PS51005B: Psychology of the Person – Week 4 Lecture Notes: Attachment & Deprivation (Goldsmiths BSc Psychology)

These notes summarise Week 4 of PS51005B: Psychology of the Person, covering Attachment Theory and Deprivation. This lecture explores Bowlby’s original theory, supporting evidence, critiques, and the intergenerational transmission of attachment styles. Ideal for students studying developmental psychology, personality theory, or attachment-based interventions. Topics covered: • Origins of Attachment Theory (Bowlby, psychoanalysis, ethology) • Stages of attachment development in infancy • Key concepts: proximity-promoting behaviours, internal working models • Supporting studies: Harlow’s monkeys, Lorenz, Rutter, Klaus & Kennel • Critiques of Bowlby’s theory (monotropism, feminist, methodological) • Strange Situation paradigm and attachment types (A–D) • Adult Attachment Interview and its link to infant behaviour • Concepts of intergenerational transmission and epigenetics • Multiple choice exam question + structured exercises Perfect for: • Psychology undergraduates preparing for exams or essays • Students in developmental, social, or clinical psychology • Anyone revising Bowlby, Ainsworth, or early life influences