Week 9 - Attachment Development (childhood) Flashcards
Define attachment
Attachment is a bond we have with a primary caregiver in childhood. Attachment between infant and caregiver is the first relationship we experience as humans. It becomes the blueprint for how relationships work and lays down our foundations for life.
Provide a brief description of attachment theory.
How infant behaviours are organised around our attachment figure.
Behaviours derive from and inform mental representations (early attachment blueprint) that we continue to carry throughout our life.
We are guided by these individual experiences
Describe the biology (neural development) of attachment in relation to infancy
Neural networks develop at a rapid pace during childhood.
Repeated experiences = strong neural connections. E.g. when I cry, someone picks me up and sings to me. There will be strong neural network laid down in my brain about what it means to be in a relationship, my value as a person.
Neural networks = experience dependent. We want positive experiences so these networks are laid down in our brain.
First 5 years are critical in terms of this neural development.
Describe the central theme of attachment theory (Bowlby & Ainsworth)
Caregivers are available and responsive, to establish sense of security for the child.
An infant comes to know the caregiver as dependable. We need to be safe first, before we can explore the world:
Responsivity –> security. Helps child feel safe enough to explore the world and learn things.
What are the 3 systems at work in attachment relationship? (Bolby)
-) Care-seeking (attachment), (child) = instinct to seek proximity to caregiver, to receive comfort and protection. Function is comfort and protection from attachment figure.
-) Caregiving (bonding) (parent) = parent holds caregiving system. Instinct to monitor specific person. To provide comfort and protection the child needs.
-) Exploration need (child) = instinct to follow curiosity and explore world (when it feels safe to do so). Exploration can’t happen if you don’t feel safe. Function is: learning and mastery
Describe what happened in the videos of toddlers/babies and their mother when they were non-responsive.
Crying and reaching out as soon as disconnection happens.
Emotional response when there was a break in connection.
IMPORTANT: each rupture MUST be followed by repair of connection. It’s the repair process, that is crucial for quality of relationship.
What happened in the video of baby Zoe and her mother?
Parent is tuning into child’s emotions and responding. Meeting the needs of Zoe, and responding to her in a particular way guided by Zoe.
Recognises that Zoe is her own person - and mum is supportive of her exploring the world.
Attunement, synchronicity, and reciprocity.
Describe the Circle of Security.
The circle of security describes the child’s needs - parents must meet child’s needs at all points of the circle (secure attachment)
Secure base = supporting exploration (top of circle) Looking for delight and excitement in parent’s face.
Safe haven = parent responsive to care seeking system, providing comfort and protection when the child needs. The child will return from adventure for recognition, proximity to feel safe and secure enough to explore again. (bottom of circle)
Describe the difference between cue and miscue.
Cue = showing a need. Securely attached children more likely to do this.
Miscue = hiding a need. No secure attachment; not a straight line to getting needs met. Don’t have the same sense of trust about responsivity, that the parent will provide comfort or be dependable and willing to meet that need.
Miscues will direct away from what children need - children will get a sense of which needs their parents are uncomfortable with.
- consistently accepted miscue by parent = develops into way of interacting that leads child’s needs unfulfilled. Repetition and pattern leads to insecure attachment
I.e:
If I get sense my parent doesn’t like comfort and affection, then I will not walk up to parent for hug. I will be tricky about it, give a miscue and pretend I am exploring and that I don’t actually need comfort, because this parent is fine with me exploring.
Describe the 4 attachment styles.
Based off circle of needs - imbalanced or balanced circle.
1) Secure = child can rely on parent most of time to be responsive to exploration, and provide proximity/ comfort upon return.
2) Insecure - anxious-avoidant = bottom part of circle is not balanced. Discomfort around safe-haven. Child will provide miscue to parent, and act like they need to explore.
Heart rate monitor experiment: elevated rate when parent left room. Secure vs insecure will show need for comfort differently.
3) Insecure - anxious-resistant (or ambivalent) = top half of circle (exploration imbalance). Parent uncomfortable with exploration. Miscue - act like they need to stay close to parent. Child will attempt to explore but not able to fully immerse themselves. Might bring a toy back and play near mum.
4) Disorganised = no consistency.
