Unit 4:The First Two Years of Life(Part 2)

Question 1

What is attachment?

Answer 1

-aka affectionate bond/emotional tie that is strong and enduring, that we have with significant people
- often seeked out in times of potential alarm/discomfort
- can have multiple attachment relationships

Question 2

what influences the development of an attachment theory?

Answer 2

Quality of provided care shapes its quality but not the actual development

Question 3

What triggers the activation of the attachment system?

Answer 3

When individual is distressed, scared, tired,sick etc.

Question 4

What is the role of an attachment figure in the attachment system?

Answer 4

• maintain availability as a safe base
• receptive and satisfy needs
  interactions with figure affects system activation and deactivation

Question 5

What are internal operating models in attachment theory?

Answer 5

• aka expectations
• formed based on early attachment experiences and help individuals predict their attachment figures behaviors

Question 6

how do internal operating models influence behaviour in attachment relationships?

Answer 6

• serve as maps , allowing individuals to predict and respond to their attachment figures behaviour , shaping their pere

Question 7

What does John Bowlbys Attachment Theory(1958) suggest?

Answer 7

tendency to form a attachment is a biological trait, which promotes adaptation and survival
satisfies physiological(nourishment/security) and psychological(comfort,feeling secure) needs

Question 8

where were ideas from Bowlbys attachment theory drawn from?

Answer 8

mainly psychoanalysis but also evolution and ethology

Question 9

what did Bowlby realise during his clinical practice?

Answer 9

that isolation, emotional distancing and interpersonal difficulties <— early mother-child bond ruptures

Question 10

critical period

Answer 10

formation of successful attachment to operate depends on it
achieved: 6 months to 3 years
difficult to form after this period

Question 11

where did the idea of critical period come from?

Answer 11

came from ethology studies on imprinting

Question 12

imprinting

Answer 12

when newborns recognize and seek proximity with the first object they encounter
- gosling imprinted on lorenz as “mother” and followed him around when he saw him first

Question 13

from what age do we posses the instinct that bowlby proposed?

Answer 13

it is ever-present
from birth to old age

Question 14

How does the theory relate to the hypothetical attachment system?

Answer 14

behavioral system- behavior like following, clinging, crying
motivation system- works to maintain proximity to an attachment figure as protection against danger

Question 15

Attachment system & internal operating models

Answer 15

Internal Operating Models in attachment
Secure attachment: the self deserves love and the other is loving and attentive
Insecure attachment: the self is worthy of rejection and the other is unavailable

Question 16

importance of successful attachment to satisfy psychological needs

Answer 16

tendency to explore and learn develops in opposition to tendency to form attachment
during exploration:
- caregiver= safe base

Question 17

Monotropism

Answer 17

idea that any child only forms a strong attachment to one person

Question 18

Bowlbys theory is a goal-driven system for what

Answer 18

promote optimum proximity with caregiver

Question 19

how is the goal-driven system activated

Answer 19

separation activates this system, serves to restore proximity

Question 20

what does the development of the goal-driven system depend on?

Answer 20

cognitive and physical development of infant
- recognize caregiver and distinguish them
- be able to vocalize and move reasonably independently

Question 21

seperation protest(6 months)

Answer 21

show this once able to explore the environment
infants cry or reach out to prevent the caregivers departure , continue during caregivers absence

Question 22

separation protests is linked with what?

Answer 22

stranger anxiety
wariness or fear of unfamiliar people
infants will try to maintain proximity to caregiver in the presence of strangers as a source of protection

Question 23

what are the attachment phases

Answer 23

1. pre-attachment(0-2m)
2. early attachment(2-7m)
3. attachment/separation protest(7,9-2y)
4. Partnership/goal-corrected(2-3y+)

Question 24

Pre-attachment

Answer 24

little or no recognition of the caregiver

Question 25

Early attachment

Answer 25

begins to recognize caregiver(gradually more comforted by their presence) lack object recognition, unable to recognize caregiver as a human social object(dont show separation protest)

Question 26

Attachment/Separation Protest

Answer 26

show clearer sign of proximity seeking, separation protest and stranger anxiety clearer as age progresses

Question 27

Partnership/ Goal-corrected

Answer 27

infant explores environment with greater independence attachment becomes abstract, internal representation - concept of trust and understanding of the caregivers needs in relation to availability

Question 28

how does attachment behavior vary for infants

Answer 28

attachment behavior doesn't occur at same time/intensity however goal-seeking proximity is presumed to be same for all infants

Question 29

maternal deprivation hypothesis

Answer 29

maternal deprivation: prelonged disruption in attachment to mother figure may result from illness, abandonment or institutionalization hypothesis- maternal deprivation can lead to negative outcomes later in life

Question 30

WIlliam Goldfarb(1947) maternal deprivation hypothesis

Answer 30

outcome variables in 30 children, given up before 9 months of age - 1/2 foster care, 1/2 institutionalized then foster care at 3.5y - intelligence, reading and arithmetic measures at 10-14 years of age= institutionalized children had worse abilities, also more fearful and restless, less popular among peers, and "needier" with adults

Question 31

why despite the foster care quality considered equal was there maladaptive development

Answer 31

due to institutionalization and lack of attachment with caregiver

Question 32

how were the infants corrected despite experiencing maternal deprivation?

Answer 32

maternal deprivation experienced first 6 months but adequate care can correct disruptive effects only if given before ages of 2.5 years - proof of critical period

Question 33

Harlow and Zimmerman(1959) maternal deprivation hypothesis

Answer 33

rhesus monkeys in isolated cages other objects as the surrogate mother: - mesh wire surrogate mother that held a milk bottle - a terry cloth one that did not provide food

Question 34

Harlow and Zimmerman(1959) results

Answer 34

wire model as their source of food, softer cloth model as source of comfort (mothering figure) hold on tightly when frightened, used as secure base showed preference for it aside from when feeding

Question 35

Harlow and Zimmerman(1959) results as adolescence

Answer 35

- caused psychological damage withdrawn when with other healthy peers, they became fearful and might attack the others few mated successfully, female who did unlikely to provide adequate care for offspring

Question 36

critique of bowlbys attachment theory - influenced perception on child rearing and parenting, social policy about childcare and parenting education

Answer 36

however effects on maternal deprivation less sever than originally thought, as environmental enrichment can compensate (for rodents and monkeys) led to "critical period"-> sensitive period(most conductive to forming strong attachment) unclear of link of institutionalized children during sensitive period is evidence of maternal deprivation or effects of institutions - Tizard & Hodges found children later adopted that showed normal cognitive and linguistic development between 4.5-16 - kids adopted at 4-7y after prolonged institutionalization able to develop secure attachment, specially when adoptive parents were prepared to help resolve past traumas can be mitigated

Question 37

how did mary ainsworth continue research into attachment, with what aim?

Answer 37

measuring the emotional state of child in relation to the type of attachment formed with caregiver

Question 38

distinction between bowlby and ainsworth?

Answer 38

Bowlby- general traits of attachment eg separation and relational ruptures Ainsworth- observed the communication between mother and baby(quality) - behaviors the child displayed when the mother(parent) was absent, and what behavior the child displayed when the parent returned

Question 39

how was observation of parent-child interaction studied

Answer 39

Strange Situation study or Strange Situation Procedure(SSP)

Question 40

Strange Situation Study

Answer 40

- 7 phases (3min each) to reflect natural interactions between child and parent, seen through one way mirror or video camera children between 1-2 years of age, when attachment is developed

Question 41

what are the 5 scales used during assesment

Answer 41

Proximity and contact seeking Contact maintaining Avoidance of proximity and contact Resistance to contact and comfort Search behavior

Question 42

describe the phases of the strange situation study

Answer 42

Phase 1- parent and child in room with toys, instructed to play together for 3min Phase 2- Stranger enters the room, sits down for 1 min, 1min talks to parents, 1 min plays with child Phase 3- parent leaves, stranger plays w/child for 3 min then sits back on the chair Phase 4- parent returns, stranger leaves, parent settles child and sits with child for 3min Phase 5- parent leaves the room for 3 min Phase 6- stranger enters room and tries to settle for 3 min Phase 7- stranger leaves, parent re-enters and tries to settle child

Question 43

how did ainsworth categories the parent-child attachment types

Answer 43

normally 20min unless child very distressed identified patterns of behavior in which infants displayed willingness to use the parent as a safe base to derive a sense of security, especially during the parent-child reunions(4-7 stages)

Question 44

how would child react if secure attachment

Answer 44

stage 124- child uses parent as safe base to explore room and toys stage 356(absent parent)- become distressed and seek the parent(seperation protest) reunion restores sense of a safe base

Question 45

What is type B; Secure attachment

Answer 45

child shows signs of missing parent when absent and makes efforts to reunite with parent upon the parents return - attachment figure trusted - desire for proximity and contact maintainence - reuinted; child has positive response - mothers absence; child distressed and seek actively (some comfort in stranger but mother preferred) - 44-60%

Question 46

Type A: Insecure- avoidant attachment

Answer 46

few or no signs of missing the parent - avoidance and lack of desire of proximity and interaction during reunion(emotional distance) - if picked up maybe squirming(no anger) - treats mother and stranger similar - 14-15%

Question 47

Type C: Insecure-resistant/ambivalent attachment

Answer 47

- fully clingy to mother and doesn't explore extremely distressed, with stranger - lack of confidence in how to respond, parent unable to settle child down - child ambivalent during reunion, pleased and seek contact whilst also rejecting in anger - no avoidance of mother but resisting behaviors - 8-11%

Question 48

Type D: disorganized attachment

Answer 48

- lack of consistent behavioural pattern - child is uncertain abuot "how to make use" of caregiver as source of security -5-15% general population, 28-30% clinical population

Question 49

strengths of ainsworth study

Answer 49

- high ecological validity, can be generalized to other real-life situations - inspired large body of research, reliable measure

Question 50

critiques of ainsworth

Answer 50

- confined to artificiality of laboratory - demonstrates nature of attachment; relationship, not with others - due to increased exposure to environments i which the child is left in the care of other, study may not reflect degree of attachment

Question 51

attachment security is founded on what?

Answer 51

- sensitivity of the parent during first year of life Warm, attentive-> secure attachment negative/rejecting manner-> insecure/avoidant unreliable/inconsistent care-> sometimes unresponsive, overbearing-> insecure-ambivalent

Question 52

how has inadequate care been associated with disorganized attachment ?

Answer 52

- psychopathology in parent-> contradictory, unpleasant,threatening so child shows negative emotions with parent - childs with disorganized show maladaptive behavior later in life - personality disorders

Question 53

additional results from SSP

Answer 53

- results had associations with parents autobiographical narrative - adults have working models of attachment

Question 54

what are working models of attachment

Answer 54

based on early family experiences influence how adults cope with stress and how they provide comfort to offsping

Question 55

what is adult attachment interview(AII) by mary main

Answer 55

- to describe the quality of the relationships with parents in diff situations, but focus on stressful moments