Chapter 12 Student Resources

Flashcards

Key Terms

Attachment

a powerful emotional relationship between two people (e.g., mother and child).

Secure attachment

a strong and contented attachment of an infant to its mother, including when she returns after an absence.

Resistant attachment

an insecure attachment of an infant to its mother combined with resistance of contact with her when she returns after an absence.

Avoidant attachment

an insecure attachment of an infant to its mother, combined with an avoidance of contact with her when she returns after an absence.

Disorganised attachment

a form of insecure attachment where the infant exhibits contradictory and disoriented behaviour.

Internal working model

mental representations of the child’s relationships with their primary caregiver (generally their mother) that serve as a template or model for future relationships.

Maternal deprivation hypothesis

the notion that a breaking of the bond between child and mother during the first few years often has serious long-term effects.

Monotropy hypothesis

Bowlby’s notion that infants have an innate tendency to form special bonds with one person (generally the mother).

Critical period

according to the maternal deprivation hypothesis, a period early in life during which infants must form a strong attachment if their later development is to be satisfactory.

Deprivation

the state of a child who has formed a close attachment to someone (e.g., its mother) but is later separated from that person.

Privation

the state of a child who has never formed a close attachment with another person (e.g., its mother)

Deprivation-specific problems

problems (e.g., social deficits; interests that are intense but very limited) sometimes found following deprivation but uncommon following other kinds of childhood adversity.

Crisis phase

the first period following divorce; during this period, the mother is less affectionate than usual.

Adjustment phase

the second period after divorce; it follows the crisis phase and is marked by less emotional distress than that phase.