Attachment

Lesson One - Key Concepts of Attachments

BATs

• Understand the key concepts of separation protest and stranger anxiety (D)

• Distinguish between and identify the three different types of attachment (C)

• Describe how the ‘Strange Situation’ supports the idea of different attachment types (B)

What is an attachment?

An enduring emotional tie with a significant other e.g. a parent or lover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLrBrk9DXVk harlow’s monkeys

• Most people’s first attachment is to its parents or carers.

• Later attachments can occur between siblings, friends, lovers and eventually your own children.

What is an attachment?

• Do we form attachments as soon as we are born?

• Research suggests that it is not until babies are over 6 months old before they show signs of attachment.

• Babies aren’t fussy who they are with!!!

What is an attachment?

How do we know this?• In the 1960’s Mary Ainsworth carried out lots of

observations of children using a technique called

The Strange Situation• There are 2 main measures of attachment

• Separation Protest• Stranger anxiety

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsewNrHUHU the strange situation, secure

Add the key terms to your glossary

• p34 will help you

• Put the stages of the Strange Situation in the correct order

• Extension - Either act out or storyboard ‘The Strange Situation’.

Break time!!!5 Mins Max

please

Why are early attachments important?

There is evidence that the kind of attachments you form early in your life affect

the kind of relationships you have later in your life.

How do early attachments affect relationships?

• Children that form no attachments (privation) can grow up having significant problems with relationships due to poor social and language skills.

• Children who experience deprivation (because they are separated from an attachment figure) can grow up to suffer from problems such as depression (where they withdraw from others) or emotionless psychopathy (where they show a lack of consideration of others).

• Children who develop and maintain attachments are more likely to grow up to have productive relationships.

Attachment Types

• Generally, having an attachment is better than having no attachment at all.

• However, there are different types of attachment. Research suggests that certain types of attachment lead to better relationships.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsewNrHUHU the strange situation, secure

There are three main types of attachment:

• Type A: Insecure Avoidant

• Type B: Secure

• Type C: Insecure Ambivalent

What type of attachment are you?

• Type A: Insecure Avoidant

• Type B: Secure

• Type C: Insecure Ambivalent

Insecure Avoidant

When I was younger…• I was quite independent.• I didn’t rely on my parents/carers that much.• I didn’t get that upset about strangers

looking after me.• My parents/carers were not that emotional. • I didn’t tend to tell my parents/carers how I

felt.

SecureWhen I was younger…

• My parents/carers made me feel safe.

• I had a close relationship with my parents/carers.

• My parents/carers were sensitive to my needs.

• I trusted other people besides my parents/carers.

• My parents/carers seemed to understand where I was coming from.

Insecure Ambivalent

When I was younger…

• I was quite clingy.

• I was quite demanding.

• I was easily distressed.

• I was wary of people who were not that familiar to me.

• I used to play up my parents/carers.

How common is each attachment type?

INSECUREAVOIDANT

SECURE

INSECUREAMBIVALENT

15%

70%

15%

Identify the type of attachment

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTw0ErHW7pk

Homework – Activity 3.2 p36

Give reasons for your answers

In next week please