Emotional Development and Attachment

Flashcards on emotional development and attachment based on lecture notes.

Attachment

An emotional connection or bond between a child and their principal caregiver.

Paul Ekman

Psychologist who found that emotional expressions seem to be universal.

John Bowlby

British psychiatrist who first proposed the idea of attachment.

Behaviours that reflect attachment

Crying when held by someone other than caregiver, calms once returned to caregiver

7 months old

Attachment generally form by this age.

Mary Ainsworth

Psychologist who created the Strange Situation test to determine infants’ attachment to their caregiver.

Separation Anxiety

Distress shown by an infant when separated from their caregiver.

Reunion Behavior

The way an infant acts when reunited with their caregiver.

Stranger Anxiety

Anxiety shown by an infant in the presence of a stranger.

Secure Attachment

Attachment style characterized by a balance between dependence on caregiver and exploration.

Secure Attachment behaviours

In the Strange Situation, the child is distressed when mother leaves, avoidant of stranger when alone but friendly when mother present , and positive and happy when mother returns.

Avoidant Attachment

Attachment style where the child doesn’t seek closeness or contact with the caregiver.

Infant shows no sign of distress when mother leaves, Infant is okay with the stranger and plays normally when stranger is present, Infant shows little interest when mother returns.

How a child with avoidant attachment reacts to the strange situation.

Resistant Attachment

Attachment style where a child appears anxious, even if the caregiver is near.

Resistant Attachment Behaviours

Attachment style where the child shows signs of intense distress, avoids the stranger - shows fear of stranger and the child approaches mother but resists contact, may even push her away.

Disorganized Attachment

Attachment style charecterised by odd or inconsistent behaviour when separated or reunited with their caregiver