attachment Flashcards
what is attachment
emotional two way bond between infant and caregiver where each see each other as essential for survival
bowlby’s definition of attachment
strong emotional connection with people important to us
what is the nature of parent infant attachments
they are reciprocal and build gradually over time
-early infancy: daily synchronised routines like feeding, bathing etc help to form attachments (Stern 1977)
what are bowlbys attachment phases
phase 1:non focused orienting (asocial, from birth), preference for humans but still asocial and tend to be for first 6 weeks
phase 2: focus on one or more figures (2-7 months), imitation etc
phase 3: secure base behaviour (7+ months), selective over who looks after them, unsure of strangers, separation anxiety, social referencing = looking to those they know
phase 4: goal corrected partnership (2+ yrs), understanding of attachment and caregiver’s needs to be separated e.g for work
what are the theories of attachment
early behaviourism
early psychoanalysis
cognitive
innate/biological influence
early behaviourism
conditioned reinforcer hypothesis
-feeding (intrinsic reinforcement) + mum (neutral) = mum becoming reinforcer
early psychoanalysis
freud’s psychosexual development
-infant in oral stage, mum’s generous feeding = more love, develops attachment
cognitive theory
piaget stage theory
-infants current stage of cog development determines response to the environment
-separation anxiety dependent on attainment of object permanence (usually develops 8 months ish)
-fear of strangers: depends on development of person schemas, strangers who fail to conform to these schemas based on familiarity are disturbing to the baby
innate/ biological influence on attachment
Lorenz imprinting
-sensitive period
-humans also have innate drive to attach
-babies are cute and elicit behaviours meaning adults have innate drive to care for them (social releasers)
Harlow’s study
-infant monkeys separated from mother
-wire and cloth mothers, food available from one mother
-feeding not as important as contact comfort/tactile stimulation
how is attachment tested
ainsworth strange situation
what behaviours are tested in the strange situation
freedom to explore, separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, reunion behaviour
what aged infants took part in strange situation
1-2 yrs
what are the 8 stages of the strange situation
- child and mother play together
- stranger enters and tries to play w. infant
- mother leaves
- stranger tries to comfort
- mother returns and stranger leaves
- mother leaves, child alone
- stranger enters and offers comfort
- mother enters
what are the coding categories in the strange situation
proximity seeking, contact, resistance, avoidance
how does caregiver act as a secure base
familiar surroundings = less fear + more exploration
what are the infant attachment styles
-secure: freedom to explore, ok w strangers if mum present, easily comforted by caregiver
-avoidant: ignore caregiver, less distress at separation, ok w strangers
-resistant: close to caregiver, upset when caregiver leaves, seeks proximity after separation but angry and resistant at reunion
-disorganised Main and Soloman 1999: combination of insecure patterns, not sure whether to approach or ignore caregiver so may do both
what are the caregiver attachment styles
secure: responsive and sensitive, consistent responses
avoidant: too much or too little stimulation, not sensitive to cues
resistant: inconsistent and insensitive responses
disorganised: frightened, depressed, mourning or abusive, usually parent has something else going on
cultural differences in attachment
-in USA + UK 60% have secure attachments
-germany have more avoidant attachments
-japan: more resistant
- due to parenting practices across cultures e.g in japan infants are rarely separated from mother
what may affect attachment
difficult temperaments of the infant may cause parent to be inconsistent and insensitive
internal working model
Bowlby 1980
- gradually formed from early on, depends on caregiver responses to babies emotional displays
- sensitive to cues + consistent responses: secure infant
- insensitive and inconsistent responses: insecure infant
what is the maternal deprivation model
Bowlby 1951
-special relationships to mother
-serious adverse effects if mother is absent due to death, divorce, orphaned etc
-however, there are fewer adverse effects than predicted if an alternative support is present
-later experiences also have an impact and children show resilience
