attachment

definition of attachment

an enduring emotional bond between 2 people

what does the first attachment act as for later relationships

model

what is attachment demonstrated by

proximity seeking, separation anxiety/protest and pleasure on reunion

what is short term benefit of attachment

survival

what is long term benefit on attachment

supports later emotional relationships

definition of proximity seeking

behaviours that restore closeness when separated from an attachment figure

what is separation distress

the child becomes unhappy when separated from the caregiver

what is secure base behaviour

the caregiver acts as a safe base for child

the child checks back for reassurance

what is altricial

children are born helpless

what is precocial

children are born independent and at a more advanced stage of development

are human babies altricial or precocial and what does that mean

altricial

need adults to protect and nurture them

explain evolutionary attachment

attachment is innate

attachment is adaptive because the caregiver protects the infant from danger and provides resources from survival

enduring attachment helps social groups to develop, increasing chances of the survival

behaviourist explanation ‘cupboard love’

classical conditioning: the caregiver becomes associated with having the infant’s needs met

operant conditioning: attachment behaviours are strengthened because they lead to a rewarding experience

evidence about attachment (Harlow - rhesus monkeys)

sample: 16 newborn rhesus monkeys separated from their mothers

2 surrogate mothers: one made of wire and one covered in soft terry cloth

half received milk from wire mum and the other half from cloth mum

finding: both groups spent more time with cloth mother

when frightened both groups used cloth monkey as a safe base

evidence about attachment (Lorenz - imprinting) goose

half the goose eggs hatched with mum goose; the other half with Lorenzo

goslings followed the first moving object they saw during a 12-17 hour critical period

it occurred without food, challenging a simple cupboard-love explanation

what does imprinting suggest

attachment is innate and genetically programmed

what is privation

never forming an attachment

what is deprivation

having a disruption to attachment

what are social releasers

e.g. a cute face on a baby.

These unlock the innate tendency for adults to care for a child because they activate the mammalian attachment system.

Bowbly’s monotropic theory (VIASMCI)

attachments are vital for emotional health

adaptive - attachment gives a survival chance

innate - humans are born with biological tendency to form attachments

social releasers - infant behaviour triggers adult response

monotropy - 1 special attachment is different from other attachments

critical period - the key attachment should form between 2.5 and 3 years

internal working model - the first attachment creates a mental schema for later relationships

what does monotropic mean

1 special attachment is different from the rest

typical pattern for attachment - Schaffer & Emerson (1964)

0-3 month - indiscriminate attachment

around 4 months - beginning of specific attachment; main caregiver is recognised but care also accepted from others

around 7 months - a single attachment to the primary caregiver

9+ months - multiple attachments begin to form

define law of continuity

more constant care is linked to a better-quality attachment

define law of accumulated separation

the effects of separation add up over time

define affectionless psychopathy

people have little guilt, shame or remorse for their actions

define orphan study

study of a child placed in care because parents are no longer able to care for them

define institutionalism

effects of living in an institutional setting such as an orphanage, prison or hospital

define disinhibited attachment

overly friendly and affectionate behaviour towards other people or strangers

define deprivation dwarfism

physical underdevelopment linked to lack of emotional care and possible effects on growth hormones

explain gardner study

• an 8 month old girl was physically stunted and withdrawn. Her mother rarely cuddled her because of feeding tube

• in hospital, increased adult attention and care was followed by improvement and normal growth

• this suggested emotional disturbance may affect the production of growth hormones

what are the attachement types

type A: insecure avoidant

type B: secure

type C: insecure resistant

what does PRESS stand for

P - proximity seeking

R - reunion behaviour

E - exploration/secure base

S - stranger anxiety

S - separation anxiety