Attachment Flashcards
What can attachment be defined as?
Schaffer - a close emotional relationship between two people, characterised my mutual affection and a desire to remain in proximity.
What are the two caregiver infant interactions?
Reciprocity
Interactional synchrony
What is reciprocity?
Interactions between a caregiver and infant involving a two way mutual responsiveness. The behaviour of each party communicate signals which elicit responses in the other like turn taking.
What is interactional synchrony?
Interactions between a caregiver and infant that are synchronised so that their responses reflect each other. They respond in time to sustain communication, such as mirroring the action.
Who identified the four key behaviours to show attachment?
Maccoby in 1980
What are the four key behaviours to show attachment?
Seeking proximity by child and primary attachment figure
Separation anxiety
Pleasure when reunited
General orientation of behaviour towards primary attachment figure
Is there research to support reciprocity?
Tronick still face experiment. After three minutes of attempted interaction with expressionless mother, infants grow rapidly wary and distressed.
Is there research to support interactional synchrony?
Meltzoff and Moore
Babies were shown facial gestures in order to investigate their abilities to imitate.
Babies aged 12 - 21 days old could imitate gestures.
Are there practical applications of reciprocity?
Still face experiment can show atypical development in children as they may not be showing distress. Picking up problems in early attachment can prevent later problematic behaviour.
Could reciprocity and interactional synchrony be seen as socially sensitive?
Many mothers have to work full time so cannot maintain proximity. Creates an unnecessary pressure.
Is reciprocity and interactional synchrony incomplete in fully understanding infant caregiver interactions?
Only focusses on primary caregiver. Secondary attachments play a role in development.
Who did the stages of attachment study?
Schaffer and Emerson 1964
What was the stages of attachment research study?
Longitudinal study in Scotland that followed the development of 60 infants. Used naturalistic observations - infants observed every for weeks for one year then observed once more at eighteen months.
What was measured in the stages of attachment study?
Levels of separation protest
Levels of stranger anxiety
How were levels of separation protest measured in the stages of attachment experiment?
Asked mothers to describe the intensity of any protest when the infant was left in seven everyday situations which was then rated on a four point scale.
How were levels of stranger anxiety measured in the stages of attachment experiment?
This was measured by assessing infant’s response to the interviewer at each visit
What were the results of the stages of attachment study?
6 - 8 months - 50% of children showed their first specific attachment
10 months - 50% had more than one attachment, by 18 months, this was up to 87%.
39% of infants had a primary attachment with someone other than the person who usually changed, fed and bathed them.
What conclusions could you draw from the results of the stages of attachment research?
Attachment bonds were biologically determined due to common patterns. Bonds likely to be formed with those who show sensitivity and responsiveness. Multiple attachments are the norm.
What was the first stage of attachment?
Pre-attachment - 0 - 3 months
What is the pre-attachment stage?
Infant produces similar responses to objects and people. They show no preference for specific people, but towards the end of this stage, they show a preference for social stimuli.
What is the second stage of attachment?
Indiscriminate attachment stage - 3 - 7 months
What is the indiscriminate attachment stage?
Babies become more sociable and can tell people apart. Can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people but are still relatively comforted by anyone. Infants at this stage do not show stranger anxiety.
What is the third stage of attachment?
Specific attachment stage - 7/8 months +
What is the specific attachment stage?
Infants begin to show separation anxiety and stranger anxiety. They show a strong preference towards one individual. Good subsequent attachments often made from 9 months.