Keywords for attachment

Attachment: A deep emotional connection between two people which is

characterised by mutual affection and a desire to maintain proximity.
Secure Attachment- An emotional bond between children and their caregivers
observed by Mary Ainsworth. For example the infant seeks the caregiver and is
easily comforted.
Insecure avoidant attachment- When a child actively avoids contact with their
caregiver (sometimes almost completely). For example the infant does not
display stranger anxiety.
Insecure resistant attachment- When a child is anxious about exploring its
surroundings, even when the mother is present. The infant is inconsistent, seeks
comfort, yet it rejects it at the same time.
Insecure Disorganised Attachment- The infant has no set pattern of behaviour at
separation or reunion (disorganised). This is the type of attachment that may
develop when the caregiver is chronically depressed.
Disinhibited Attachment- a type of disorganised attachment where the infant
doesnt discriminate between the people they choose as attachment figures. For
example children treat strangers with inappropriate familiarity and may be
attention seeking.
Stranger anxiety- A form of stress that children experience when exposed to
people unfamiliar to them.
Separation anxiety- A development stage during which the chid experiences
distress when separated from the caregiver.
Classical conditioning- A method when two stimuli are put together to produce a
new learned response in a person or animal. For example when the stimulus of
food and bell are linked together which produces a response of expectation of a
bell when food is given.
Operant conditioning- A method of learning that occurs through reinforcement
which are negative or positive depending on the behaviour. Through this
reinforcement, an association is made between a behaviour and the
consequences of that behaviour.
Developmental Psychology- How children and adults change as they get older. It
looks at the influences of development such as parents, friends and the
environment.
Social learning theory- states that social behaviour is learned by observing and
imitation of the behaviour of others. It is also influenced by the operant
conditioning theory- being rewarded and punished for actions.
Positive reinforcement- When behaviour will result in the addition of something
pleasant. For example receiving praise for doing your homework well (reward).
Negative reinforcement- when behaviour results in the addition of something
unpleasant. For example getting detention for not doing homework
(punishment).

Longitudinal Study- An observational technique that involves studying the same

group of people over an extended period of time and their behaviour
measured/recorded.
Cross sectional study- A research method that involves the observation of all of a
population or a representative sub set at one specific point in time.