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Lecture 1 - Attachment Theory and Close Relationships
Cognition (La Trobe University)
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LECTURE 1 – ATTACHMENT THEORY AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
Attachment Behavioural system:
As humans we have attachment to belong.
We hard hardwired to seek out protection from figures.
Attachment figures:
Proximity seeking
Safe haven
Secure base
Separation distress
Attachment Theory
Early work of Bowlby and Ainsworth
Attachment theory is focused on the relationships and bonds between people,
particularly long-term relationships, including those between a parent and child and
between romantic partners.
Strange situation paradigm
o Secure
o Anxious – avoidant (don’t really care)
o Anxious – ambivalent (difficult to console)
o Disorganised (People who have lots of trauma will display bits of both)
Adult Attachment
Features of adult relationships are similar to infant – caregiver bonds:
Comfort and security seeking
Protest when attachment figures become unavailable
Secure base and safe haven function
Attachment styles:
Secure
Avoidant
Anxious – Ambivalent
Attachment Anxiety:
Hyperactivation of the attachment system
Strong desire for emotional closeness and protection
Intense fear of rejection
Excessive concern about intimate relationships
Hyperactivation of emotion (poor emotion regulation)
Attachment Avoidance:
Deactivation of the attachment system
Uncomfortable with intimacy and closeness
Avoids emotional closeness with others
Prefers emotional distance and self- reliance
Emotional suppression (poor emotion regulation)
Measuring Attachment
Downloaded by kuchy kuchy ()
Lecture 1 - Attachment Theory and Close Relationships
Cognition (La Trobe University)
Scan to open on Studocu
Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university
Downloaded by kuchy kuchy ()
, lOMoARcPSD|53991452
LECTURE 1 – ATTACHMENT THEORY AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
Attachment Behavioural system:
As humans we have attachment to belong.
We hard hardwired to seek out protection from figures.
Attachment figures:
Proximity seeking
Safe haven
Secure base
Separation distress
Attachment Theory
Early work of Bowlby and Ainsworth
Attachment theory is focused on the relationships and bonds between people,
particularly long-term relationships, including those between a parent and child and
between romantic partners.
Strange situation paradigm
o Secure
o Anxious – avoidant (don’t really care)
o Anxious – ambivalent (difficult to console)
o Disorganised (People who have lots of trauma will display bits of both)
Adult Attachment
Features of adult relationships are similar to infant – caregiver bonds:
Comfort and security seeking
Protest when attachment figures become unavailable
Secure base and safe haven function
Attachment styles:
Secure
Avoidant
Anxious – Ambivalent
Attachment Anxiety:
Hyperactivation of the attachment system
Strong desire for emotional closeness and protection
Intense fear of rejection
Excessive concern about intimate relationships
Hyperactivation of emotion (poor emotion regulation)
Attachment Avoidance:
Deactivation of the attachment system
Uncomfortable with intimacy and closeness
Avoids emotional closeness with others
Prefers emotional distance and self- reliance
Emotional suppression (poor emotion regulation)
Measuring Attachment
Downloaded by kuchy kuchy ()
