attachment theory

attachment theory

theoretical framework for understanding the emotional bonds we form with our closest others

two components of attachment theory

normative: development and functioning of the system

individual diff: in how the attachment systems operate

what did attachement theory emerge from

behaviourism

“flight from tenderness”

period of psychology 1950s whne it sought to establish itself as a rigorous scienec and did not consider feelings and thoughts

Harry harlow

opposed to behaviourist disreguard for feelings

Harry Harlows monkeys

surrogate mother experiment

• half of monkeys get wire mortehr and other gets cloth one

• milk gets fed to monkeys by eitehr wire or cloth motehr

• found that monkeys preffered the cloth mother even if milk was offered by wire mother

attachment behavioural system

thermostat system: when infants distance form caregiver goes beyond a comfortable amount, they engage in proximity seeking behaviour, goal of restoring felt security.

Proximity seeking

person you go to in need or distress

safe haven

the persons presence provides protection

secure base

person provides safes space and allows one to pursue nonattachment goals in safe environment

Bowlby’s work came out if what 

observation of displaced children following ww2

evolutionary explanation of attachment theory

babies cannot survive without caregivers to protect them so some mechanism has evolved to keep infants close to caregivers

the system in attachment theory it regulates __

safety

4 key features that describe attachment relationships

1. proximity seeking

2. safe haven

3. secure base

4. seperation distress

Mary ainsworth complimented attachment theory in what way

empirical research on how babies are attached and their mothers behaviour

Strange situation paradigm

1. baby brought into unfamiliar environment

2. divided into episodes  (seperations and reunions with the mother)

3. observation on protest behaviours (what kids do when their mother is gone)

4. observations of what the kids do when their mum returns

Secure pattern of child

1. distressed by mothers departure

2. seeks contact with the mother upon return. soothed

3. can return to play

Resistant ambivilant pattern

1. clingy

2. highly distressed by mothers departure

3. continues to cry when contact is restored

4. sometimes anger and resistance

5. no interest in exporation unable to use mother as secure base after

avoidant pattern of baby

distressed whne mum leaves

appears indifferent to mum when she returns

may play with toys after but not actively involve the mother 

prevalence of different attachment styles

1. secure

2. disorganized

3. avoidant

4. resistent

antecedents of secure pattern

• derive from history of interactions with a responsive caregiver

• learns that seeking proximity is a useful way

Antecedents of anxious ambivilant

caregiver is inconsistent

• leads to hyperactivation of the attachemnt sysem

• increase bids for proximity

Antecedents of avoidant

caregiver was not present or rejected bids

• decrease of attachment system

  • if they dont have a rxn they could maintain some connection with caregiver

internal working models

schemas tht are developed through attachment interactions

term working in internal working models

1. allows both stimulate and predict likely outcomes of attachmnet behaviours

2. subject to updating

Internal working models: models of self and other

1. representations of attachment figures responses (can others be relied on)

2. rep if ones own efficacy and value (an I loveable)

seperation in airports study showed what

adults seperating looked familiar to their attachment styles of babies

proximity seeking in response to threat examples

seeking attachment figure in times of distress (diary study)

differences between babies and adult attachment figure 6

1. people either than parents often take attachment figure

2. psychological proximity matters

3. threshold for activation increases

4. become better at self soothing

5. mutuality of roles both care giver and caregiving

6. sexuality

avoidant category is broken down into

dismissive (low anxiety low avoidance) vs fearful (high anxiety high avoidance)

low anxiety high avoidance avoidance in adults

dismissive

high anxiety high avoidance

fearful

high anxiety low avoidance

preoccupied, want to be close to other and am, but worried that others fee les close to me

behavioural assesment s of adults attachment style

adult attachment interview

1. discuss relationship with parents 

2. interested in how they say it too (coherence, organization)

secure attachment interview

balanced realistic view of ealry relationships

attachment experienced as valuable

open

Dismissing attachment interview

idealized view of parents

deny influence of parents 

discomfort in discussing

if someone is uncomfortable discussing their parents they may be

dismissive type

preoccupied attachment interview

• seem anxious/ angry

• emeshed in ealry experiences

• long winded, signs of confusion

dimensional approach: attachment anxiety

reflects how people fear rejection, vigilance to a threat, desire for closeness

dimensional approach: avoidance

measure disconmfort with closedd & dependence

anxiety hyperactivating strategies

• heightened vigilance for possible threat

• make threatening attributions

• activate their attachment system more

• catastrophizing events

• rumination

• high accesibility if negative memories

what is catastrophizing 

exaggerated appraissals of events

affection reaction to perception of partners behaviour study

anxiously attached individuals react more strongly to small changes in warmth

• do not feel better when partner is more warm

bias of anxious attachment to partners availability

biased in noticing insufficient availability or responsiveness

speech study on partners

1. partner has to prepare for speech

2. partner b writes a message

3. message is coded and appraised by partner A

excessive reassurance seeking

innapropriately strong tendency to seek assurance that one is valued even afterthey have been reassured, reassurance is perceived as forced

what acts as a buffer for secure attachment styles in times of distress

self soothing ability and benefit of the doubt

self disclosure and anxious attachment

• disclosure focuses on their unfullfulled needs for closeness

• tends to be too much too soon

compulsive caregiving

• tendency to be overinvolve themselves in their partners problems

• does not match level of care to the level of need

Attachment avoidance: what is the goal?

to keep attachmnet system deactivated will minimized experiences

Attachment avoidance: prostemptive strategies

• avoid thinking or dwelling on problematic memories

Attachment avoidance: premptive strategies

tune out distressing conversations

Pre emptive defensive strategies studies

• Ps listened to an interview touching several attachment theme

• complete explicit or implicit memory tasks

• avoidant attachment styles performed worse on both types of task even when incentivized

how do defensive strategies play out in long term

• may deprive one of opp to benefit from social support

• are cognitively and phsyiologically effortful

• break down in high stress events

research found that under cognitive load, avoidnat attachemnet people did how well in the rebound effect study

no longer able to avod the supporessed thoughts