Flashcards
Developmental psychology: attachment
Cards in this deck (14)
- 1AttachmentRelationship between child and caregiver
Has evolutionary basis
Attained through biological means through a system of communication, and child seeks proximity
Doesn't just occur between mother and child - Parke (1996) - fathers relationship can be just as close as the mothers - 2What is Bowlby's theory of attachment based on?Psychoanalysis: child seeks proximity with adult on the basis of being fed, whereas bowlby argues it is the response of innate behaviours
Control systems theory: behaviours that serve a common function are linked together to achieve a certain goal if the goal changes the behaviour changes (strange situation)
Ainsworth (1973) : children use mother as a secure base from which to explore, but it is a source of comfort when distressed - 3What are some of Bowlby's key ideas?Attachment is an innate process and done so through communication system and child seeking proximity
Attachment is a two way process - child must possess signals and mother must possess ability to interpret signals
Attachment affects other relationships through the internal working model (1973) - mental model of child's experience with mother which combines cognitive components with affective components - 4MonkeyHarlow et al (1971) carried out a study on rhesus monkeys. Monkey chose cloth covered surrogate with food over food alone - shows importance of an attachment figure
- 5What is the first stage of attachmentPre-attachment: first two months. Baby is indiscriminate if social responses
- 6What happens in the second stage of attachmentAttachment in the making : 2-7 months - infants start to discriminate the familiar from unfamiliar, showing distinct preference to what is familiar. (Stranger distress)
- 7What stage of attachment lasts from 7 months to 2 years oldThe third stage- clear cut attachment.
Infants develop close attachments with those they see regularly and will actively seek out these people - 8What mainly effects the final stage of attachmentGoal- corrected partnership - this is where the child develops language (2+ years), which changes the communication system, giving the child more responsibility in maintaining the attachment relationship
- 9Quality of attachmentSensitive, responsive caregiver - secure attachment (65%)
Insensitive caregiver who is unresponsive or over intrusive - insecure avoidant attachment (20%)
Inconsistent parenting - insecure resistant attachment (10%)
Main and Soloman (1990) introduced a 5th type:
Mistreatment - insecure disorganised attachment (5%) found in 82% mistreated infants - 10The strange situationAinsworth et al (1978)
Experiment used to test quality of attachment, where mother briefly leaves and child is left with a stranger.
Secure attachment: minimum disturbance
Insecure avoidant: little distress, avoids mother
Insecure resistant: v. Distressed, seek and avoid mother
Insecure disorganised: odd behaviour, confusion - 11Discuss the stability of attachmentBowlby claims that attachment is stable
Main and Cassidy (1988) - children exposed to strange situation at 12 months and 6 years showed consistent attachment relationship
BUT.. Sample problem - white middle class.
Attachment is bi-directional especially for those in poverty, with limited social support and high psychological problems.
Thompson (1998) - environment can change stability or attachment, which is a relationship that builds over time. - 12Sroufe (1979)Argued that if a child is securely attached they will be more competent, better problem solvers at two years old, more complex and creative in play therefore able to form relationships. Also show more positive emotions.
- 13Which study shows the consequences of the attachment relationshipMatas et al (1978)
Assess children at 18 and 24 months, giving them A problem solving and play task.
Securely attached infants - more persistent and enthusiastic, more positive behaviour
Insecurely attached infants - more frustrated, less persistent, show a lot of distress. Less likely to listen to parents when they try to help - 14CultureAttachment is not universal, it differs across cultures:
Germans - more avoidant children - culture of raising independent children
Dog on people of Mali - more secure children - parent responds to every need
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- Flashcards on Developmental psychology: attachment, created by Chloe Watson on 11/01/2015.
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- Chloe Watson
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