Attachment Theory and Research

These flashcards cover important concepts related to attachment theory, including key studies by Lorenz and Harlow, behaviors demonstrating attachment, and key definitions in the field.

What is attachment?

An emotional tie between two people, studied by developmental psychologists.

What are the four key behaviors that demonstrate attachment according to Maccoby?

1. Seeking proximity to the primary attachment figure. 2. Distress on separation. 3. Pleasure when reunited. 4. General orientation of behavior towards the primary attachment figure.

What is the critical period?

A specific time period within which an attachment must form.

What is the sensitive period?

The best time period within which attachments can form, though they can still form with more difficulty outside this period.

What is imprinting?

The process by which young animals follow and form an attachment to the first large moving object they meet.

What was the aim of Lorenz’s imprinting geese study?

To investigate the mechanisms of imprinting.

What was the procedure used in Lorenz's study?

12 eggs were divided, with one half incubated by Lorenz as the caregiver and the other half by the natural mother. Observations were made on which figure the goslings recognized.

What were the results of Lorenz's gosling study?

Goslings followed their respective caregivers; imprinting occurred in a set time period of 4-25 hours after hatching.

What is one weakness of Lorenz’s study?

The generalizability of the findings may be questioned as observations of goslings may not reflect human attachment behaviors.

What is one strength of Lorenz’s study?

There are practical applications that can improve human attachment relationships by highlighting the importance of the primary attachment figure.

What was the aim of Harlow’s monkey experiment?

To study how newborn rhesus monkeys bond to their mothers.

What was the procedure of Harlow’s monkey study?

Monkeys interacted with surrogate mothers: one made of wire and one covered in cloth. Preference was tested by frightening the monkeys.

What were the results of Harlow’s monkey study?

Monkeys preferred the cloth monkey for comfort over the wire monkey that provided milk.

What is one weakness of Harlow’s monkey study?

The study suffered from low ecological validity as it involved artificial and distressing conditions not typical for monkeys.

What is one strength of Harlow's study?

The study's highly controlled environment provides reliable results regarding attachment.

What does classical conditioning refer to?

Learning through association.

What does operant conditioning refer to?

Learning through consequences.

What does the learning theory of attachment suggest?

Attachments are learned through the environment and result from nurture, not nature.

How does classical conditioning explain attachment theory?

Infants learn to associate caregivers with satisfying needs and emotional bonding occurs.

What is the significance of Harlow's findings on comfort vs food?

They emphasize the importance of responding to children's emotional needs for healthy attachment.