Britton Attachment

Front 1

attachment

Back 1

An emotional bond between 2 people.
2 way process
Endures over time.

Front 2

primary attachment figure

Back 2

The person who has formed the closest bond with the child, usually but not always the mother.

Front 3

learning theory

Back 3

The name given to a group of explanations (classical and operant conditioning) which explain behaviour in terms of learning rather than inborn tendencies or higher order thinking.

Front 4

innate

Back 4

Characteristics that are inborn
A product of genetic factors
May be apparent at birth or later as a result of maturation

Front 5

continuity hypothesis

Back 5

The idea that emotionally secure infants go on to be emotionally secure, trusting, socially confident adults.

Front 6

imprinting

Back 6

An innate readiness to develop a strong bond with a mother figure
Takes place during a critical or sensitive period

Front 7

monotropy

Back 7

The idea that the one relationship that the infant has with his/her primary attachment figure is of special significance in emotional development.

Front 8

sensitive period

Back 8

A biologically determined period of time during which the child is particularly sensitive to a form of stimulation, resulting in a specific response of characteristic.

Front 9

social releasers

Back 9

A social behaviour or characteristic that elicits a caregiving reaction. Bowlby suggested that these were innate and adaptive, critical in process of forming attachments.
Crying, smiling, baby face.

Front 10

temperment hypothesis

Back 10

The belief that children with ‘easy’ temperament form secure attachments
Innately difficult children are more likely to form insecure attachments.

Front 11

secure attachment

Back 11

A strong and contented attachment of infant to caregiver. because
Caregiver responds sensitively to infant’s needs. Leads to
Healthy cognitive + emotional development

Front 12

insecure attachment

Back 12

forms because caregiver does not respond sensitively to infant’s needs.
Poor cognitive + emotional development

Front 13

insecure-avoidant

Back 13

Children tend to avoid social
interaction and intimacy with others

Front 14

insecure-resistant

Back 14

Ambivalent attachment
Children both seek and reject social interaction and intimacy

Front 15

insecure disorganised

Back 15

Lack of consistent patterns of social behaviour

Front 16

separation protest/anxiety

Back 16

The distress shown by an infant when separated from his/her primary attachment figure.

Front 17

stranger anxiety

Back 17

The distress shown by an infant when approached or picked up by someone unfamiliar