Chapter 12

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.

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.

Weblinks

Social Psychology Network
http://www.socialpsychology.org/

A short film documenting Bowlby’s research
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LM0nE81mIE

A biography of John Bowlby
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/people/johnbowlby.aspx

A short film documenting Mary Ainsworth’s research
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFCQLshYL6w

A video showing the Strange Situation test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsewNrHUHU

Professor Sir Michael Rutter discusses Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVhe0X8oPBI

A BBC article on Romanian adoptees and their struggle to adapt to life in the UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4649383.stm

A photo journal: Life as a Romanian orphan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/europe_life_as_a_romanian_orphan/html/1.stm

Growing up in a Romanian orphanage BBC news
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCeWr8OFuEs

Advice on helping children cope with divorce
http://www.supernanny.co.uk/Advice/-/Family-Matters/-/Relationships/Divorce-~-helping-the-kids-to-cope.aspx

The NICHD website; includes a summary of their study on the relationship between childcare experiences and developmental outcomes
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/seccyd/Pages/overview.aspx

Lecture on the effects of early child care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHEevEOaYrk