Attachment Theory

Question 1

Bowlby’s Attachment Theory

Answer 1

• Adaptive & universal
• Biological drive to be close to caregiver for care & protection
• Emotional bond forms through interactions
• System to regulate closeness (signaling behaviors)
• Caregiver is the secure base during exploration
• Mental model of caregiver

Question 2

Strange Situation

Answer 2

*Method for studying individual differences in infant attachment
* Child, mother, and stranger in room
* Stranger and mother leave at different instances
* Researchers assess child’s behavior
1. Reunion with mother
2. Willingness to explore
3. Interactions with stranger

Question 3

Insecure-Avoidant Attachment

Answer 3

• Group A
  
  1. Ignores & avoids caregiver
  2. Plays with stranger with or
     without caregiver present
  3. No distress at separation form
     mother
  4. Sometimes prefers stranger to
     mother

Question 4

Insecure-Ambivalent Attachment

Answer 4

*Group C
1. Engaged in little to no
exploration
2. Fearful of & avoids stranger
3. Intense distress or passivity
when mother leaves
4. Approaches mother but resists
comfort

Question 5

Secure Attachment

Answer 5

*Group B
1. Explores environment w/
mother as secure base
2. Plays with stranger when
mother present, avoids when
alone
3. Distressed or not when
separated from mother
4. Happy & comforted when
mother returns

Question 6

Parent Responsiveness & Attachment

Answer 6

1. Parent consistently responsive:
   secure attachment
2. Parent is inconsistently or inappropriately responsive:
   insecure-ambivalent
3. Parent is consistently unresponsive: insecure-avoidant

Question 7

Cultural Similarities in Attachment

Answer 7

1. Infants develop attachments to caregivers
2. Majority of infants form secure attachments
3. Attachment depends on parent responsiveness

Question 8

Cultural Differences in Attachment

Answer 8

1. Who are the caregivers of the child, how many caregivers the child has
2. Rate of insecure avoidant & ambivalent attachment styles
3. Responsive caregiver behaviors culturally-defined