Psychology - Family, Gender & Culture Flashcards
What is attachment
An enduring emotional relationship between two people (child and primary caregiver)
When does attachment start
Very early - from 7 months to 3 yrs
What does attachment involve
Physical proximity seeking
What does attachment provoke
Separation anxiety
What does attachment provide
Comfort, care, security and a safe base of exploration
Some innate behaviours/ strategies used by babies
Crying Looking Smiling Cuddling Preference for caregiver’s face, voice, smell, touch
Babies crying
A clear signal
Babies looking
Communication strategy
Babies smiling
Starts as reflex, becomes social
Babies cuddling
Human reflex, allows contact
Babies behaviours
May initially appear reflexive or random but are adaptive: enable social interaction
Cycle for secure attachment
Safety Separation, fear, discomfort Anxiety --> attachment behaviour Carer's response re-establishes proximity Anxiety decreases Attachment behaviour drops
Parents of securely attached children are
Sensitive, warm and responsive
What do securely attached children know
That carer is available to meet their needs with consistency
What do securely attached children develop
A +ve view of themselves and others
Trust and confidence in carers
Sense of security/ safety to explore, play, learn
What is secure attachment associated with
Emotional and social competence Greater resilience Higher self-esteem and independence \+ve peer relations Better psychological health (overall) Secure attachment with own children
Avoidant/ ambivalent attachment cycle
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
Disorganised attachment cycle
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
Parents of insecure attached children
Rejecting, unavailable, inconsistent, unresponsive (or abusive parents)
What do insecurely attached children learn
That caregiver is unavailable and not able to meet their needs (or hostile)
What doe insecurely attached children develop a distorted view of
Of themselves as unworthy of love
Of others as emotionally unavailable (or causing them confusion, harm, and pain)
What do children of abusive carers realise
None of their strategies work and feel confused and helpless
What are implications of insecure attachments due to
Developing a -ve view of themselves and others
What are insecure attachments linked to
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
Emotional & behavioural problems due to insecure attachment
Depression, aggression, over controlling or over compliant behaviour
When is attachment relevant to clinical practice
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
Relevance of attachment in clinical practice
Children with mood disorder, clinical anxiety and depression, attachment disorders etc
