Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which attachment style is characterized by a child who shows no distress when separated and ignores their mother upon reunion?
Which attachment style is characterized by a child who shows no distress when separated and ignores their mother upon reunion?
What does the Normativity hypothesis state about secure attachment?
What does the Normativity hypothesis state about secure attachment?
What factor does the Sensitivity hypothesis highlight as crucial for attachment security?
What factor does the Sensitivity hypothesis highlight as crucial for attachment security?
In attachment theory, what is predicted when a child has a secure attachment?
In attachment theory, what is predicted when a child has a secure attachment?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the Universality hypothesis suggest regarding infant attachment?
What does the Universality hypothesis suggest regarding infant attachment?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Disorganized attachment style?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Disorganized attachment style?
Signup and view all the answers
According to Oppenheim et al. (1988), what is a behavioral outcome linked to secure attachment by age 5?
According to Oppenheim et al. (1988), what is a behavioral outcome linked to secure attachment by age 5?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key implication of the Competence hypothesis in attachment theory?
What is a key implication of the Competence hypothesis in attachment theory?
Signup and view all the answers
What aspect of attachment theory requires further research according to the provided content?
What aspect of attachment theory requires further research according to the provided content?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a common misconception about the Dismissive/Avoidant attachment style?
What is a common misconception about the Dismissive/Avoidant attachment style?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of the attachment bond formed by infants with their caregivers?
What is the primary function of the attachment bond formed by infants with their caregivers?
Signup and view all the answers
Which phase of attachment development is characterized by infants showing a distress response at separation?
Which phase of attachment development is characterized by infants showing a distress response at separation?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'sensitivity' refer to in the context of the Sensitivity hypothesis?
What does the term 'sensitivity' refer to in the context of the Sensitivity hypothesis?
Signup and view all the answers
Which attachment style is likely to be characterized by positive developmental outcomes, such as social competence?
Which attachment style is likely to be characterized by positive developmental outcomes, such as social competence?
Signup and view all the answers
Which hypothesis claims that secure attachment is the standard outcome in healthy home environments across cultures?
Which hypothesis claims that secure attachment is the standard outcome in healthy home environments across cultures?
Signup and view all the answers
What outcome do studies suggest about secure infants in terms of behavioral issues?
What outcome do studies suggest about secure infants in terms of behavioral issues?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the evolutionary significance of attachment according to the information provided?
What is the evolutionary significance of attachment according to the information provided?
Signup and view all the answers
Which phase of attachment development occurs when infants begin to show a clear attachment and may crawl towards their carer?
Which phase of attachment development occurs when infants begin to show a clear attachment and may crawl towards their carer?
Signup and view all the answers
What does early attachment contribute to according to Bowlby’s attachment theory?
What does early attachment contribute to according to Bowlby’s attachment theory?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement best represents Bowlby’s view on the stability of early attachment behavior?
Which statement best represents Bowlby’s view on the stability of early attachment behavior?
Signup and view all the answers
In the Harlow study involving monkeys, what did the findings highlight about attachment?
In the Harlow study involving monkeys, what did the findings highlight about attachment?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the revisionist perspective on early attachment suggest?
What does the revisionist perspective on early attachment suggest?
Signup and view all the answers
According to the findings of Fraley (2002), what effect does attachment style at 12 months have?
According to the findings of Fraley (2002), what effect does attachment style at 12 months have?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Attachment Theory
- Attachment: An emotional bond formed between an infant and primary caregiver, characterized by proximity, comfort, and contentment. Attachment styles describe the types of these bonds. Attachment behavior is how infants react to situations based on their attachment style. This is an evolutionary need, crucial for survival and ensuring adult care during prolonged childhood. Bondings extend beyond the parents to the community. Modern settings, like nurseries, still require infant-adult bonding.
Importance of Attachment
-
Evolutionary Basis: Attachment is an evolutionary need for survival. Prolonged development in humans necessitates intensive care, prompting the evolution of attachment. It ensures care during long childhoods.
-
Historical Context: Historically, attachment extended beyond parental figures to a broader community. Modern care settings (e.g., nurseries, schools) require secure bonds with adult caregivers for healthy development.
-
Time to Maturity: Delayed sexual maturity is correlated with extended childhood, preserving the need for prolonged adult support and attachment.
-
Adult Care: Attachment is integral for intensive care, crucial for long childhood development and survival.
Bowlby's Attachment Theory
-
Evolutionary Urge: Attachment is an ancient urge, not solely for feeding.
-
Ethological Studies: Bowlby's work drew on imprinting studies (Lorenz) and primate studies (Harlow). Findings suggest this is an ancient behavior, not just for feeding the infant
Five Phases of Attachment Development
-
First Months: Infants react to people indiscriminately.
-
5–7 Months: Infants show a preference for a specific caregiver (e.g., smiling).
-
7–9 Months: Clear attachment forms (e.g., crawling to caregiver, distress at separation).
-
2–3 Years: Goal-corrected partnerships develop; children understand caregiver's needs, like waiting for their return.
-
4+ Years: Emotional closeness is prioritized over physical proximity.
Early Attachment's Lifelong Significance
-
Internal Working Model: Early attachment forms an internal working model influencing future relationship perceptions and reactions.
-
Stability Debate: Whether attachment styles are fixed or adaptable is debated. Bowlby argues for stability, while others (e.g., Lewis) suggest change based on experience.
Lifelong Impact Research (Fraley, 2002)
- Meta-analysis: A 1410 participant study (12 months to 21 years) showed that attachment style at 12 months predicts later attachment but the impact weakens with age.
Ainsworth's Attachment Styles
-
Strange Situation Procedure: A standardized assessment technique to classify attachment styles, the gold standard.
-
Type A (Dismissive/Avoidant): Minimal distress at separation, avoidance of contact upon reunion.
-
Type B (Secure): Moderate distress at separation, seeks comfort upon reunion.
-
Type C (Anxious/Ambivalent): High distress at separation, mixed responses on reunion (seeking but resisting comfort).
-
Type D (Disorganized): Lack of a consistent attachment pattern.
Testing Key Principles of Attachment
-
Universality Hypothesis: Most infants develop attachment to at least one caregiver, observed across cultures.
-
Normativity Hypothesis: Secure attachment is the typical style in healthy environments, supported across cultures.
-
Sensitivity Hypothesis: Attachment security is linked to sensitive caregiving; understanding and responding to infant cues. Cultural definitions of 'sensitivity' affect findings.
-
Competence Hypothesis: Secure attachment predicts positive development, including social competence and fewer behavioral issues.
Positive Development Outcomes
- Studies: Oppenheim et al. (1988), McCartney et al. (2004), and Groh et al. (2017) found consistent links between secure attachment and improved social skills, fewer problems, and empathy throughout childhood, regardless of gender or socioeconomic status.
Conclusion
- Empirical Support: Attachment theory has extensive empirical evidence; further cross-cultural research is needed.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the fundamentals of Attachment Theory, including the emotional bond between infants and caregivers, its evolutionary significance, and the historical context of attachment behaviors. Learn about Bowlby's contributions to our understanding of these vital relationships and their impact on development.
