Reference no: EM133350576

One-year-old Rosalina and her mother Ana (Rosalina's primary caregiver) just visited a child psychologist, where they were observed completing Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation. The psychologist had no trouble at all recognizing that Rosalina has an insecure/resistant attachment to her mother.

a. Briefly describe how Rosalina likely behaved in each of the following episodes of the Strange Situation.

When left alone in a room full of toys with her mother present:

When Ana left the room, leaving Rosalina alone with a stranger:

When Ana returned and was reunited with Rosalina:

b. The behaviour of children with insecure/resistant attachments in this 'reunion' episode is interpreted by attachment researchers as evidence of two simultaneous desires in the child that are in conflict with one another. What are these two conflicting desires, and how might each be displayed by the child in this episode?

c. What about how Ana responds to her daughter's distress may have lead Rosalina to develop this attachment style?

Ana and her husband Gustavo have several older children. To learn more about the dynamics of their family, the psychologist decided to interview Ana and Gustavo about their parenting styles. The psychologist determined that Ana was generally authoritarian in her parenting style while Gustavo was generally authoritative.

d. In terms of warmth/responsiveness and control/demandingness, describe in a few sentences what Ana and Gustavo's parenting styles have in common and in what ways they are different.

Another 1-year-old named Edgar was also recently assessed in the Strange Situation. Edgar appeared confused and almost dazed throughout the events of his observation. For example, upon reuniting with his primary caregiver in the 'reunion' episode, his first reaction was to 'freeze up' before going on to display mixed expressions of fear and happiness.

e. Based on this behaviour, how would the psychologist have classified Edgar's attachment to his caregiver?

f. Name two examples of caregiver behaviour that may have resulted in Edgar developing this attachment style.

Edgar has a 3-month-old brother named Oscar. To decrease the likelihood that Oscar goes on to develop the same attachment style as his older brother, the psychologist recommends that Edgar and Oscar's parents take part in a parenting intervention designed to promote healthy attachment.

g. As discussed in class, what are two aspects of parenting this intervention might challenge or seek to improve?