7.1.1 Bowlby's Theory of Attachment

• Attachment refers to the emotional bond between an infant and their primary caregiver
• A strong attachment fosters trust, confidence, and resilience in a child.
• Match John Bowlby's contributions with their descriptions:

  Attachment theory ↔️ Emphasizes the importance of early relationships

  Psychoanalytic training ↔️ Provided a unique perspective on emotional development

  Monotropic theory ↔️ Infants form a primary, single attachment
• Bowlby's Monotropic Theory posits that infants form a primary, single attachment known as monotropy
• Bowlby believed in an attachment hierarchy where secondary attachments support the primary one.
• What are three key aspects influenced by attachment?

  Emotional, social, secure base
• Attachment fosters trust, which is the belief in the caregiver's responsiveness
• Emotional security and stability are key benefits of attachment for emotional development.
• Where did John Bowlby receive his psychoanalytic training?

  Tavistock Clinic
• Order the key concepts of Bowlby's Monotropic Theory:

  1️⃣ Monotropy

  2️⃣ Secure base

  3️⃣ Attachment hierarchy

  4️⃣ Critical period
• The Critical Period is a limited time frame during early infancy when infants are most receptive to forming secure attachments
• Insecure attachment styles can result from a failure to form a secure attachment within the critical period.
• Match attachment behaviors with their explanations:

  Proximity seeking ↔️ Desire to be near the caregiver

  Separation distress ↔️ Anxiety when separated from the caregiver

  Secure base behavior ↔️ Using the caregiver as a foundation to explore

  Safe haven ↔️ Seeking comfort during stress
• What do infants desire in order to feel secure?

  To be near their caregiver
• Separation distress refers to anxiety and discomfort when separated from the caregiver
• What is secure base behavior in attachment theory?

  Using the caregiver as a foundation
• Safe haven refers to seeking comfort and reassurance from the caregiver during times of stress
• A toddler exhibiting secure base behavior will confidently explore while checking back with their caregiver periodically.
• What is the definition of attachment in early childhood?

  Emotional bond with caregiver
• One key benefit of a strong attachment is emotional security
• Order the benefits of strong attachment from most to least relevant.

  1️⃣ Emotional security

  2️⃣ Trust

  3️⃣ Social skills

  4️⃣ Resilience
• A securely attached child will confidently explore a new playground knowing they can return to their caregiver for comfort if needed.
• Who was John Bowlby and what was his primary contribution to psychology?

  Attachment theory
• Bowlby studied psychoanalysis at the Tavistock Clinic
• Bowlby's dual background combined biological and psychological insights into emotional development.
• What is the core concept of Bowlby's Monotropic Theory?

  One primary attachment figure
• Monotropy refers to the belief in one primary attachment figure
• Match the key concepts of Bowlby's Monotropic Theory with their descriptions:

  Monotropy ↔️ One primary attachment figure

  Secure base ↔️ Foundation for exploration

  Critical period ↔️ Early experiences shaping attachment
• During which period are infants most receptive to forming secure attachments?

  Critical period
• Responsive care during the critical period is essential for establishing a strong attachment bond.
• Failure to form a secure attachment during the critical period can lead to insecure attachment styles
• Match the attachment behaviors with their explanations:

  Proximity seeking ↔️ Desire to be near caregiver

  Separation distress ↔️ Anxiety when separated from caregiver

  Secure base behavior ↔️ Exploration from caregiver

  Safe haven ↔️ Comfort during stress
• Order the phases of attachment development according to Bowlby.

  1️⃣ Pre-attachment

  2️⃣ Attachment-in-the-making

  3️⃣ Clear-cut attachment

  4️⃣ Formation of reciprocal relationships
• Infants in the pre-attachment phase show innate behaviors like crying and smiling to attract caregivers.
• During the attachment-in-the-making phase, what do infants begin to differentiate between?

  Familiar and unfamiliar people
• In the formation of reciprocal relationships phase, infants develop a more reciprocal relationship with their caregiver
• The Internal Working Model (IWM) is a mental representation of the relationship between oneself and others, influenced by early attachment experiences.
• What is one key influence of the IWM on future relationships?

  Behavior and expectations
• What is the Internal Working Model (IWM)?

  Mental representation of relationships
• The IWM is shaped by early interactions with primary caregivers