Ainsworth And Bell- Attachments Flashcards
What does the behavioural approach suggest about attachments?
We learn attachments through classic conditioning (associations)
What is monotropy?
When a child initially forms only one primary attachment, who then becomes a secure base for exploring the world
What is the critical period?
Between the age 0-5 years, if an attachment hadn’t developed during this period, then the child would suffer from irreversible developmental consequences
What are the 3 attachment types?
Securely attached, insecure avoidant and insecure resistant
Securely attached values
The child feels confident that the attachment figure would be available to meet their needs and therefore seen as a safe base
Securely attached reason
It develops when the caregiver is sensitive to their needs and respond appropriately
Insecure avoidant values
Children do not orientate their attachment figure whilst investigating the environment
Insure avoidant reason
Caregiver is usually insensitive to their needs
Insecure resistant values
Commonly exhibit clingy and dependent behaviour, but will be rejecting of the attachment figure when they engage in interactions
Insecure resistant reason
When baby knows it needs the caregiver but wants to be independent
Insecure disorganised values
Children will show bizarre behaviour such as freezing or running away from parents
Insecure disorganised reason
When the caregiver is frightening, rejecting or unpredictable - the infant is caught in a dilemma of ‘fear without solution’
Aim
To investigate whether the interaction between infant attachment behaviour, response to unfamiliar situations and separation from and reunion with the material attachments
Research method and design
Controlled observation, infant interaction with its mother was recorded
Sample qualities
56 parent participants - white, middle class Infants who has been observed longitudinally from birth - 23 observed at age of 51 weeks and 33 observed at age of 49 weeks
Sampling method
Opportunity sample
How many episodes did the Strange situation procedure contain?
8
Episode 1
Introduction - the mother and baby were taken to the testing room and left them to get used to the surroundings
Episode 2
3 minutes later, a stranger enters and talks with mum
Episode 3
The stranger attempts to interact with the child
Episode 4
Mum leaves the room and the stranger stays with the child and tries to comfort them if they are upset
Episode 5
After 3 minutes, the mum returns and stranger leaves
Episode 6
The mum departs, leaving the baby alone for a short time
Episode 7
The stranger returns and offers comfort and plays with the baby
Episode 8
Mum returns and stranger leaves
When did amount of exploratory behaviour decrease?
When the stranger entered in episode 3 and remained so in episode 4
How did crying differ?
No significant difference increase in episode 3 but increased in episode 4 and dropped at 5
When did search behaviour increase?
Episode 6
When did the contact maintaining behaviour increase?
Episode 5 and 8
Conclusion 1
The presence of attachment figure can favour explorative behaviour
Conclusion 2
Absence of the mother tends to heighten attachment behaviour (crying) and lessens exploration of unfamiliar situations
Conclusion 3
In threatening situations, attachment behaviour increases
Conclusion 4
There are individual differences between the quality of attachment
Conclusion 5
70% were secure
15% were insecure avoidant
15% were insecure resistant
