Attachment theory in IPT Flashcards
1
Q
What is attachment theory?
A
First articulated by Bowlby (1963), people hace an intrinsive desire to form attachments
Baby face hypothesis
Attachment forms an internal working model for future relationships (continuity hypothesis).
Attachment is crucial for a persons cognitive and physical development (Gardner, 1972; Genie; Hodges & Tizard)
2
Q
How is att. theory linked to IPT?
A
Attachment styles (Ainsworth, 1973) informs a persons desired and ideal relationship Can also uncover why people are having social functioning issues, e.g., insecure avoidant people may have trouble forming and maintaining close bonds (Stuart and Robertson, 2003).
3
Q
Evidence for poor attachment leading to mental ill health
A
- Large US sampled study found link between insecure attachment and psychological disorders (Hamman, 1995).
- Ellis (2013) found women who lost their mothers before the age of 17 (attachment was removed) were more likely to develop depression
- Hodges and Tizard (1989) found that ex-institutionalised women (e.g., failed to have consistent or strong attachment figures) were more likely to have children in care - also shown with Harlow and Harlow’s monkey (1958)
4
Q
Criticism of the attachment theory (4)
A
- Not culturally generalised (Rothbaum, 2011). It is a Western ideal - compared to japanese preference for insecure avoidant.
- Peers can shape children more than attachment figures (Harris 1998; see Vygotsky, 1938 sociocultural theory)
- The attachment model is based on the observations of momentary seperation / reunions. This does not capture the complete complexity of attachment (Lee, 2004). However, Tronick (1992) found within the Efe tribe children (although breastfed by other women) did show one primary attachment figure
- Kagan (1984) hypothesised that temperament influences attachment. Fox (1989) found ‘easy’ babies were more securely attached that difficult children. Attachment is an interactionist concept; parents sensitivity and children’s temperament
