Semester 2 psychology: Developmental psychology - Theories of Attachment: John Bowlby

Question 1

What does Bowlby’s Attachment Theory suggest about infant-caregiver relationships?

Answer 1

Bowlby’s Attachment Theory posits that infants are biologically predisposed to form strong emotional bonds with primary caregivers for survival and emotional security, which significantly influence their emotional, social, and psychological development throughout life.

Question 1

What are the key points of Bowlby’s Attachment Theory?

Answer 1

• Attachment is innate: Children are born with a need to form attachments.
• Sensitive period: There is a critical period (around 6 months to 2.5 years) for developing strong attachments.
• Monotropy: Infants typically form a primary attachment to one caregiver.
• Internal working model: Early attachment experiences shape how individuals perceive themselves and relationships.
  Separation anxiety: Infants show distress when separated from primary caregivers.
• Proximity seeking: Infants engage in behaviors to maintain closeness with caregivers.

Question 2

What are the implications of Bowlby’s Attachment Theory?

Answer 2

Secure attachments lead to healthy development, while insecure attachments can impact future relationships and emotional well-being. Early experiences significantly shape long-term mental health.

Question 3

How did Mary Ainsworth contribute to Bowlby’s Attachment Theory?

Answer 3

Mary Ainsworth expanded on Bowlby’s Attachment Theory by developing a method to observe and classify different attachment styles in infants.

Question 4

What does the Strange Situation Procedure involve?

Answer 4

The Strange Situation Procedure involves observing infants’ behavior in unfamiliar environments with and without their primary caregiver to assess attachment styles.

Question 5

What are the three primary attachment styles identified by Mary Ainsworth?

Answer 5

The three primary attachment styles identified by Mary Ainsworth are:

1.Secure Attachment
2. Insecure-Ambivalent (or Anxious-Ambivalent) Attachment
3. Insecure-Avoidant Attachment

Question 6

What characterizes secure attachment in infants?

Answer 6

In secure attachment, infants feel safe and protected by their caregivers.

Question 7

What characterizes insecure-avoidant attachment in infants?

Answer 7

In insecure-avoidant attachment, infants appear to avoid seeking proximity to the caregiver.

Question 8

What characterizes insecure-ambivalent (or anxious-ambivalent) attachment in infants?

Answer 8

In insecure-ambivalent attachment, infants are clingy and anxious, simultaneously seeking and resisting proximity to the caregiver.

Question 9

What did Ainsworth’s research reveal about sensitive caregiving and its impact on children’s development?

Answer 9

Ainsworth’s research highlighted the importance of sensitive and responsive caregiving in fostering secure attachments, which significantly impacts children’s social and emotional development.

Question 10

What is the focus of Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory?

Answer 10

Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory emphasizes the role of social interactions in shaping personality development through psychosocial crises that individuals must resolve at each stage of life, differing from Freud’s focus on psychosexual stages.

Question 11

What are the key points of Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory?

Answer 11

Erikson’s theory includes eight stages of psychosocial development, each characterized by a specific crisis that needs to be resolved.

Question 12

What is a psychosocial crisis in Erikson’s theory?

Answer 12

A psychosocial crisis is a conflict between two opposing forces that must be balanced at each stage of development.

Question 13

What is the role of virtue development in Erikson’s theory?

Answer 13

In Erikson’s theory, the successful resolution of each psychosocial crisis leads to the development of a specific virtue or strength.

Question 14

What are the stages in Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory?

Answer 14

1. Trust vs. Mistrust: (Infancy) Developing trust in caregivers.
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt: (Early childhood) Developing a sense of
   independence.
3. Initiative vs. Guilt: (Preschool) Balancing spontaneity with self-control.
4. Industry vs. Inferiority: (Elementary school) Mastering skills and tasks
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion: (Adolescence) Developing a sense of self and identity.
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation: (Young adulthood) Forming deep, committed relationships.
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation: (Middle adulthood) Contributing to the next generation.
8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair: (Late adulthood) Reflecting on life with a sense of
   fulfilment.