypothesis?
The idea that early emotional experiences and attachment styles are consistent with later relationships.
78
What evidence supports the continuity hypothesis?
Hazan and Shaver’s love quiz showed that securely attached individuals tend to have stable relationships, while insecurely attached individuals face difficulties in relationships.
79
What did Rutter’s study on Romanian orphans investigate?
The long-term effects of institutionalization on emotional and social development.
80
What are the findings of Rutter’s study regarding the timing of adoption?
1. Infants adopted before 6 months showed normal emotional development.
2. Infants adopted after 6 months often showed disinhibited attachment and peer problems.
81
What is disinhibited attachment?
A type of insecure attachment where children are overly friendly and clingy with strangers, showing a lack of discrimination in attachment figures.
82
What did the Bucharest Early Intervention Project find about institutionalized children?
1. Only 19% of institutionalized children were securely attached.
2. 65% were classified as disorganized attachment.
3 .Institutionalized children often displayed disinhibited attachment.
83
What is the internal working model?
A mental template for future relationships based on early attachment experiences.
84
How does the internal working model affect childhood relationships?
Securely attached children are more confident and socially competent, while insecurely attached children struggle with peer relationships and may rely on teachers for support.
85
What is the continuity hypothesis?
The idea that early attachment experiences predict later relationship patterns.
86
How does the internal working model influence adult relationships?
1. Securely attached individuals tend to have long-lasting romantic relationships.
2. Insecurely attached individuals may struggle with relationships and view love as rare.
87
What research supports the internal working model’s role in adult relationships?
1. Hazan and Shaver’s Love Quiz study found links between early attachment styles and attitudes toward romantic relationships.
2. Bailey (2007) found that attachment types are often passed across generations.
88
What is a criticism of the Strange Situation regarding cultural bias?
It was developed in the USA and may not reflect attachment behaviors in other cultures (ethnocentrism).
89
What is the temperament hypothesis?
The idea that an infant’s temperament, rather than attachment experiences, determines their later relationships.
90
What is a strength of Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation theory?
It has real-life applications, such as improving care practices in orphanages and hospitals.
91
What is a limitation of Bowlby’s theory?
It doesn’t account for the quality of substitute care, which can mitigate the effects of deprivation.
92
What is monotropy in Bowlby’s theory?
The idea that infants form a primary attachment to one main caregiver, typically the mother, which is central to their development.
93
What are social releasers?
Innate behaviors (e.g., crying, smiling) exhibited by infants to trigger caregiving responses from adults.
94
What is the continuity hypothesis?
The belief that there is consistency between early emotional experiences (attachment) and later emotional and social relationships.
95
What is the critical vs. sensitive period in attachment?
The critical period (first 2.5 years) is when attachment must form for healthy development. The sensitive period allows for some flexibility, but attachments formed later may be less secure.
96
What is a strength of Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s meta-analysis?
Large sample size improves the reliability of findings and reduces the impact of outliers.
97
What is a limitation of cross-cultural research in attachment?
The Strange Situation might not be valid in all cultures, as it reflects Western norms of caregiving and attachment.
98
How do collectivist and individualist cultures differ in attachment styles?
Collectivist cultures (e.g., Japan) emphasize interdependence, leading to higher rates of insecure-resistant attachments. Individualist cultures (e.g., Germany) value independence, often resulting in more insecure-avoidant attachments.
99
What are some criticisms of Bowlby’s 44 Thieves study?
1. Retrospective data: Relies on participants' memories, which may be inaccurate.
2. Confounding variables: Other factors (e.g., poverty, abuse) may contribute to outcomes.
3. Lack of consideration for substitute emotional care.
100
What real-life applications have arisen from Bowlby’s theory?
Policies for improved child care practices, including hospital stay reforms and adoption procedures to minimize separation.
101
What does institutionalization refer to in the context of Romanian orphan studies?
The effects on development when children are raised in institutions with minimal emotional care and stimulation.
102
What are the long-term effects of institutionalization?
1. Physical underdevelopment (stunted growth).
2. Intellectual impairments.
3. Emotional problems, including disinhibited attachment.
103
How does Rutter’s research challenge Bowlby’s idea of an irreversible critical period?
Rutter found that children adopted before 6 months could recover and form secure attachments, suggesting a sensitive rather than critical period.
104
How does secure attachment in infancy influence later life?
Securely attached individuals typically have better peer relationships, higher self-esteem, and more successful romantic relationships.
105
What challenges might insecure-resistant children face later in life?
They may struggle with trust and dependency, leading to clingy or controlling behaviors in relationships.
106
How does insecure-avoidant attachment affect adult relationships?
Adults may avoid closeness, struggle with intimacy, and view love as less important.
107
What did Hazan and Shaver aim to study?
The relationship between early attachment styles and attitudes toward romantic relationships in adulthood.
108
What were the findings of Hazan and Shaver’s Love Quiz?
1. Securely attached individuals had more trusting, long-term relationships.
2. Avoidant individuals were more skeptical of love and feared intimacy.
3. Resistant individuals were preoccupied with love and prone to jealousy.
109
What is a limitation of Hazan and Shaver’s research?
Self-report measures are subject to bias and may lack reliability.
110
What is disorganized attachment?
A type of attachment where a child displays inconsistent behaviors, often resulting from fear or neglect by the caregiver.
111
What causes disorganized attachment?
Often associated with abuse, trauma, or highly inconsistent caregiving.
112
How does disorganized attachment manifest in adulthood?
Adults may have difficulty forming secure relationships and may exhibit erratic behavior.
113
Why is Bowlby’s theory considered reductionist?
It focuses heavily on biological and evolutionary factors, ignoring environmental influences like poverty and education.
114
How do learning theories challenge Bowlby’s attachment theory?
Learning theories suggest attachment is based on reinforcement (feeding and care) rather than innate biological processes.
115
What evidence supports Bowlby’s evolutionary explanation of attachment?
Lorenz’s geese study demonstrated imprinting, showing attachment is innate and adaptive.
116
What is a criticism of the Strange Situation's validity?
It may measure temperament (a child’s innate personality) rather than attachment quality.
117
How does attachment influence childhood friendships?
Securely attached children tend to be more popular and socially skilled, while insecurely attached children are more likely to be isolated or bullied.
118
What did Myron-Wilson and Smith find about attachment and bullying?
1. Secure children are less likely to be involved in bullying.
2. Insecure-avoidant children are more likely to be victims.
3 .Insecure-resistant children are more likely to be bullies.
119
What does the Adult Attachment Interview measure?
Adults' reflections on their early attachment experiences and their influence on current relationships.
120
How is the AAI used to study intergenerational attachment?
It identifies patterns of attachment transmission from parents to children based on caregivers’ own attachment histories.
