Attachment Flashcards
Attachment
An affectionate bond between two people (caregiver and infant) that endures over time. Each seek to maintain proximity (closeness brings a sense of safety and security). There may be signs of separation anxiety when parted. It is 2 way- both the baby and the mother instigate the relationship.
How do we know attachment is formed?
- Desire to keep proximity to a particular individual
- Show distress when separates
- The care giver gives the infant a sense of security, most commonly the child’s mother
- However, attachments can be with anyone who provides comfort and security
Interactional Synchrony and research
- Two people are synchronised when they carry out the same action simultaneously
- In attachment, this takes place when the carer and infant’s actions and emotions ‘mirror’ each other
Meltzoff and Moore (1977)
- 2 weeks old, infants mirror facial and hand gestures
- But 2 weeks is plenty of time to learn this
- Same thing is seen in 3 day old babies
- Suggests interactional synchrony is innate
- Same thing is shown with infants who are 3 hours old
Reciprocity and research
- Responding to the actions of another with a similar action, the actions of one elicit a response from the other (ie carer and infant)
- Both carer and infant can initiate interactions and take turns in doing so. They are not passive; they show alert phases, this is responded to 2/3 of the time by caregivers. The more consistent the response, the better the attachment.
Tronick et al
- Still face experiment
- Caregiver and infant interact
- Caregiver turns away and then back, ignores child
- Babies try to do everything they can to instigate interaction
Scream
Stick out tongue
Point
- Distress is apparent when they are ignored
- Eventually give up and stay motionless
- Highlights the purpose of their behaviour
Imprinting
When a young animal comes to recognise another animal person or thing as a parent or object of trust- some species of animal form an attachment with the first moving object that they encounter.
Harlow wanted to assess whether contact comfort or food was the most important aspect in the development of an attachment. Explain his procedure and findings.
He tested whether soft objects could serve some of the functions of a mother. He reared 16 monkeys with two wire model mothers. One condition, the wire mother dispensed milk; in the other condition, the mother did not dispense milk, but was covered in soft cloth. He found that the monkeys preferred the cloth mother even though it did not dispense milk. They sought comfort from the cloth mother when frightened- comfort was more important than food.
Harlow found that the deprivation the monkeys had suffered led to long term effects. What were these? How can these ideas be linked to Bowlby?
The monkeys reared with the wire mother were the most dysfunctional, even those with the cloth mother did not develop normal social behaviour. They were more aggressive than normal monkeys and less sociable. This links to Bowlby’s theory that children are pre programmed to form attachments to help them to survive. The monkeys were deprived of this innate desire and therefore suffered as a consequence.
How does Harlow’s idea of a critical period differ to Bowlby’s?
Bowlby believed the critical period that children need to form an attachment within 2.5 years. He later changed this theory to say up to 5 years. Harlow said the critical period was up to six months, and the consequences of maternal deprivation would be shown if humans did not form attachment within the first six months.
How does Harlow’s work oppose learning theory?
Harlow believes that children have innate desires for things, eg to attach themselves to something. Whereas learning theory suggests that all behaviour is learned from others within an environment, and behaviour is not innate.
Harlow’s work has been applied in a practical context. Explain how and the importance of this.
Harlow’s study highlighted the importance of contact, and children forming early relationships which will help them with later social development. This had practical implications in society, for example, helping social workers understand the risks of in child neglect and abuse. They can therefore intervene to prevent it.
Ethical comments Harlow
The monkeys were not treated in an ethical way as they were deprived of a mother and attachment, their entire life suffered as a result. It may be seen as important as it helps researchers understand the importance of attachment, so that they can help parents and children to form that vital bond.
