Psychology 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Attachment Theory, Mary Ainsworth, John Bowlby

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Lynn Jackson

Document Summary

John bowlby: attachment key to emotional development: attachment is strong, intimate, emotional connection between people that persists over time and across circumstances, attachment is adaptive. Bonding makes the caregiver want to provide for the baby: attachment behaviour such as eye contact, contact comfort: the pleasure of being touched and held. We need contact for psychological and emotional development. Margaret and harry harlow: first demonstrated the importance of contact comfort by raising infant rhesus monkeys with two kinds of artificial mothers. Attachment theory: we develop working models of relationships. Development of brain systems: oxytocin systems, endorphins, etc: studies on parents who let the baby learn independence or whether they should attend to them every time they cry. Interested mostly in 1st year: propose a caregiver acts as a secure base. Baby can go to them for safety and comfort reliably. They can experience autonomy and venture out but they feel that they can go back to their safe haven.