Temperament, Attachment Styles, ACE

Temperament

Biologically based innate traits that influence how a child responds to their environment

• activity level, emotional reactivity, and adaptability

Easy Temperament

Characteristics

• Generally in a positive mood

• Regular sleeping and eating habits

• Adaptable

• Not easily upset

Common Behaviors

• Calm reactions

• Positive interactions with new situations

• Ease in routine management

Difficult Temperament

Characteristics

• Often in a negative mood

• Irregular sleeping and eating habits

• Generally unadaptable

• Can be easily upset

Common Behaviors

• Frequent crying

• Negative responses to people or new environment

• Difficulty in establishing routines

Slow-To-Warm-Up Temperament

Characteristics

• Low activity level

• Somewhat negative

• Shows low adaptability

• Low intensity of mood

Common Behaviors

• Hesitant with new experiences, but gradually adjusts with repeated exposure

• Mild but passive resistance to change

Origins of Attachment

Harry Harlow’s monkey experiments

• Monkeys were placed in cages with a cloth “mother” that provided comfort and warmth or a wired “mother” that provided food

• RESULTS

  • Monkeys spent significantly more time with the cloth “mother” because the comfort was more appealing (even if there was no food)

    • Contact comfort

  • Contact and touch are essential to attachment, learning, emotional well-being, and psychological development

Mary Ainsworth

Psychologist who found that attachment happens through a complex set of interactions between mothers and infants.

• Designed the “strange situation” experiment

  • exposing children to a series of controlled separation and reunions with their caregiver & stranger

Secure Attachment scenario

• Behavior when caregiver left

  • Upset

  • Cries and refuses to be held by stranger

• Behavior when caregiver returns

  • Makes effort to touch caregiver and returns to playing

• Mother characteristics

  • sensitive + responsive

Avoidant/Insecure Attachment

• Behavior when caregiver left

  • Indifferent

• Behavior when caregiver returns

  • Indifferent

  • May seek contact, but then pull away

• Mother characteristics

  • Insensitive + Unresponsive

    • which is why children become indifferent as they suppress their emotional needs

Anxious/Resistant Attachment

• Behavior when caregiver left

  • Very distressed

• Behavior when caregiver returns

  • ambivalent (having mixed feelings)

  • resentful of caregiver (for leaving)

• Mother characteristics

  • Mother is engaged in her own events, only making time for the child when her own needs are met

    • This makes the child anxious b/c they aren’t sure about their caregiver’s availability

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Potentially traumatic events or conditions that occur before age 18, and can have long-term impacts on health and well-being

• Abuse

• Neglect

• Household dysfunction