Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

What psychological state do children enter after long periods of separation from a primary caregiver, according to Bowlby?

1. Resistance

2. Attachment

3. Anxiety

4. Detachment

The correct answer is: Detachment

The concept of detachment in Bowlby's attachment theory refers to the psychological state that some children exhibit after enduring prolonged separation from their primary caregiver. When a child experiences such separation, they may initially display signs of distress, but over time, this can lead to a state of emotional withdrawal and disengagement from others. This detachment serves as a coping mechanism, as the child may feel that further emotional investment will only lead to more pain or disappointment. This state indicates a significant shift from the initial distress and anxiety associated with separation. While the child may seem to have adapted to the absence of their caregiver, this adaptation is often superficial; the child has not entirely resolved their feelings or needs related to attachment and connection. Instead, they may become apathetic or indifferent to their environment and social interactions, which can be detrimental to their emotional and social development. In contrast, the other states mentioned, such as resistance, attachment, and anxiety, do not encapsulate the long-term psychological impacts of prolonged separation in the same way detachment does. Resistance typically involves ambivalence towards the caregiver upon reunion, attachment refers to the emotional bond that develops under normal circumstances, and anxiety is a response that may occur initially but does not describe the eventual emotional state following long separation.