psych exam 2: II. Early Psychosocial Development II: Attachment & Maltreatment

What is attachment?

Reciprocal emotional bond between infant and caregiver.
Example: Baby seeks comfort from parent when scared.

What did Harlow’s monkey study show?

Contact comfort is more important than feeding for attachment.
Example: Monkeys preferred soft cloth mother over wire mother with milk.

Characteristics of secure attachment?

Uses caregiver as secure base, seeks comfort when distressed.
Example: Child explores room but returns to parent for reassurance.

Characteristics of insecure-avoidant attachment?

Avoids caregiver and shows little distress at separation.
Example: Child ignores parent returning.

Characteristics of insecure-resistant attachment?

Clingy and difficult to comfort after reunion.
Example: Child both seeks and resists comfort.

Characteristics of disorganized attachment?

Confused or contradictory behaviors.
Example: Child freezes or appears disoriented when parent returns.

What is an internal working model (Bowlby’s theory)?

Expectations about relationships based on early attachment.
Example: Secure child expects others to be trustworthy OR secure child —> healthy future relationships

What are the main types of child maltreatment?

Neglect (most common), physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment.
Example: Neglect = child lacks food or supervision.

What is primary prevention?

Preventing maltreatment before it occurs.
Example: Parenting education programs.

What is secondary prevention?

Intervening when warning signs appear.
Example: Counseling high-risk families.

What is tertiary prevention?

Reducing harm after abuse occurs.
Example: Foster care placement.