Temperament and attachment

Question 1

What is temperament?

Answer 1

A set of basic personality characteristics one is born with

Question 2

What is attachment?

Answer 2

The motivational and behavioural system that directs the child to seek proximity with a PRIMARY CAREGIVER when they are under stress, with the expectation that they will receive support

This may then contribute to our ‘internal working model’ of how we respond within relationships when hurt or separated from loved ones, or perceiving a threat

Question 3

What are the 9 areas of temperament?

Answer 3

1. Activity level
2. Approach/withdrawal
3. Adaptability
4. Mood
5. Threshold
6. Intensity
7. Distractibility
8. Rhythmicity
9. Attention span/persistence

Question 4

What can the 9 areas of temperament be simplified to in order to describe a child?

Answer 4

1. Easy
2. Difficult
3. Slow to warm up

Question 5

What defines a baby with an easy temperament?

Answer 5

(40% of infants)

Adjust easily to new situations

Quickly establish routines

Generally cheerful and easy to calm

Question 6

What defines a baby with a difficult temperament?

Answer 6

(10% of infants)

Slow to adjust to new experiences

Likely to react negatively and intensely to stimuli and events

Question 7

What defines a baby with a slow-to-warm up temperament?

Answer 7

(15% of infants)

Somewhat difficult at first but become easier over time

Question 8

What are the 3 areas in the basic model of attachment?

Answer 8

1. Secure attachment
2. Insecure/avoidant attachment
3. Insecure/ambivalent attachment

Question 9

What defines secure attachment?

Answer 9

(~70% of infants)

Infant will be reasonably upset when their caregiver leaves but will be happy to see them return and will be quickly soothed

Likely reflects an appropriately available and predictable caregiver

Question 10

What defines insecure/avoidant attachment?

Answer 10

(~20% of infants)

Infants show little interest in their caregivers, although they will cry when they leave the room

They don’t seem that pleased when their caregiver returns, often turning their backs on them and trying to get away

Reflects caregivers who may have been absent or disinterested

Question 11

What defines insecure/ambivalent attachment?

Answer 11

(~10% of infants)

Infants initially don’t want to leave their caregiver to explore the room

Like the insecure/avoidant, they cry when their caregiver leaves but then when they return they seem to want to be consoled but resist it

They seem angry

Reflects an unpredictable experience of caregiving, where care may have been reassuring at times, but frightening at others