Attachment Key Terms

A term used by Bowlby to describe people who don't show concern or affection for other people and show no or very little remorse or guilt.

Stage from 0-6 weeks where infant may respond to faces or voices but an attachment has not been formed

Two-way enduring emotional tie to another person

The physical and emotional comfort that an infant receives from being close to its mother

The idea that early relationships with caregivers predict later relationships in adulthood

A time period where an attachment has to form or it never will

Child shows equal affection to strangers as they do people they know well

Explanation for behaviour such as attachment that views it as increasing survival chances

Where offspring follows the first

large moving object they see

Infants aged 2-7 months can discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar people but does not show stranger anxiety

A behaviour that is instinctive and does not need to be learned

Attachment classification in Strange Situation where child shows low stranger and separation anxiety and little response to reunion

Attachment classification in Strange Situation where child shoes high stranger and separation anxiety and resists comfort at reunion

The effects of growing up in an institution, such as a children's home or orphanage

Infant and caregiver reflect each other's actions and emotions in a coordinated manner

Mental representation of our relationship with our primary caregiver that becomes a template for future relationships

Explanations that emphasise the role of learning in acquiring behaviours such as attachment

Separation from the mother figure in early childhood has serious consequences

A unique and close attachment to one person - the primary attachment figure

Formation of emotional bonds with more than one carer

Failure to form an attachment in early childhood

The way that infants try to maintain physical contact or be close to their attachment figure

Infant and caregiver match each other's responses

Most desirable attachment classification in Strange Situation where child shows separation anxiety, stranger anxiety and joy on reunion

The best time period over which attachments can form

Degree of distress shown by the child when separated from the caregiver

Innate behaviours shown by an infant that lead to a caregiving response

Infants aged 7 months tend to show a strong attachment to one particular person and are wary of strangers

A controlled observation used to test children’s attachment patterns

Degree of distress shown by an infant when with unfamiliar people