3. Attatchment

Question 1

Define attachment

Answer 1

Attachment is an emotional tie or bond between two people, usually a mother and a child. The relationship is shared which means it is a two-way relationship

Question 2

Define reciprocity

Answer 2

A description of how two people interact. Mother-infant interaction is reciprocal in that both infant and mother respond to each other’s signals, and each elicits a respond from the other

Question 3

Define interactional synchrony

Answer 3

Mother and infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other and do this in a co-ordinated (synchronised) way

Question 4

Define stages of attachment ( Schaffer )

Answer 4

Many development theories identify a sequence of qualitatively different behaviours linked to specific ages. In stages of attachment some characteristics of the infant’s behaviour towards others change as the infant gets older

Question 5

Define asocial stage

Answer 5

Babies behaviour towards non-human objects and humans is similar (first few weeks)

Question 6

Define indiscriminate attachments stage

Answer 6

Babies start to show a preference for people, but their behaviour is not different towards any one person (2-7 months)

Question 7

Define specific attachments stage

Answer 7

Babies start to develop stranger anxiety as they have formed a specific attachment to one particular adult (7 months +)

Question 8

Define multiple attachments

Answer 8

Babies extend their specific attachment to others (secondary attachments) (1 year +)

Question 9

Define animal studies

Answer 9

Studies carried out on non-human animal species rather than humans, either for ethical or practical reasons

Question 10

Define imprinting

Answer 10

Where offspring follow the first large-moving object they see

Question 11

Define learning theory

Answer 11

A set of theories from the behaviourist approach to psychology, that emphasise the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour

Question 12

Define classical conditioning

Answer 12

A type of learning in which an existing involuntary reflex response is associated with a new stimulus

Question 13

Define operant conditioning

Answer 13

A type of learning in which a new voluntary behaviour is associated with a consequence - reinforcement makes the behaviour more likely to occur, while punishment makes it less likely to occur

Question 14

Define primary drive

Answer 14

An innate biological motivator

Question 15

Define secondary drive

Answer 15

Are those learned through conditioning or association with a primary drive, such as attachment and social acceptance

Question 16

Define monotropic

Answer 16

A term sometimes used to describe Bowlby’s theory. The monk means ‘one’ and indicated that one particular attachment is different from all others and of central importance to the child’s development

Question 17

Define innate

Answer 17

A behaviour that is instinctive and does not need to be learned

Question 18

Define internal working model

Answer 18

The mental representation we all carry with us of our attachment to our primary caregiver. They are important in affecting our future relationships because they carry our perception of what relationships are like

Question 19

Define social releasers

Answer 19

Innate behaviours shown by an infant that lead to a caregiving response (e.g. cooing)

Question 20

Define critical period

Answer 20

This refers to the time within which an attachment must form if it is to form at all

Question 21

Define sensitive period

Answer 21

The best time period over which attachments can form

Question 22

Define strange situation

Answer 22

A controlled observation designed to test attachments security. Infants are assessed on their response to playing in an unfamiliar room, being left alone, left with a stranger and being reunited with a caregiver

Question 23

Define secure attachment

Answer 23

The most desired attachment type - associated with psychologically healthy outcomes. Moderate stranger anxiety and separation anxiety and ease of comfort reunion

Question 24

Define insecure-avoidant attachment

Answer 24

Characterised by low anxiety but weak attachment. Low stranger and separation anxiety and little response to reunion (avoidance of the caregiver)

Question 25

Define insecure-resistant attachment

Answer 25

Characterised by a strong attachment and high anxiety. High levels of stranger and separation anxiety and by resistance to be comforted on reunion

Question 26

Define cultural variations

Answer 26

The difference in norms and values that exist between people in different groups

Question 27

Define meta-analysis

Answer 27

Where researchers combine the findings from multiple studies to draw an overall conclusion

Question 28

Define maternal deprivation

Answer 28

The emotional and intellectual consequences of separation between a child and their mother substitute. Continuous care from the mother is essential for normal psychological development, and that prolonged separation from this adult caused serious damage to development

Question 29

Define affectionless psychopathy

Answer 29

A term used by Bowlby to describe people who don’t show concern or affection for other people and show no or very little remorse or guilt

Question 30

Define institutionalisation

Answer 30

The effects of living in an institutional setting. A place where children live for long, continuous periods of time. There is little to no emotional care provided

Question 31

Define orphan studies

Answer 31

These concern children places in care because their parents cannot look after them

Question 32

Define disinhibited attachment

Answer 32

Child shows equal affection to strangers as they do people they know well

Question 33

Define childhood relationships

Answer 33

Affiliations with other people in childhood, including friends and classmates, and with adults such as teachers

Question 34

Define adult relationships

Answer 34

Those relationships the child goes on to have later in life as an adult. These include friendships and working relationships but most critically relationships with romantic partners and the persons own children