A description of how two people interact. Mother-infant interaction is reciprocal in that both infant and mother respond to each other's signals and each elicits a response from the other
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Interactional synchrony
Mother and infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other and do this in a co-ordinated (synchronised) way
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Stages of attachment
A sequence of qualitatively different behaviours linked to specific ages. Some characteristics of the infant's behaviour towards others change as the infant gets older
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Multiple attachments
Attachments to two or more people. Most babies appear to develop multiple attachments once they have formed one true attachment to a main carer
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Animal studies
Studies carried out on non-human animal species rather than on humans, either for ethical or practical reasons - practical because animals breed faster and researchers want results across multiple generations
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Learning theory
A set of theories from the behaviourist approach to psychology, that emphasise the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour. Explanations for learning of behaviour include classical and operant conditioning
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Monotropic
A term sometimes used to describe Bowlby's theory. The mono means 'one' and indicates that one particular attachment is different from all others and of central importance to the child's development
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Internal working models
The mental representations we all carry with us of our attachment to our primary caregiver. They are important in affecting our future relationships because they carry our perception of what relationships are like
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Critical period
Refers to the time within which an attachment must form if it is to form at all. Lorenz and Harlow noted that attachment in birds and monkeys had critical periods. Bowlby extended the idea to humans
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Strange situation
A ontrolled observation designed to test attachment security. Infants are assessed on their response to playing in an unfamiliar room, being left alone, left with a stranger and being reunited with a caregiver
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Secure attachment
Generally thought of as the most desirable attachment type, associated with psychologically healthy outcomes. In the strange situation this is shown by moderate stranger and seperation anxiety and ease of comfort at reunion
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Insecure - avoidant attachment
An attachment type characterised by low anxiety but weak attachment. In the strange situation this is shown by low stranger and seperation anxiety and little response to reunion
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Insecure - resistant attachment
An attachment type characterised by strong attachment and high anxiety. In the strange situation this is shown by high levels of stranger and seperation anxiety and by resistance to comfort at reunion
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Cultural variations
The differences in norms and values that exist between people in different groups. In attachment research we are concerned with the differences in the proportion of children of different attachment types
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Maternal deprivation
The emotional and intellectual consequences of seperation between a child and his/her mother or mother substitute. Bowlby proposed that continuous care from a mother is essential for normal psychological development
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Institutionalisation
A term for the effects of living in an institutionalised setting. In an institution like a hospital or orphanage there is often very little emotional care provided
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Orphan studies
These concern children placed in care because their parents cannot look after them. An orphan is a child whose parents have either died or have abandoned them permanently
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Childhood relationships
Affiliations with other people in childhood, including friends and classmates, and with adults such as teachers
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Adult relationships
Those relationships the child goes on to have later in life as an adult. These include friendships and working relationships but most critically relationships with romantic partners and the person's own children
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Mother and infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other and do this in a co-ordinated (synchronised) way
Back
Interactional synchrony
Card 3
Front
A sequence of qualitatively different behaviours linked to specific ages. Some characteristics of the infant's behaviour towards others change as the infant gets older
Back
Card 4
Front
Attachments to two or more people. Most babies appear to develop multiple attachments once they have formed one true attachment to a main carer
Back
Card 5
Front
Studies carried out on non-human animal species rather than on humans, either for ethical or practical reasons - practical because animals breed faster and researchers want results across multiple generations
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