Attachment Theory Flashcards
What are the basic principles of attachment theory?
-humans have a very strong need to form and maintain stable/strong relationships
–in order to understand how we form relationships we need to focus on how relationships form… especially in relation to our caregivers
–through our interactions with those around us (caregiver, parents) we learn how to build relationships that matter and use this as models as who we will be as caregivers and what we can provide as romantic partners
what did John Bowlby consider to be the consequences of maternal deprivation?
-anxiety, anger, delinquency, and depression
What are the stages of attachment based on John Bowlby’s theory?
–pre attachment; birth - 6/8 weeks
–attachment in the making: 6/8 weeks -6/8 months
–true attachment: 6/8 months - 1 1/2 - 2 yrs
–reciprocal relationships: 1 1/2 or 2 yrs
What do we mean by a secure base?
-comfort provided by attachment figures
–EX: mothers
–feeling comforted by a attachment figure allows the baby to venture forth and explore the environment
what is the role of fathers in the development of attachment? *
-father spend much of their time with babies playing with them physically
–Infants often prefer to play with fathers but rely on mothers when they are distressed
What was Harlow’s contribution to the attachment theory? Briefly describe his experiments and what we learned from them.
–researcher manipulates how baby monkeys form attachment by determining whether is the food that helps or the comfort
–he deprives baby monkeys of any contact with their caregiver and gives them a wire monkey that provides food or one that is covered with warm fabric so that the baby monkey can be warmed
**babies form secure attachments because they need someone that provides warmth and comfort
What was Ainsworht’s contribution?
-tested Bowlby’s ideas with humans infants
–invented a laboratory procedure to assess the quality (style) of infants attachment
what is the strange situation paradigm?
- baby and parent alone in playroom
- stranger enter and talks to parent
- parent leaves
- -parent returns, stranger leaves
- parent leaves child alone
- -stranger enters and offer comfort
what are the 3 different attachment styles?
-secure attachment
–insecure/resistant
–insecure/avoidant
What kinds of caregiving behaviors give rise to different attachment styles?
-contingent/responsive care = secure attachment
–inconsistent/ unpredictable care = insecure/ resistant
–rejecting/ neglectful care = insecure/ avoidant
What is the approximate distribution of infants in each attachment style?
-65% securely attached
–20% insecure/avoidant
–15% insecure/resistant
How do early experiences affect adult life? What is the relation between child attachment and adult attachment style?
–Child’s attachment style persists over time if relationship with parents are stable; this style in turn influences other relationships
-style can change if important relationships change
–stability and plasticity
How does daycare impact attachment?
-parents fear that daycare will alter a baby’s attachment to them, but there is no evidence that a use of a good daycare will lead to insecure attachment
preattachment
baby has no attachment and has innate signals that bring the caregiver
attachment in the making
baby being to differentiate caregivers from other adults
–baby is gradually identifying the primary caregiver as the person they can depend on when they’re anxious or distressed
