Week 7: Attachment Theory Flashcards
What is the definition of attachment
Affectional tie between an individual and a specific other that endures overtime and physical separation
Do only humans get attached
No this is not limited to humans but it is most common
What is attachment accompanied by?
Strong emotions
Explain attachment behaviours
There are some common behaviours but there are also large individual differences
They bring the infant closer to their caregiver
Freuds psychodynamic theory relating to attachment?
Prototypical mother and infant relationship because the mother fufils infants oral needs
Suggests food may not be all important
Explain the findings of Harlows research on baby monkeys
They had baby monkeys removed from their mothers and placed with a terry cloth mother that was soft and comforting as well as a wire mother that provided food.
The monkeys would go to the wire mother when needed but it would spend the rest of its time cuddled up with the cloth mother
Explain learning theory in relation to attachment
Suggests the importance of a mother and infant relationship comes from feeding and how they are mutually reinforced
However it does not account for the strong emotions that accompany attachment behaviour
Explain ethological components/theories of attachment?
Imprinting which is an innate tendency to follow the mother this is inbuilt genetic and preprogrammed
However attachment normally occurs to the first object seen this was demonstrated with goslings as well as a critical period for imprinting. Mothers a pre-programmed to stay in close proximity to their infants
Explain Bowlbys attachment theory?
Originated from children that are deprived of maternal care being detrimentally affected in their development he suggested that prolonged separation during the first five years of life is one of the major causes of abnormal development
He also suggested for normal development to occur the parent child attachment must be warm intimate and continuous
-monotropic theory
Looking at war orphans after World War II
What does monotropic theory mean?
Attachment to a single other typically the mother
However today there is more emphasis on the other kinds of multiple bonds instead of just being a biologically preprogramed between the Mum and the baby
Explain the changes towards father attachment
Focus has just been on mothers however there is a more direct involvement of fathers in child rearing nowadays
there are similarities in the degree and quality of mother and father attachments and it is important for developmental outcomes
Even if father attachment is present what happens when a child is under extreme stress
They seek out their mum for comfort
What did Mary Ainsworth promote the idea of?
She developed empirical basis for attachment. She promoted the idea of the caregiver as a secure base which the children can then explore the world from
Explain Mary Ainsworth‘s ‘strange situation’
This involves observing the behaviour of infants in a series of highly standardise scenarios
1: when infant is with the parent
2: in the absence of the parent
3: when a stranger is present
4: when the parent returns
What is seen in infants with a secure attachment type (SS)?
Initially will play happily explore the room and return to the parent occasionally
They may be wary when the stranger enters but will continue to play - easily comforted when left alone
But when they leave they search for them and may cry but when they return they immediately seek contact
Recover quickly if they show distress
What percentage of infants have a secure attachment
65-70%
What does a secure attachment promote?
They learn to seek out effective relationships and look for people that can help them feel good about themselves in adult hood
It’s very protective you know you have a secure base and you’re very resilient
What is seen in infants with a insecure-avoidant attachment type?
Initially show little involvement with the parent
Not distressed rarely cry when the parent leaves
They react similarly to parent and stranger
One parent returns they show low level engagement and tendency to avoid
What percentage of children have an insecure avoidant attachment type
20%
What can be the outcomes of an insecure avoidant attachment type
They mask their emotional expression and may believe that others are trustworthy
To be emotionally avoidant so they don’t get hurt
As they grow up they may rely on themselves instead of others and risk aggressive behaviour if they are strong in their avoidance
What do we see in infants with an insecure-ambivalent attachment type?
This is a mixed positive and negative reaction to the parents
There is evidence of anxiety even before the separation occurs they want very close contact with their parents or are clingy
minimal or no exploration of the room and exhibit intense distress at separation - refuse comfort from the stranger and seek close contact with the parent comes back but resist comforting
What percentage of infants have an insecure-ambivalent attachment type?
10%
What can be outcomes of an insecure-ambivalent attachment type?
They may find it hard to manage anxiety in every day life and may grow up to exaggerate their emotions
Have negative beliefs about their self and risk phobias anxiety and depression
What do we see in infants with disorganised-disoriented attachment types?
Inconsistent and contradictory behaviour
When parent returns to the room they approach them but avoid eye contact
Then maybe unresponsive or turn away when held will have frozen posture
Cry out unexpectedly after being comforted
Least securely attached type
Is disorganised-disoriented attachment normal?
No it is very abnormal and you may need to look at what’s happening at home
What percentage of infants have a disorganised-disoriented attachment type?
5-10%
What may be the outcomes of a disorganised-disoriented attachment type?
They are often unable to form relationships with other people
We do see them being securely comforted by a stranger so you can’t tell who can look after you and who can’t which is dangerous
There is a risk of personality disorders
What is the parental role in attachment
Attachment depends on how the parent responds to the child’s overtures
What maternal behaviours are associated with Secure attachment types
Appropriate responses to infants needs
They don’t under or over respond =balance
They are responsive to how the infant feels and their emotional state
There is interactional Synchrony between the mother and the infant
Which maternal behaviours are associated with an insecure attachment type
There are inconsistent responses to the infants need so they’re never sure if they will get a response they need or not
They ignore or reject infants overtures
The infants emotional state maybe in response to unclear or ambivalent messages
May have learned these things from their own parents but training can be used to correct
What are internal working models
A model in your head on how the world (environmental) is as well as yourself and others (organisational)
These are built in the first five years of life based on every day Parent child interactions
What internal working models would a secure child
The environmental model maybe that it’s reliable responsive and loving
Their organisational model of themselves may be that they are worthy of love and attention
What internal working models may an insecure child have
Environmental the world maybe dangerous and not to be trusted
Organisational they’re not worthy
What did Ainsworth and Bowlby suggest about attachment style stability
That styles a static
What is the more recent view of attachment style stability
Styles are relatively stable but can be malleable depending on circumstances:
- Quality of later relationships
- transition between developmental stages
- changes in vulnerability factors from secure to insecure or vice versa
- nature of relationship type
What about the attachment in adulthood?
Emotional bonds between adult romantic partners is partly the same attachment behavioural system that gives rise to the emotional bond between infants and their caregivers
What are some features that may be the same between adult romantic partners and child parent pairs
Feel safe when the other is nearby and responsive and insecure when they are in accessible
Play with another’s facial features and exhibit a mutual fascination as well as engaging baby talk
May also engage in close intimate bodily contact
Share discoveries with each other
Attachment in adult hood:
if you have a positive model of others and a positive model of self what do you have
I secure attachment history
A healthy balance of attachment and autonomy, freedom to explore
Attachment in adulthood:
If you have a positive model of others but I negative model of yourself what do you have
A preoccupied or resistant attachment history
Desperate for love to feel worthy as a person you worry about abandonment and express anxiety in danger openly
Attachment in adulthood:
If you have a negative model of others but a positive model of yourself or do you have
A dismissing or avoidant insecure attachment history
Shut out emotions defending against hurt by avoiding intimacy
Dismissing the importance of relationships and being compulsively self-reliant
Attachment in adulthood:
If you have a negative model of yourself and others what do you have
A fearful or disorganised disorientated attachment history
You need relationships but doubt your own words and fear intimacy you lack coherent strategies for meeting attachment needs
When is the strange situation assessment useful
It is useful in assessing infant or preschool attachment however it is less affective in Middle childhood when attachment behaviours are less obvious
How do you assess attachment in older children
Lab observations- observe and classify
Naturalistic observations - observe and classify at home
Narrative assessment - child responds to hypothetical scenarios to tap into IVM (6-14yrs)
Narrative play therapy- child completes a story with dolls and props
Self-report - responds to questions. Semi projective technique
Family throughout infancy?
Our first and typically most enduring membership group is family
A building block for forming our identity and learning how to function in other social groups
Comprises entire social world for most infants
How would Binfenbrenners model relate to infants social world?
Mesosystem: neighbourhood childcare
Microsystem: home environment parents and siblings
Exosystem: system that affects Childs experiences in immediate settings
Macrosystem: social customs laws and values
Throughout infants first year of life what is typical for parent infant interactions
The parents match the infants actions
After the first year of life what is typical of parent infant interactions
The child starts to attempt to imitate or copy their parents
For example if a new baby arrives the older children carefully monitor the parents interactions with the new baby
What are parent child relationships influenced by
Infants reactions
parents temperament and ability to respond to infant
Often involve a pattern of close coordination
What is Synchrony in parent-child interactions
When parents can sensitively tune their responses to the infants signals
Being fully aware of what the baby wants and when
Relationships with parents start to change in early childhood. Explain
Children’s increased ability to initiate verbal and physical activity promotes a new set of challenges
Parents need to be mindful of the limitations and their developing abilities. This is a balancing act
The benefits of siblings throughout early childhood?
They provide children with frequent and reliable companionship and an early chance to socialise with other children
Explain the parent child interaction in Middle childhood
Children start to spend less time with their parents and develop other close relationships
Siblings again continue to provide support and companionship as well as parents remaining a major influence
However they start to understand the parents attitudes beliefs and reasons more because you notice that other families are different you become more aware of different ideas and are able to make judgements
Explain the parent child interaction in adolescence
There is a major shift
Families adapt to the changing characteristics of one of their members
Social networks become wider and more complex and they begin the process of becoming more autonomous
There are four different parenting styles according to Baumrind. what are they?
Authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, uninvolved
What is an authoritarian parenting style
Low on warmth and responsiveness but a high on control
Bossy, old-fashioned parents
Anxious, hostile and no-empathy children
What is an authoritative parenting style?
Warm, responsive and supportive. High on control but with an emphasis on independent responsibility
This is ideal
What is a permissive parenting style?
Vary on warmth-cold continuum
Low on control
Unpredictable parents
Impulsive and disobedient children - don’t learn to control emotions
What is an uninvolved parenting style?
Low levels of control and warmth.
Emotionally detached.
Poor self esteem, can’t control or regulate emotions
What parenting dimensions can have a negative impact on social emotional development
High levels of overprotection
Over control
Inconsistent parenting
High levels of hostility
Lack of warmth
What are the different types of families?
Nuclear families- 2parents and children Dual income families - becoming more normal Single-parent Extended families Blended families
Is there any social emotional advantage to growing up in a traditional nuclear family
No there is not
Social emotional adjustment is not necessarily associated with family type
What are most differences in social emotional development due to
Low income status - added stress
Family dysfunction - fighting
Family stress and coping
Parental nurturance
Strength and quality of the family relationships
What kind of factors are within the parents control
Those that result in warmer, kinder, more socio-emotionally nurturing families
Outside influences can help
