Attachment: Key Terminology

Reciprocity

When both infant and caregiver are both active contributors responding to each other

Interaction Synchrony

Rhythmic interaction between infant and caregiver, tending to mirror eachother.

Stranger Anxiety

Response to the arrival of a stranger

Seperation Anxiety

Distress level when separated from a carer and the degree of comfort needed upon return.

Social Referencing

Degree that a child looks at a carer in order to check how they respond to something new

Asocial

Age 0-6 Weeks. They do not favour social stimuli.

Indiscriminate Attachment

(6 weeks - 7 months) Indiscriminately enjoying human company.

Specific Attachment

(7 - 9 months) Looking to specific people for security, comfort and protection.

Multiple Attachment

(10+ Months) Multiple secure attachments have been formed.

Role of the Father

Parent meeting the stimulation needs of a child.

Role of the Mother

Parent assuming a caregiving role.

Classical Conditioning

\[Learning through association\] The relationship between food and pleasure is not learned since they are naturally linked. The child learns to associate the mother with food so the mother becomes a source of pleasure herself.

Operant Conditioning

\[Learning through reward\] This suggests that food reduces the Childs feelings of hunger and this reduces discomfort and is felt as a reward.

Food is a primary reinforcer because it satisfies a basic physical need and because the mother provides this she becomes a secondary reinforcer.

Social releaser

A behaviour that elicits a caregiving response such as smiling or grabbing, parents are hardwired to react to this.

Monotropic

A singular bond, specifically the bond of mother to child being more important than other bonds.

Critical period

The period that the formation of a primary attachment must be within to prevent disruption to social development, it is theorised to be 3 years long by Bowlby.

Internal working model

The first relationship of a child leads to a scheme being formed. A secure attachment with a mother will create a blueprint for further relationships.

Continuity hypothesis

Happy relationships will follow in life if there is a secure primary attachment in childhood.

Secure attachment

Child explores surroundings, wary with stranger, shows anxiety at being separated from mother and a comforted response at the return of the mother. \[66% of children\]

Insecure-avoidant attachment

Child explores but no reaction to any stimuli \[22% of children\]

Insecure-resistant attachment

Child does not explore, anxious with stranger, upset at separation and resisted return. \[12% of children\]