Attachment

Question 1

Proximity

Answer 1

When the infant wants to be close to the caregiver

Question 2

Separation Anxiety

Answer 2

When the infant becomes distressed when they’re away from their caregiver

Question 3

Secure Base Behaviour

Answer 3

When the infant chooses to be independent, they check in regularly with their attachment figure.

Question 4

Definition of attachment

Answer 4

A close, two way emotional bond between two individuals in which each individual sees the other as essential for their emotional security.

Question 5

Reciprocity

Answer 5

Two way or mutual process where each party responds to the other signals to sustain the interaction (turn-taking). Both can initiate the interaction.

Question 6

Interactional Synchrony

Answer 6

When a caregiver and infant reflect the actions and emotions of the other in a coordinated way. They mirror each other in terms of facial and body movements.

Question 7

Still Face Experiment (Infant-Caregiver interactions)

Answer 7

(Meltzoff & Moore 1977)

• Controlled observation
• Adult did a gesture. Dummy in the babies mouth is removed and it’s expressions are examined.
• Clear link between infants and adults behaviour
• Same results found with 3 day old babies
• Interactional Synchrony is innate.

Question 8

Role of the Father in Caregiver-Infant relationships

Answer 8

• Infants turn to the mother for nurture and the father play.
• Fathers excite children. Provide a secure environment to learn to be brave.
• Tend to be the secondary attachment figures

Question 9

Aim of Schaffer & Emerson’s study

Answer 9

To investigate attachment formation, particularly the age, emotional intensity and target

Question 10

Method of Schaffer & Emerson’s study

Answer 10

• 60 babies from Glasgow (31 M, 39 F). Mostly Working Class
• Measured Separation Anxiety by parents what protest behaviours the infants displayed
• Measured Stranger Anxiety by judging the response to unfamiliar adults

Question 11

Findings of Schaffer & Emerson’s Study

Answer 11

• Between 25-30 weeks of age, 50% of babies showed separation anxiety
• Attachment tended to be to the most responsive, interactive and sensitive caregiver
• Not necessarily attached to the person they spent the most time with
• By 40 weeks, 80% of babies has specific attachments. 30% had multiple attachments.

Question 12

Schaffer & Emerson’s Stages of Attachment

Answer 12

1. Indiscriminate Attachment
2. Beginnings of Attachment
3. Discriminate Attachment
4. Multiple Attachments

Question 13

Indiscriminate Stage of Attachment

Answer 13

• No preference for any objects/people

- Preference for social stimuli

Question 14

Beginnings of Attachment stage of Attachment

Answer 14

• Can distinguish familiar people from strangers

- No stranger anxiety; comforted by anyone

Question 15

Discriminate Attachment stage of Attachment

Answer 15

• Separation anxiety and stranger anxiety are seen

- Preference for one person (Primary attachment figure)

Question 16

Multiple Attachments stage of Attachment

Answer 16

• Discriminate attachments are formed with others

- Secondary attachment figure is usually the father

Question 17

Imprinting

Answer 17

An innate readiness to develop a strong bond with the mother. Takes place at a specific time in the development. If it doesn’t happen during the sensitive period, it probably won’t happen. It is irreversible and long-lasting.

Question 18

Sexual Imprinting

Answer 18

The idea that imprinting can affect adult mate preferences. Animals will choose to mate with the same kind of object upon which they were imprinted.

Question 19

Lorenz Animal Study

Answer 19

1935

• IV 1, mother raised the chick from birth. IV 2, Lorenz raised the chick from birth. Dv was whether the chicks followed Lorenz or the mother
• Chicks always followed the first adult they saw. The effect seemed permanent.
• The chick raised by Lorenz mated with his boots
• Proved there is a critical period

Question 20

Harlow Animal Study

Answer 20

1959

• IV 1, food was placed on a wire mother. IV 2 food was placed on a cloth mother. IV 3 new toy introduced. DV 1/2 was time spent with each mother. DV 3 secure base behaviour to which mother.
• All monkeys spent much longer with the cloth mother, regardless of the food.
• Infants seek comfort over food. There’s a sensitive period for attachment and attachment during this time is crucial.
• Lack of mother resulted in abnormal development.

Question 21

Learning Theory

Answer 21

Suggests that we are born as blank slates and everything can be explained through experiences. All behaviour is learned through classic or operant conditioning. Suggests that all children learn to love who feeds them.

Question 22

Classical Conditioning in infants

Answer 22

1. Baby is presented with food (UCS) and feels pleasure (UCR). Baby is presented with the mother (NS) but doesn’t respond.
2. Baby is presented with both the mother (NS) and the food (UCS) and feels pleasure (UCR)
3. The baby then experiences pleasure (CR) when it sees the mother (CS)

Question 23

Operant Conditioning in infants (Positive Reinforcement)

Answer 23

• Baby performs an action: crying
• Baby is rewarded: given food to relieve hunger
• This reward reinforces the action so the baby repeats it.

Question 24

Operant Conditioning in infants (Negative Reinforcement)

Answer 24

• Baby cries and the mother performs an action: feeding & cuddling
• Mother receives a reward: baby stops crying
• Removal of stress reinforces the action, so the mother repeats it

Question 25

Drive Reduction Theory

Answer 25

(Dollard & Miller 1950). When we feel discomfort, we feel a drive to reduce this discomfort

Question 26

Steps to Drive Reduction Theory

Answer 26

1. Need (e.g. for water or food)
2. Drive (hunger, thirst)
3. Drive-Reducing behaviours (eating, drinking)

Question 27

Who theorised Monotropic Theory?

Answer 27

Bowlby (1969)

Question 28

What did Monotropic Theory suggest?

Answer 28

It was an evolutionary theory that suggested that infants have an attachment to the figures that will guarantee survival. Attachment is a biological process that has developed through natural selection.