Question 1

A preference for familiar figures occurs during the __________ stage of attachment.

Accepted Answer

During the attachment-in-the-making stage, infants begin to show a preference for familiar figures, such as their primary caregivers.

Question 2

Who proposed the idea that attachment is based on contact comfort?

Accepted Answer

Harry Harlow proposed the idea that attachment is based on contact comfort. In his famous experiments with infant monkeys, he found that they preferred a soft and comforting cloth mother figure over a wire mother figure that provided food. This suggested that emotional attachment was not solely based on meeting basic needs like food, but also on the sense of security and comfort provided by physical contact.

Question 3

Ainsworth innovated the __________ method to study attachment.

Accepted Answer

Ainsworth developed the Strange Situation method as a way to observe and assess attachment patterns between a child and their caregiver.

Question 4

Children with __________________attachment show significant emotional distress when a parent leaves and alternate between clinging and shunning the parent when they return.

Accepted Answer

The description given is consistent with ambivalent/resistant attachment, where children show an inconsistent response to the parent leaving and returning, often expressing anger and distress towards them. Secure attachment involves the child feeling confident in their parent's support and are able to explore their environment freely. Avoidant attachment involves children avoiding their parent upon return and showing little emotion. Nonattachment is not a recognized type of attachment.

Question 5

Ainsworth's stage theory argues that

Accepted Answer

Ainsworth's stage theory proposes that all children go through three stages of attachment: secure attachment, avoidant attachment, and resistant attachment.

Question 6

In the strange situation method, a child who immediately makes contact with the mother and shows their joy at her return, is demonstrating a(n)

Accepted Answer

A child who immediately makes contact with the mother and shows joy at her return is exhibiting behaviors consistent with a secure attachment. This suggests that the child feels comfortable exploring the environment with the knowledge that the caregiver is available if needed, leading to a healthy attachment style.

Question 7

Konrad Lorenz's "family" was unusual because they were

Accepted Answer

Konrad Lorenz's "family" consisted of goslings that had imprinted on him as their mother. He explored the process of imprinting in birds and discovered that newly hatched birds could imprint on the first moving object they see as their mother. Lorenz himself became the "mother" to a group of goslings and observed their behavior and development as they imprinted on him.

Question 8

According to the concept of imprinting,

Accepted Answer

Imprinting is a form of learning in which a young animal fixes its attention on the first moving object it sees, typically its mother.

Question 9

Behaviorist theories argue that

Accepted Answer

Behaviorist theories suggest that attachment is based on the association of basic need gratification, such as food or comfort, with feelings of security. Essentially, the child learns that being close to their caregiver leads to positive outcomes, which leads to the development of attachment.

Question 10

Compared to insecurely attached children, securely attached children

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that securely attached children have more positive outcomes in various areas including being happier, more sociable, more cooperative with parents, adjusting better in school, and getting along better with peers.

Question 11

Using Ainsworth's procedure, you observe an infant mildly protest his mother's departure, seek reunion with her, and be readily comforted upon her return. You conclude that the infant is

Accepted Answer

This infant's behavior aligns with the criteria for secure attachment according to Ainsworth's procedure, which includes mild protest upon separation, seeking reunion, and being comforted upon reunion. Therefore, this infant is securely attached. Choice A (trusting) is not a classification in Ainsworth's theory of attachment. Choice B (autonomous) typically relates to adult attachment and is not directly relevant to Ainsworth's classification system. Choice D (avoidantly attached) refers to infants who appear indifferent or avoidant when reunited with their caregiver and do not seek comfort from them, which is not the case for this infant.

Question 12

Initial pre-attachment is

Accepted Answer

Initial pre-attachment is the first stage of attachment, according to attachment theory. It occurs during the first few months of life and involves the infant developing a sense of trust and comfort with their caregiver. This stage is a precursor to the development of specific attachment behaviors, such as separation anxiety and stranger anxiety, which occur later in infancy. While different cultures may have different parenting practices, the stages of attachment are believed to be universal.

Question 13

In the strange situation method, a child who pushes their mother away upon return or clings tightly, is demonstrating

Accepted Answer

A child who pushes their mother away upon return or clings tightly is demonstrating ambivalent/resistant attachment. This type of attachment is characterized by a mix of seeking and rejecting behaviors, indicating that the child is both wary of and dependent on their caregiver. They may be anxious or uncertain about their caregiver's availability and responsiveness, leading to inconsistent behavior in the Strange Situation. Avoidant attachment (A) is characterized by a lack of seeking comfort from the caregiver and a tendency to avoid them. Nonattachment (B) suggests that the child is not demonstrating any attachment behaviors towards the caregiver, which is not the case here. Negative attachment (D) is not a recognized category in attachment theory.

Question 14

A day care director observes the separations and reunions of preschool children and their parents. The director is interested in

Accepted Answer

The director's observation of separations and reunions between preschool children and their parents suggests an interest in understanding patterns of attachment. These patterns can provide insight into the quality and nature of the relationship between children and their caregivers, which can ultimately impact a child's development and well-being. Parenting styles, affectionate patterns of contact comfort, and maturity level may also be important considerations in understanding child development, but are not necessarily the primary focus of the director's observation in this scenario.

Question 15

Before infants demonstrate a clear-cut attachment they first exhibit

Accepted Answer

The correct term used to describe the initial phase of attachment is "pre-attachment." During this period, infants do not yet show a clear preference for a specific caregiver but display attachment behaviors such as following, seeking proximity, and crying when separated from any caregiver. This phase occurs from birth to about 3 months of age before the formation of a specific attachment. Therefore, option B - initial pre-attachment - is the correct answer. The other options are incorrect descriptions.

Question 16

In the strange situation method, a child who keeps playing with building blocks and doesn't make eye contact with their mother when she returns, is demonstrating a(n)

Accepted Answer

A child who keeps playing with building blocks and doesn't make eye contact with their mother when she returns is demonstrating avoidant attachment. Avoidant attachment is marked by a child's lack of interest in interacting with their caregiver or by appearing to avoid them altogether.

Question 17

You leave your six-month-old infant with a familiar babysitter. The babysitter calls you to say that the baby is crying and will not stop. Your infant's behavior is characteristic of the __________ phase of attachment.

Accepted Answer

The clear-cut attachment phase occurs between 6-8 months of age and is characterized by separation anxiety and distress when the primary caregiver is not present. If the infant is crying and will not stop in the absence of the primary caregiver, it is likely a sign of clear-cut attachment.

Question 18

The __________ view proposes that attachment occurs only at certain times and in the presence of a species-specific stimulus.

Accepted Answer

The ethological view posits that attachment occurs only in the presence of a specific stimulus, such as the mother, and at certain times in development. This view emphasizes the role of genetics and evolution in attachment patterns.

Question 19

Harry Harlow (1959) demonstrated that attachment in rhesus monkeys was related to

Accepted Answer

Harlow's experiment involved separating infant rhesus monkeys from their mothers and providing them with artificial mothers made from wire. One mother was purely functional and dispensed milk, while the other had no milk but was covered in soft cloth. The monkeys showed a clear preference for the cloth mother, even when it didn't provide food, indicating the importance of contact comfort in attachment. This suggests that attachment is not solely based on feeding, as was previously thought.

Question 20

According to Konrad Lorenz, attachment is

Accepted Answer

Konrad Lorenz believed that attachment is an instinct, which means it is an innate behavior that does not require extensive learning or experience. He observed this instinct in young animals, particularly in relation to their attachment to their mother.

Quiz 9: The Voyage Through the Life Span