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Theories of attachment

Q: Which research supported bowlbys maternal deprivation?

Harlow's research with monkeys. He showed that monkeys reared in isolation from their mother suffered emotional and social problems in older age. The monkeys never formed an attachment (privation) and as such grew up to be aggressive and had problems interacting with other monkeys. And Konrad Lorenz . He investigated the mechanisms of imprinting, where some species of animals form an attachment to the first large moving object that they meet. •This process suggests that attachment is innate and programmed genetically.

5 important questions on Theories of attachment

Short term separation leads to distress. There are 3 stages of distress. Which are they?

Protest: the child protest that the caregiver leaves. By crying etc
Despair: quit stage, child is upset but also calm. Can cry a lot.
Detachment: is a sign of recovery. If the child continues to be separated it will start to engage with other people again.

What is the internal working model (by Bowlby)?

=is a cognitive framework comprising mental representations for understanding the world, self, and others. A person’s interaction with others is guided by memories and expectations from their internal model which influence and help evaluate their contact with others

Which experiment did Mary Ainsworth do?

The strange situation experiment.

1.Observer shows caregiver and infant into the experimental room and then leaves. (30 sec.)
2.Caregiver sits and watches child play. (3 mins)
3.Stranger enters, silent at first, then talks to caregiver, then interacts with infant. Caregiver leaves the room. (3 mins)
4.First separation. Stranger tries to interact with infant. (3 mins)
5.First reunion. Caregiver comforts child, stranger leaves. Caregiver then leaves. (3 mins)
6.Second separation. Child alone. (3 mins)
7.Stranger enters and tries to interact with child
8.Second reunion. Caregiver comforts child, stranger leaves.

Ainsworth described three major styles of attachment in children. Which are they?

Secure attachment: child exhibits distress when separated from caregivers. Feels secure and able to depend on their adult caregivers. When frightened, the child will seek comfort from caregivers.
Ambivalent/ reistant attachment: child becomes distressed when parent leaves. Cannot depend on their mother to be there in need.
Avoidant attachment: child tends to avoid parent or caregiver.

Which research supported bowlbys maternal deprivation?

Harlow's research with monkeys. He showed that monkeys reared in isolation from their mother suffered emotional and social problems in older age. The monkeys never formed an attachment (privation) and as such grew up to be aggressive and had problems interacting with other monkeys.

And Konrad Lorenz. He investigated the mechanisms of imprinting, where some species of animals form an attachment to the first large moving object that they meet.
•This process suggests that attachment is innate and programmed genetically.

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Interpersonal relationships and wellbeing

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