20 flashcards · Shared on 19 August 2026 by AtomAI Library
Flip each card to check yourself.
What is an attachment in developmental psychology?
A lasting emotional bond involving a desire for closeness
What is an attachment in developmental psychology?
A lasting emotional bond involving a desire for closeness
In attachment theory, what is a secure base?
A caregiver from whom a child can explore and to whom the child can return
Why did Bowlby describe attachment as adaptive?
It increases proximity to a protective caregiver, supporting survival
What does monotropy mean in Bowlby's attachment theory?
One attachment is usually of special importance in the attachment hierarchy
What is an internal working model?
A mental representation of relationships based partly on early attachment experiences
How does Bowlby's concept of a sensitive period apply to attachment?
Early life is especially important for attachment formation, although later attachments remain possible
What does Ainsworth's Strange Situation primarily assess?
Attachment behavior during separations and reunions
Which pattern is most characteristic of secure attachment in the Strange Situation?
Exploration using the caregiver as a secure base, distress at separation, and comfort at reunion
How does an insecure-avoidant infant typically behave in the Strange Situation?
Shows limited separation distress and tends to avoid the caregiver at reunion
Which behavior is associated with insecure-resistant, also called ambivalent, attachment?
High separation distress combined with seeking and resisting contact at reunion
What characterizes a disorganized attachment classification?
Contradictory, confused, or disoriented attachment behavior
What relationship is commonly found between caregiver sensitivity and attachment security?
Sensitive, responsive caregiving is associated with a greater likelihood of secure attachment
What did Harlow's research with rhesus monkeys demonstrate about attachment?
Contact comfort could be more important than feeding in choosing a surrogate
What did Lorenz's research on imprinting in goslings suggest?
Some early attachments can form rapidly during a limited period
What did Schaffer and Emerson's observational research suggest about infants' first attachments?
Responsive interaction was more important than simply spending the most time with the infant
What does Bowlby's maternal deprivation hypothesis propose?
Prolonged deprivation of continuous emotional care in early life may harm development
Why can Bowlby's study of the 44 juvenile thieves not establish that early separation caused later affectionless behavior?
The study used correlational and retrospective evidence with possible confounding factors
What broad conclusion came from research on Romanian children adopted after institutional care?
Earlier adoption into supportive families was generally associated with better outcomes
What did van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg's cross-cultural meta-analysis find about attachment classifications?
Secure attachment was generally the most common, and variation within cultures exceeded variation between cultures
How does the temperament hypothesis challenge caregiver-based explanations of attachment?
It proposes that infants' inborn emotional characteristics may influence attachment behavior