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Attachment Theory Flashcards
Free A Level Psychology Revision Study Cards
Cover Bowlby's attachment theory, the Strange Situation experiment, types of attachment and the long term effects of early attachment experiences with these free A Level Psychology flashcards.
Question
What is attachment?
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Answer
A strong, long-lasting emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver, characterised by seeking proximity, distress on separation, and pleasure on reunion. First systematically studied by Bowlby.
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Question
What was Lorenz's imprinting study?
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Answer
Lorenz (1935) showed that greylag goslings imprinted on the first moving object they saw after hatching (usually their mother). Imprinting is irreversible and occurs during a critical period — evidence for biological basis of attachment.
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Question
What was Harlow's monkey study?
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Answer
Harlow (1958) gave infant rhesus monkeys wire or cloth surrogate mothers. Monkeys preferred the cloth mother for contact comfort — even when the wire mother had food. Disproved the learning theory explanation (cupboard love).
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Question
What is Bowlby's monotropy theory?
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Answer
Bowlby proposed that infants have an innate drive to form one primary attachment (monotropy) — usually the mother. This attachment is qualitatively different from others and critical for emotional development.
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Question
What is the internal working model?
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Answer
Bowlby's concept: the primary attachment relationship forms a mental template for all future relationships — the child's expectations of others' availability, care, and trustworthiness.
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Question
What is the critical period for attachment?
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Answer
Bowlby suggested there is a critical period for forming an attachment — approximately the first 2–3 years. If no attachment is formed in this window, it may be difficult or impossible to form one later.
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Question
What is the Strange Situation (Ainsworth, 1969)?
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Answer
A controlled laboratory procedure to assess attachment type. An infant is observed through a series of separations and reunions with their caregiver and a stranger. Measures exploration, distress, and response to reunion.
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Question
What are the three main attachment types identified by Ainsworth?
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Answer
Type B (Secure): uses caregiver as safe base, moderate distress on separation, easily comforted on reunion. Type A (Insecure-Avoidant): little distress, ignores caregiver. Type C (Insecure-Resistant): very distressed, difficult to comfort.
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Question
What factors influence attachment type?
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Answer
Caregiver sensitivity (Ainsworth's sensitivity hypothesis — responsive caregivers produce secure attachment), temperament (infant's natural disposition), and cultural factors.
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Question
What did Main and Solomon add to Ainsworth's types?
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Answer
A fourth type: Type D (Disorganised) — no consistent strategy; the child appears confused or fearful. Associated with abusive or severely neglectful caregiving.
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