What is attachment in developmental psychology?
Attachment is a strong, reciprocal emotional bond between a child and a caregiver, characterized by selectivity, proximity-seeking, comfort, and separation distress. It supports survival and emotional security.
What is the difference between attachment and attachment behavior?
Attachment is the emotional bond itself; attachment behaviors are actions (crying, clinging, following) that promote proximity to the caregiver.
What is the difference between the attachment system and the attachment relationship?
The attachment system is a biologically based mechanism in the individual that motivates proximity-seeking; the attachment relationship is the actual dyadic bond between child and caregiver.
What are the four hallmark characteristics of attachment?
Selectivity toward specific individuals, proximity-seeking, comfort/security provision, and distress upon separation.
According to Bowlby, why is attachment biologically based?
Attachment promotes survival; infants are evolutionarily predisposed to stay close to caregivers who provide protection and support.
What psychoanalytic ideas influenced Bowlby’s theory?
The idea that early relationships, especially satisfaction of basic needs, shape later emotional development. Bowlby emphasized emotional, not just drive-based, needs.
What are the four stages of attachment development (Bowlby)?
Pre-attachment (0–2 months), Attachment-in-the-making (2–7 months), Clear-cut attachment (7–24 months), Goal-corrected partnership (24+ months).
Describe the pre-attachment stage.
Infants show indiscriminate social behavior; they do not yet show strong preferences for particular caregivers.
Describe the attachment-in-the-making stage.
Infants begin recognizing familiar people and show more comfort with them than strangers.
Describe the clear-cut attachment stage.
Infants show clear separation protest, fear of strangers, and intentional efforts to stay close to caregivers.
Describe the goal-corrected partnership stage.
Children understand caregiver needs, form two-sided relationships, and develop internal working models to guide behavior.
What cognitive developments enable attachment around 7-8 months?
Recognition memory and object/person permanence allow infants to distinguish caregivers from others and notice their absence.
What is object permanence and how does it relate to attachment?
Object permanence is understanding that people/objects exist when out of sight; it contributes to separation protest when caregivers leave.
According to Bowlby, to whom do infants become attached?
To individuals who provide sensitive, responsive, and playful care—not necessarily biological parents, females, or primary caregivers.
What is the main factor determining attachment formation?
Quality of interaction: sensitive, responsive caregiving and enjoyable, stimulating exchanges.
What are internal working models (IWMs)?
Mental representations of relationships that guide expectations, feelings, and behaviors toward caregivers and others.
How do internal working models form?
Through repeated proximity-seeking experiences with caregivers; consistent responsiveness creates secure IWMs.
Are internal working models conscious or unconscious?
They operate largely outside conscious awareness.
Are internal working models stable?
They stabilize after the first year but can change with major life experiences or new relationships.
What was Ainsworth’s Strange Situation?
A structured observational procedure assessing attachment by exposing infants to brief separations and reunions with caregivers.
What behaviors are observed in the Strange Situation?
Exploration, response to stranger, separation reaction, and reunion behavior.
Describe Stage 1 of the Strange Situation.
Mother and infant enter; infant explores while mother watches.
Describe Stage 2 of the Strange Situation.
Stranger enters, interacts with mother, then plays with infant.
Describe Stage 3 of the Strange Situation.
Mother leaves; stranger interacts with infant.
