Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is Bowlby's theory regarding early social attachment?
What is Bowlby's theory regarding early social attachment?
Early social attachment between an infant and a caretaker is essential for normal social development.
What did Ainsworth propose about infants' attachment to caregivers?
What did Ainsworth propose about infants' attachment to caregivers?
Infants' attachment to a caregiver differs in the degree of security in the attachment.
What do infants need to develop a secure attachment?
What do infants need to develop a secure attachment?
What is the Strange Situation?
What is the Strange Situation?
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Describe secure attachment.
Describe secure attachment.
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Which of the following describes insecure attachment?
Which of the following describes insecure attachment?
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What is a characteristic of securely attached infants?
What is a characteristic of securely attached infants?
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What defines insecure-avoidant attachment?
What defines insecure-avoidant attachment?
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What is the effect of caregiver sensitivity on attachment?
What is the effect of caregiver sensitivity on attachment?
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What factors can affect the stability of attachment styles?
What factors can affect the stability of attachment styles?
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What does attachment theory predict?
What does attachment theory predict?
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How does an infant's attachment style predict future outcomes?
How does an infant's attachment style predict future outcomes?
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What are cultural variations in attachment styles?
What are cultural variations in attachment styles?
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Study Notes
Bowlby
- Early social attachment between an infant and caretaker is critical for normal development.
- Infants have an innate tendency to form attachments, primarily with their mothers.
Ainsworth
- Expanded on Bowlby's research, identifying variations in attachment security.
- Differences in attachment security impact personality and social relationships in infancy and later life.
Attachment Theory Basics
- Infants require a "secure base" from their primary caregiver to build trust.
- Secure attachments promote healthy development, while insecure attachments lead to difficulties.
- Attachment styles influence relationships throughout an individual's life journey.
Secure Base
- A responsive caregiver provides a safe environment for exploration.
- Appropriate caregiver responses result in confident exploration, while inadequate responses create insecurity.
- Typically, the caregiver is the child's mother or anyone meeting the infant's needs.
Strange Situation
- An experimental procedure designed to assess infants' attachment security.
- Involves eight three-minute episodes with the infant, parent, and researcher in a lab setting.
Secure Attachment
- Infants feel free to explore their environment with their parents present.
- Displays distress at separation but shows joy upon reunion with the parent.
Insecure Attachment
- Resistant Attachment: Clingy behavior, distress during separation, and anger during reunion.
- Avoidant Attachment: Lack of concern when the parent leaves and indifference upon return.
Securely Attached
- Belief that the caregiver provides consistent protection and support.
- While upset by separation, securely attached infants are generally happy and engaged when the caregiver is present.
Insecure-Avoidant
- Perception that the caregiver will not protect or provide support in stressful situations.
- Shows no protest when the caregiver departs and may favor strangers over the parent.
Insecure-Resistant
- Exhibits uncertainty about caregiver support during stress.
- Stays close to the parent and displays distress upon separation, with mixed behaviors during reunion.
Disorganized or Disoriented
- Lacks a consistent strategy for managing stress.
- Behaves in contradictory ways, often seen in cases of abuse or neglect.
Factors Influencing Attachment
- Caregiver Sensitivity: Secure attachments are less likely if infants are raised in orphanages or in environments lacking sensitivity.
- Family Stress: Exposure to verbal abuse impacts attachment security.
- Parental Psychopathology: Depressed parents often have poorer interactions with their children.
- Infant's Temperament: An irritable infant with unsupportive parents is more likely to develop insecure attachments.
Stability of Attachment Styles
- Securely attached infants from stable, middle-class families typically maintain their attachment style.
- Stressful life events can alter attachment styles, especially in dysfunctional families.
Attachment Theory Predictions
- The quality of early attachments predicts later development.
- Longitudinal studies link secure attachments in infancy to increased competence in later tasks.
Predictions for Attachment Style Impact
- Strong correlation between attachment style and effective social functioning.
- Affects sociability, self-esteem, academic performance, teenage behavior, and parenting attitudes.
Cultural Variations in Attachment Styles
- The four basic types of attachment are observed across different cultures, indicating universality in attachment behaviors.
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Description
Explore key concepts from Attachment Theory through these flashcards focused on Bowlby and Ainsworth. Learn about the innate tendencies in infant-caregiver attachment and the variations in attachment security. This quiz aids in understanding foundational ideas in child development and psychology.
