Attachment - 1 P1 Flashcards
what is meant by an attachment?
a close bond between two individuals - each individual sees the other essential for their own emotional well-being.
what 3 behaviours show when an attachment has developed?
- promixty-seeking (staying close to individual)
- seperation distress (anxiety when parted)
- secure-base behaviour (make regular contact when in uncertain situations)
what are the 2 caregiver-infant interactions in humans?
- reciprocity
- interactional synchrony
what is meant by reciprocity?
turn-taking behaviour during a conversation - behaviour of one results in response of other
what is meant by interactional synchrony?
co-ordinated behaviour - infant and caregiver often in tune with each other - behaviours are often mirrored
who did research into interactional synchrony?
Meltzoff and Moore - adult model displayed 3 facial expressions while infant had a dummy in his mouth
what were the findings of Meltzoff and Moores research into interactional synchrony?
association between infants facial expressions and adults so he concluded this ruled out the imitation of behaviours being learnt over time so he suggested the response interactional synchrony is innate.
what is a strength of research into caregiver-infant interactions?
meltzoff and Moore used controlled observations - no demand characteristics from infants as they don’t know they are in an experiment - findings more accurate and trustworthy
what is the first criticism of research into caregiver-infant interactions?
methodological issues- infants facial expressions change all of time so its difficult to distinguish from general behaviour and imitated behaviour
what is the second criticism of research into caregiver-infant interactions?
socially sensitive - suggests infants social development is disadvantaged if they lack opportunities into interactional synchrony - suggests mother should come home from work earlier to send more time with infant
who conducted a study into the stages of attachments?
Schaffer and Emerson
what did Schaffer and Emerson do in their procedures?
- 60 infants from working class families were studied over a year
- mothers visited monthly and asked to report infants separation in seven everyday situations
- also reported protest from infant on occasions by rating it on a scale
what were the findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s findings into research of the stages of attachment?
proposed there were 4 stages if attachment: Asocial, Indiscriminate attachments, specific attachments, multiple attachments
what were the conclusions of Schaffer and Emersons research?
the quality of relationship and interactions are the most important thing not the quantity
what is meant by stage 1 - asocial?
from birth to 2 months infants respond same way to objects - towards the end they are more content when they’re with people
what is meant by stage 2 - indiscriminate attachments?
at 4 months infants become more social, recognise familiar people, happy with strangers
what is meant by stage 3 - specific attachment?
7 months PRIMARY attachment has developed and infants have separation anxiety when left by particular person
what is meant by stage 4 - multiple attachment?
infant develops more than one attachment e.g. with grandparent, siblings, friends - these are secondary attachments
what is a strength of Schaffer and Emerson’s research?
observations done by parents therefore there is excellent chance infants behaviour is natural
what is the first criticism of Schaffer and Emerson’s research?
-methodological issues - observations from mothers may have been over/under emphasised - data not accurate -not generalisable - only representative in working class families - whats it like in middle-class families?
what is the second criticism of Schaffer and Emerson’s research?
-cultural biast - only applies to individualist cultures - stages of attachment are not universal e.g. collectivist cultures multiple attachments are more common than primary - care is shared
who suggested one primary attachment is vital?
Bowlby
what is wrong with bowlbys theory that one primary attachment is vital?
lack temporal validity - working in 1950s where people believed father should support mother finally so she can devote herself to baby
who agrees that a single attachment is not essential?
Schaffer by 18 months in his research 31% had 5 attachments
why is it good for infants to develop multiple attachments to grandparents?
for children having a mother suffer with depression - less likely to interact with children and children more likely to show depression in adult hood - less likely if form attachment with grandparent
what are the 2 arguments we make that the role the father plays?
- fathers play a less important role than others
2. fathers are as important than mothers, they just have a different role
explain how fathers play a less important role than others.
biological factors - female hormone oestrogen helps caregiving behaviour - men produce much less to women so they are less sensitive & social factors cultural expectations of males are NOT to be feminine or nurturing.
what supporting evidence is there to support the idea that fathers play a less important role to mothers?
Hrdy: found fathers were less able to detect infants distress - shows they are less able to create sensitive attachment
what evidence is there to challenge the idea that fathers play a less important role to mothers?
field - showed us through videoing face to face interactions it is the level of responsiveness not the gender of parent that influences the quality of attachment
explain how fathers role is just as important as mothers but just different.
more physically active and provide more challenging situations, encouraging problem solving and stimulation - important for children cognitive processes, set clearer boundaries than mothers
what supporting evidence is there to support the idea that fathers play a different role to mothers?
Geiger - found fathers play interactions were more exciting rather than mothers - more nurturing
what evidence is there to challenge the idea that fathers play a different role to mothers?
difficult to make generalisations about fathers role - some factors that depend on relationship - cultural and socio-economic
