4.1.3 attachment Flashcards
attachment
‘An enduring two-way, emotional tie to a specific other person’, usually between a parent and a child, which develops in set stages with a fairly set timescale.
Can be seen to have developed when an infant shows stranger anxiety and separation protest.
Are characterized by an infant’s desire to keep close proximity to a particular individual and the expression of distress if separated.
The individual gives the infant a sense of security and is usually the child’s mother.
communication between an infant and caregiver
bodily contact- help form attachment bond
mimicking- imitate caregivers facial expressions
caregiverese- adults who interact with infants use a type of modified speech that is high-pitched, song like in nature, slow and repetitive
interactional synchrony- turn-taking
reciprocity-
Shaffer’s stages of attachment- stage 1
pre-attachment
birth-3 months
become attracted to other humans, preferring them to objects and events
Shaffer’s stages of attachment- stage 2
indiscriminate
3-7/8 months
begin to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar peoples, smiling more at known people
Shaffer’s stages of attachment- stage 3
discriminate
7/8 months onwards
begin to develop specific attachments, staying close to particular people and becoming distressed when separated from them.
avoid unfamiliar people and protest if strangers try to handle them
Shaffer’s stages of attachment- stage 4
multiple
9 months onwards
form strong emotional ties with other major caregivers and non-caregivers
fear of strangers weakens
Shaffer and Emerson study (1964)
longitudinal study where 60 newborn babies and mothers from working class Glasgow.
studied each month of the 1st in their homes and again at 8 months. observations were conducted and interviews with the mothers about the child
attachment was measured in 2 ways:
1. separation protest- through several everyday situations- being left alone ect
2. stranger anxiety- researcher started each session by approaching the infant to see if it was distressing
Shaffer and Emerson study (1964) findings
most infants showed separation protest at 6-8 months, with stranger anxiety being shown a month later
stronger attachments were formed when mothers responded to needs quickly and more opportunities for interactions
most infants developed multiple attachments- at 18 months 87% had at least 2 attachments, with 31% with 5+
39% of infants prime attachment wasn’t to the main carer
the role of the father
traditionally, fathers were seen to have a minor role in parenting, the father typically went out to work
the role of the father- Bowlby
believed infants had 1 primary attachment figure, usually the mother but conceded that in some cases it could be the father.
many researchers saw the father as more a play-mate figure as a father’s play is more physical, unpredictable, and exciting than mothers
important factors that affect the relationship between fathers and children
degree of sensitivity- more secure attachments with more sensitivity
type of attachment with own parents- single-parent fathers tend to form similar attachments than they have with their own
martial intimacy- degree of intimacy a father has with his partner affects the type of attachment with children
supportive co-parenting- amount of support a father gives to his partner for helping to care for children will affect the type of attachment he has with his parents
imprinting research- Lorenz (1935) process
split a large clutch of goose eggs into 2- 1 for the mother and 1 for an incubator- makes sure he’s the 1st thing they see
marked the goslings
imprinting research- Lorenz (1935) findings
immediately after hatching, they followed either the mother or Lorenz
incubated goslings showed no interest in their mother and proved to be irreversible
noted how imprinting will only occur within a brief time period of between 4 and 25 hours post hatching
when adults, they attempted to mate with humans
Harlow (1959) process
used rhesus monkeys to see if attachment was formed via food
2 types of surrogate mother- wire (produced milk) and towel
16 baby monkeys were used. 4 in each condition:
1. cage with milk wire and towel
2. cage with wire and milk towel
3. cage with milk wire
4. cage with milk towel
amount of time with each and feeding times was recorded
were frightened with a loud noise
Harlow (1959) findings
monkeys preferred contact with the towel mother, regardless of if she produced milk. even stretched over to feed to stay in contact
with only, they had diarrhoea
when frightened, they clung to the towelled mother
explanations of attachment- classical conditioning (cupboard theory)
attachment is learned by the stimulus of food (UCS), which produces a response of pleasure (UCR) being paired with a caregiver (CS)
FOOD (UCS) -> PLEASURE (UCR)
FOOD (UCS) + CAREGIVER (CS) -> PLEASURE (UCR)
CAREGIVER (CS) -> PLEASURE (CR)
explanations of attachment- operant conditioning
based on ‘law and effect’ where any action with pleasurable outcomes will be repeated in similar circumstances
pleasure outcomes are reinforcements
+ reinforcement- receiving something pleasurable
- reinforcement- not receiving something un-pleasurable
explanation of attachment- learning theory AO3
attachments are complex behaviours with intense emotional components and form with non-feeders
Shaffer (1971) said babies ‘eat to live’ not ‘live to eat’
Bowlby’s monotropic theory- background information
WHO commissioned to write a report entitled Maternal Care and Mental Health concerning the health of homeless children
heavily influenced by animal theories
Bowlby’s monotropic theory
sugegsts emotional bonds have evolutionary functions.
attachment bonds were formed in the stone-age where humans constantly faced the danger of predators and so attachments formed via natural selection to ensure offspring stayed close to caregivers.
known as social releasers
social releasers
crying- attract parents attention
looking/smiling/vocalising- maintain parental attention and interest
following and clinging- gain and maintain proximity to parents
critical period
attachment between infant and carers must occur before a certain time
attachment behaviours are useless for most if delayed until after 12 months and useless for all if delayed untill afetr 2 1/2 years
internal working model
infants have an innate tendency to become attached to 1 particular adult who interacts the most sensitively and is the strongest and will form a model for all other relationships
acts as a template for all future relationships
Ainsworth’s strange situation
