Week 2

Question 1

What did Bowlby suggest?

Answer 1

Human babies have an innate drive to form attachment to primary caregivers

Question 2

How did Bowlby (1974) demonstrate the importance of early relationships?

Answer 2

44 Thieves Study
61% of thieves suffered early prolonged separation from their mothers in childhood = he thought there was something particularly special in the first 5 years of life

Question 3

How did Bowlby (1969) challenge the view that relationships are formed from primary drive reduction?

Answer 3

By crediting Lorenz (1935) and Harlow and Zimmerman (1959)

Question 4

What is attachment?

Answer 4

A strongly disposition to seek proximity and contact with another individual; also highly enduring

Question 5

What is attachment behaviour?

Answer 5

Any form of behaviour that results in a person attaining or maintaining proximity to some other clearly identifies individual

Question 6

What are examples of proximity seeking behaviour?

Answer 6

Crying, smiling, vocalising, reaching

Question 7

What are examples of proximity maintaining behaviour?

Answer 7

Clinging, following, crying

Question 8

What are the two key contributions Ainsworth made to ID in attachment?

Answer 8

1. Methodological: lab methods for studying attachment in 12-20 month olds
2. Theoretical: Identifying ID’s in the quality of attachments between infants and caregivers

Question 9

How did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) study look into the formation of early attachments?

Answer 9

Longitudinal study of 60 families in Scotland (5 weeks)
Specific Attachment = More proximity seeking

Question 10

Name and describe the 4 hypotheses derived from attachment theory

Answer 10

Universality and Normativity
Continuity
Sensitivity
Competence

Question 11

How do you measure attachment in different ages?

Answer 11

12-20 months: SS (AB)
12 months-6yrs: Q-Sort (AB)
7+yrs: child attachment interview (AR)
16+yrs: adult attachment interview (AR)

Question 12

What is the difference between attachment behaviour and attachment representations?

Answer 12

AB: focus on observant, measurable behaviour
AR: our state of mind and how we think about the close relationships we have with other people

Question 13

Explain the basic idea of the SS

Answer 13

Ainsworth and Bell (1970)
- lab based method for observing exploratory and attachment in 1-2yr olds
- 20 mins, 8 different events
- behaviours coded and rated and cluster analysis

Question 14

What 4 categories in the SS did Ainsworth create?

Answer 14

Secure Attachment = May/may not cry upon separation; quick and positive reaction when reunited
Avoidant = no distress when separated, doesn’t approach CG when reunited
Resistant = distress when separated, resists contact from CG at reunion
Disorganised = No consistent separation or reunion behaviour

Question 15

Which category of attachment did Main and Solomon (1986) introduce?

Answer 15

Disorganised attachment

Question 16

Evaluate the SS

Answer 16

Not ecologically valid
Good consistency over observers
Low test retest reliability
Narrow window for valid assessment (12-20 months)

Question 17

Describe the Attachment Q sort

Answer 17

Waters
In depth assessment of children’s attachment behaviour in the real world, for 12-48 months, detailed home observations

Question 18

Evaluate the AQS

Answer 18

Doesn’t require stressful situation
Test retest stability
Convergent and discriminate validity
Lengthy
No distinction between insecurity types

Question 19

Describe the Adult Attachment Interview

Answer 19

Standardised interview protocol with 15 q’s (60-120 mins)
Transcripts scored using detailed manual:
Reflection = making sense of experience
Coherence = evidence, consistency

Question 20

Explain the categories within the adult attachment interview

Answer 20

Secure: Talks easily about relationships, coherent and consistent accounts
Dismissing: difficult remembering experiences, describes parents positively (with no evidence)
Preoccupied: extensive attention to caregiver memories, loses focus
Unresolved: experience of traumatic loss etc, still focus on unresolved issues from past

Question 21

Evaluate the AAI

Answer 21

has test-retest reliability, autobiographical memory, IQ and social desirability were not associated with attachment classification

Question 22

Describe the child attachment interview

Answer 22

Looks at children’s narratives, 20 mins, 15 q’s, rate - coherence and reflection, ask about current experiences

Question 23

Evaluate the CAI

Answer 23

high inter rater and test reliability

Question 24

What do we use when measuring attachment across the lifespan?

Answer 24

Young child = behaviour
Older child or adult = narratives

Question 25

Define university and normaivity

Answer 25

All infants show attachment behaviours and a preferential bond with one or move caregivers (secure = most common)

Question 26

What has been found in Mesman, Van Ijzendoorn and Schwartz (2016) attachment review?

Answer 26

Most common classification = secure (mostly) Universality does not preclude culture specific patterns Insecure types are harder to classify Rates of insecure significant vary between countries Primary attachment figure varies between cultures with multiple caregivers Form of attachment/exploration behaviour varies

Question 27

What are the criticisms of attachment reviews?

Answer 27

Focus on dyadic bonds Focus on high and good quality time with children (wealthy privilege) Focus on autonomous child (takes the lead)

Question 28

Define continuity

Answer 28

A strong causal relationship between an individual's experience with his parents and his later capacity to make affectional bonds

Question 29

Explain the two ideas of continuity

Answer 29

Prototype account: early caregiving experiences give rise to attachment representations > models persist over time and shape interpersonal relationships with other Revisionist account: early caregiving experiences give rise to attachment representations > change in caregiving experiences can lead to updated/revised representations