Psychology - Family, Gender & Culture

Question 1

What is attachment

Answer 1

An enduring emotional relationship between two people (child and primary caregiver)

Question 2

When does attachment start

Answer 2

Very early - from 7 months to 3 yrs

Question 3

What does attachment involve

Answer 3

Physical proximity seeking

Question 4

What does attachment provoke

Answer 4

Separation anxiety

Question 5

What does attachment provide

Answer 5

Comfort, care, security and a safe base of exploration

Question 6

Some innate behaviours/ strategies used by babies

Answer 6

Crying
Looking
Smiling
Cuddling
Preference for caregiver’s face, voice, smell, touch

Question 7

Babies crying

Answer 7

A clear signal

Question 8

Babies looking

Answer 8

Communication strategy

Question 9

Babies smiling

Answer 9

Starts as reflex, becomes social

Question 10

Babies cuddling

Answer 10

Human reflex, allows contact

Question 11

Babies behaviours

Answer 11

May initially appear reflexive or random but are adaptive: enable social interaction

Question 12

Cycle for secure attachment

Answer 12

Safety 
Separation, fear, discomfort 
Anxiety --> attachment behaviour 
Carer's response re-establishes proximity 
Anxiety decreases 
Attachment behaviour drops

Question 13

Parents of securely attached children are

Answer 13

Sensitive, warm and responsive

Question 14

What do securely attached children know

Answer 14

That carer is available to meet their needs with consistency

Question 15

What do securely attached children develop

Answer 15

A +ve view of themselves and others
Trust and confidence in carers
Sense of security/ safety to explore, play, learn

Question 16

What is secure attachment associated with

Answer 16

Emotional and social competence 
Greater resilience 
Higher self-esteem and independence
\+ve peer relations 
Better psychological health (overall)
Secure attachment with own children

Question 17

Avoidant/ ambivalent attachment cycle

Answer 17

Separation, fear, discomfort
Anxiety –> attachment behaviour
Rejecting, indifferent, insensitive, unavailable, inconsistent carers
Fail to comfort, protect, provide safety
Experience of prolonged distress & unregulated emotions
No return to safety

Question 18

Disorganised attachment cycle

Answer 18

Separation, fear, discomfort 
Anxiety --> attachment behaviour
Neglectful, abusive carers
Carers are source of distress 
Unresolved fear, trauma. Permanent feelings of lack of control, helplessness, confusion
No return to safety

Question 19

Parents of insecure attached children

Answer 19

Rejecting, unavailable, inconsistent, unresponsive (or abusive parents)

Question 20

What do insecurely attached children learn

Answer 20

That caregiver is unavailable and not able to meet their needs (or hostile)

Question 21

What doe insecurely attached children develop a distorted view of

Answer 21

Of themselves as unworthy of love

Of others as emotionally unavailable (or causing them confusion, harm, and pain)

Question 22

What do children of abusive carers realise

Answer 22

None of their strategies work and feel confused and helpless

Question 23

What are implications of insecure attachments due to

Answer 23

Developing a -ve view of themselves and others

Question 24

What are insecure attachments linked to

Answer 24

Poor emotional and social competence
Poor regulation of emotions
Difficulties at school, more likely to be bullied
Difficulty in showing empathy
Unregulated biological stress system: abnormal patterns of cortisol release
Lower self-esteem, lack of trust in others
Emotional & behavioural problems

Question 25

Emotional & behavioural problems due to insecure attachment

Answer 25

Depression, aggression, over controlling or over compliant behaviour

Question 26

When is attachment relevant to clinical practice

Answer 26

During pre- and postnatal reviews
When children do not reach normal developmental milestones
When children struggle at school because of behavioural and/or emotional difficulties
In clinical populations

Question 27

Relevance of attachment in clinical practice

Answer 27

Children with mood disorder, clinical anxiety and depression, attachment disorders etc