A3 Emotional development across the life stages

Question 1

what is bowlby’s theory of attachment?

Answer 1

Bowlby viewed attachment as a mechanism that evolved over generations as it ensured the survival of the child.
A behaviour that helps an animal to survive is called an adaptive behaviour.

Question 2

how does bowlby’s theory relate to natural selection?

Answer 2

Bowlby argued that the babies and caregivers possess instincts to ensure survival.
Babies possess the instincts such as crying and smiling, which encourage the caregiver to look after them.
Parents, especially the mother, possess instincts to protect their baby from harm and to ensure their survival to maturity.
Those mothers and babies who do not possess these instincts do not survive, therefore their genes don’t survive.
Attachment behaviour is, therefore innate (present at birth) and adaptive (ensures survival).

Question 3

what is the sensitive period?

Answer 3

Bowlby believed that, in humans, there was a sensitive period for an attachment to take place which is the first 12 months (or 2 years). If an attachment does not take place it can effect the child’s ability to attach to others in later life.
(relates to imprinting)
(note: Bowlby later claims for this to be within the first 2 years)

Question 4

what is a secure attachment?

Answer 4

A secure attachment bond that meets a child’s need for security, calm, and understanding caregiver, it allows for optimal development.

Question 5

what is an avoidant attachment?

Answer 5

An avoidant attachment is formed in babies and children when parents or caregivers are largely emotionally unavailable or unresponsive most of the time. Infants with an avoidant attachment appeared outwardly calm when the parents left, but avoided or resisted having contact with their parents when they returned.

Question 6

what is an anxious attachment?

Answer 6

Anxious children will cling to caregivers or become inconsolable when a caregiver leaves. A parent with inconsistent parenting behaviours is what causes this, they may be nurturing and attuned at times, but insensitive, emotionally unavailable, or antipathetic (cold or critical) at other times.

Question 7

what is the early stage of attachment shown in the first 12 weeks?

Answer 7

Pre attachment

Babies cry to gain attention

Question 8

what is the early stage of attachment shown from 3 to 7 months?

Answer 8

Indiscriminate attachment

Can distinguish between familiar and
unfamiliar faces
Become more responsive to the primary caregiver

Question 9

what is the initial stage of attachment shown from 7 to 9 months?

Answer 9

Discriminate Attachment

Separation anxiety – child is
anxious when mum leaves such as going to a nursery

Stranger fear – Show distress when
left with a stranger

Question 10

what is the later stage of attachment shown from 9 months+?

Answer 10

Multiple Attachments

Begins to make attachments with others

These bonds are never as close as the attachment between child and primary
care giver

Question 11

what was the Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis?

Answer 11

According to Bowlby, if the attachment is not developed within the first two and half years of a child’s life irreversible damage will be caused effecting the ability for the individual to form adult positive relationships.

Question 12

what are the long term effects of maternal deprivation?

Answer 12

delinquency
reduced intelligence
increased aggression
depression
affectionless psychopathy

(Affectionless psychopathy is an inability to show affection or concern for others. Such individuals act on impulse with little regard for the consequences of their actions. For example, showing no guilt for antisocial behaviour.)

Question 13

what study relates to maternal deprivation?

Answer 13

44 thieves (1944)

Question 14

what are the 3 progressive stages of distress?

Answer 14

Protest: The child cries, screams and protests angrily when the parent leaves. They will try to cling on to the parent to stop them leaving.

Despair: The child’s protesting begins to stop and they appear to be calmer although still upset. The child refuses others’ attempts for comfort and often seems withdrawn and uninterested in anything.

Detachment: If separation continues the child will start to engage with other people again. They will reject the caregiver on their return and show strong signs of anger

Robertson and Bowlby (1952)

Question 15

what was Rutter’s critiques to Bowlby’s theories?

Answer 15

Rutter (1972)points out that several indicators of attachment (such as protest or distress when attached person leaves) have been shown for a variety of attachment figures – fathers, siblings, peers and even inanimate objects.
Critics such as Rutter have also accused Bowlby of not distinguishing between deprivation and privation – the complete lack of an attachment bond, rather than its loss. Rutter stresses that the quality of the attachment bond is the most important factor, rather than just deprivation in the critical period.

Question 16

what was ‘a strange situation’? (Mary Ainsworth)

Answer 16

Infants were aged between 12 and 18 months. The sample comprised of 100 middle-class American families.

observing the behaviour of the infant in a series of eight episodes lasting approximately 3 minutes each:

(1) Mother, baby, and experimenter (lasts less than one minute).
(2) Mother and baby alone.
(3) A stranger joins the mother and infant.
(4) Mother leaves baby and stranger alone.
(5) Mother returns and stranger leaves.
(6) Mother leaves; infant left completely alone.
(7) Stranger returns.
(8) Mother returns and stranger leaves.

Question 17

what was observed in ‘a strange situation’?

Answer 17

4 types of attachment were observed and had specific behaviours:

secure attachment- Distressed when mother leaves, Avoidant of stranger when alone, but friendly when the mother is present, Positive and happy when mother returns.

Avoidant attachment- No sign of distress when the the mother leaves, The infant is okay with the stranger and plays normally when the stranger is present, The Infant shows little interest when the mother returns.

Ambivalent attachment- The child will commonly exhibit clingy and dependent behaviour and distress without mother, but will be rejecting of the attachment figure when they engage in interaction after return.

Disorganised attachment- freeze on separation and struggles to follow a pattern of behaviour after return. ‘bizarre behaviour’

Question 18

what parenting styles produce these 4 attachment types?

Answer 18

Secure attachment- consistent and responsive
Avoidant attachment- broadly rejecting
Ambivalent attachment- Inconsistent
Disorganised attachment- Loss of carer or trauma

Question 19

what were strengths of Ainsworth’s theory?

Answer 19

Explains development in social relationships
Enables predictions about subsequent social relationships
Provides information about specific interventions that can improve social functioning

Question 20

what were weaknesses of Ainsworth’s theory?

Answer 20

Only comparative cross-cultural research has been conducted

Does not well predict behaviour in cultures where children have more than one primary caregiver

Question 21

What is Self- Concept?

Answer 21

Self concept is how a person sees themselves
This includes self-esteem – a persons beliefs about their own value (compared with others)

Also includes body image

Question 22

what Factors that affect self-concept?

Answer 22

Life experiences
Age
Relationship with others
Gender
Emotional maturity 
Culture
Appearance
Sexual orientation
Education

Question 23

Where does a ‘self-concept’ start?

Answer 23

Patterns of self-esteem start very early in life.
For example, when a baby or toddler reaches a milestone, he or she experiences a sense of accomplishment that bolsters self-esteem.
As a child tries, fails, tries again, and then finally succeeds, he or she is developing ideas about his or her own capabilities. At the same time, he or she is creating a self-concept based on interactions with other people.

Parental involvement is key to helping a child form accurate, healthy self-perceptions.

Question 24

explain self concept in childhood 3-8yrs

Answer 24

Children experience a wider range of emotions than infants..
They learn they should express their emotions differently in different situations.
Children still depend on their carers & close family. How they are treated by them is still very important for their self-concept. As children get older they meet more people outside the family. Their self-concept is affected by their relationships with others – school friends, teachers. If they are popular in school & have lots of friends it will have a positive effect on their self-concept, having emotional stability is important in the development of the child.

Question 25

explain self concept in Adolescence 9-18years

Answer 25

The hormone changes that are responsible for puberty also affect their emotions. They may be excited one minute & depressed the next. get angry very easily.
At the same time they are looking for a sense of personal identity, or to discover ‘who they are’. A sense of ‘self’ Self esteem may depend on developing their own identity.

Insecurity can be a part of adolescent emotional development. It is a time when our personality is developed, based on our individual characteristics, habits and experiences.
A person needs a clear understanding of identity in order to feel secure when working with others or to make a loving sexual attachment.

Question 26

explain self concept in Early and middle adulthood 19-65 years

Answer 26

They are controlling the way they respond to the emotions that they are feeling.

When we leave home we have to be independent & self reliant to cope. Individuals have to understand their own emotions & those of their partner, & be able to control the way they respond to their emotions.

Having children means accepting new responsibilities. Babies are very demanding & this can cause a lot of stress. Adults have to be emotionally mature to cope with this.
If adults are not able to put the needs of the baby first then the baby may be neglected.

If they cannot control their emotions e.g. anger, then the baby may be abused.

If one partner is immature & jealous of the attention given to the baby then the relationship may break down.

The jobs adults do are an important part of their identity & self concept. A person may feel proud of their job & think they have been successful in getting it. If they are not satisfied with their job, they may feel a failure.

Question 27

explain self concept in LATER ADULTHOOD (65+)

Answer 27

This life stage starts with retirement from work. An older adult has to get used to the idea that they are no longer a wage earlier. They may no longer have responsible for others.
A sense of ‘worth’ is needed to enable them to cope with the physical changes associated with death and ageing . People who fail to make sense of their lives might experience emotional despair.