w2- attach Flashcards
Who proposed Attachment Theory and when?
John Bowlby (1969, 1982).
What is the main idea of Attachment Theory?
Early relationships are crucial for emotional and social development.
Why do infants form attachments?
As a means of survival.
What is the significance of secure attachment?
It is essential for later emotional regulation and relationships.
What is the Universality Hypothesis?
All human infants form attachments regardless of cultural differences.
What does the Normativity Hypothesis state?
Secure attachment is the norm in most societies (~60% of infants).
What is the Sensitivity Hypothesis?
A caregiver’s sensitive and responsive caregiving leads to secure attachment.
What is the Competence Hypothesis?
Secure attachment is linked to positive social and emotional outcomes later in life.
What are the four attachment styles?
Secure, Avoidant, Resistant (Ambivalent), Disorganized.
Describe Secure Attachment.
Infant may or may not cry upon separation, has a quick and positive reaction to reunion, and distress is reduced when comforted by the caregiver. (~60%)
Describe Avoidant Attachment.
Infant shows no distress when separated, does not seek comfort at reunion, and treats caregiver and stranger similarly. (~15%)
Describe Resistant (Ambivalent) Attachment.
Infant has marked distress upon separation, resists contact with the caregiver at reunion, and contact does not reduce distress. (~10%)
Describe Disorganized Attachment.
Infant has no consistent behavior pattern and may show fear, confusion, or disorientation toward the caregiver. (~15%)
Who are key researchers in individual differences in attachment?
Meins (2017) and Van IJzendoorn et al. (1999).
What are the two main types of attachment measures?
Behavioral measures and representational measures.
Name two behavioral measures of attachment.
Strange Situation Procedure (Ainsworth et al., 1978) and Attachment Q-Sort (Waters & Deane, 1985).
Name two representational measures of attachment.
Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) (George, Kaplan & Main, 1985) and Child Attachment Interview (CAI) (Goetz et al., 2008).
How many episodes are in the Strange Situation Procedure?
Eight.
What are the strengths of the Strange Situation Procedure?
It is standardized and has strong predictive validity for later development.
What are the limitations of the Strange Situation Procedure?
Artificial lab setting may affect behavior, and cultural variations impact attachment styles.
What is the AAI used for?
Semi-structured interview to assess childhood attachment experiences in adults.
What are the four adult attachment classifications?
- Secure Attachment (50%) – Open, coherent discussion of past relationships with balanced and consistent accounts. 2. Dismissing Attachment (25%) – Difficulty remembering early experiences, provides positive descriptions without supporting details and cannot give examples. 3. Preoccupied Attachment (8%) – Overly focused on past relationships, often expresses anger, confusion, or excessive worry. 4. Unresolved Attachment (17%) – History of trauma, abuse, or neglect, has not resolved these issues, and displays disorganized thought patterns.
What are the percentage of adults in each attachment classification and who suggested it?
Bakermans-Kranenburg et al (2024), Secure (50%), Dismissing (25%), Preoccupied (8%), Unresolved (17%).
What study found AAI classifications are stable over time and what does this suggest?
High test-retest reliability with 78% consistency in parents (Bakermans-Kranenburg & Van IJzendoorn, 1993).
What did Sagi et al evaluate about the AAI?
90% consistency in young adults suggests test-retest reliability.
What study showed AAI classifications are not influenced by IQ or social desirability and what does this suggest?
Bakermans-Kranenburg & Van IJzendoorn (1993). Suggests that the AAI is a valid measure as it’s not influenced by IQ.
What evidence is there for the validity of the AAI?
Secure attachment correlates with positive social adjustment.
What is the Child Attachment Interview (CAI) and who developed it?
The CAI is a semi-structured interview for children aged 7-12, developed by Goetz et al. (2008). It assesses verbal and non-verbal cues, perceptions of attachment figures, and separate representations with developmentally appropriate scaffolding.
What types of questions are included in the Child Attachment Interview (CAI)?
The CAI consists of 15 questions (lasting 20-60 mins), e.g., “Tell me about your family.”
How reliable is the Child Attachment Interview (CAI)?
- High inter-rater reliability (r = .81-.88). 2. Good test-retest reliability over 3 months (k = .81 for mother, .52 for father), showing it is more reliable for assessing attachment with mothers.
How valid is the Child Attachment Interview (CAI)?
- Attachment classification is not affected by IQ, language ability, SES, or age. 2. Clinically referred children are more likely to have insecure attachment. 3. Correlates with internalizing and externalizing behaviors (Madigan et al., 2016).
What does recent research say about measuring attachment across the lifespan?
Opie et al. (2021) explored attachment stability from childhood to adulthood.
What problems are there with grouping attachment types in research?
Different research groups categorize attachment differently, influencing results.
What cultural bias is there in attachment research?
- North America and Europe host only 10% of the world’s population but most attachment research comes from these regions (Tomlinson et al., 2014). 2. Western attachment research often emphasizes the role of a single caregiver (typically the mother) and values independence and exploration.
What study examined attachment in China?
Archer et al. (2015) found secure attachment was common but varied by region. Supports universality.
What large-scale study supported universality using Strange Situation data?
Madigan et al. (2023) analyzed data from 20,000 participants across continents.
What did Bowlby (1977) suggest about early attachments?
Early experiences with parents strongly influence later ability to form affectionate bonds.
What is the Prototype Account of attachment continuity?
Early attachment experiences form lasting internal working models. These persist into adulthood and shape future relationships.
What is the Revisionist Account of attachment continuity?
Early attachment patterns can be updated based on later experiences. New caregiving experiences can revise internal working models. Attachment is not set in stone and can change.
What study is a key reference for continuity of attachment?
Fraley et al. (2011).
What did Opie et al. (2021) analyze in their meta-analysis to test the continuity hypothesis?
79 samples using the Strange Situation (12-75 months). Moderate correlations between early (T1) and later (T2) attachment.
What were the stability rates of attachment over time (T1 → T2)?
Secure → Secure: 67%, Avoidant → Avoidant: 25%, Resistant → Resistant: 28%, Disorganized → Disorganized: 34%.
What evidence supports the Prototype Account?
Waters et al. (2000): SSP & AAI correlation of .40 (moderate). However, only 50 participants.
What does evidence from Groh et al. (2014) suggest?
Secure infants → Secure adults (61.6%). However, avoidant was only a third and resistant/disorganized were less than 3% (.01 correlation).
What evidence supports the Revisionist Account?
- Groh et al. (2014): Avoidant, resistant, and disorganized classifications were weak predictors of adult attachment. 2. Booth-La Force et al. (2014): Changing life circumstances affect attachment types.
