attachment Flashcards
what is attachment
close two-way emotional relationships between two individuals where they feel like each other are essential for their emotional security
how do we recognise attachment
- Proximity-if they are physically close
- Separation distress-they are distressed when attachment figure leaves their presence
- Secure-base behaviour- make regular contact with our attachment figure. Even when playing
what is a caregiver
person who provides care for a child
what is an infant
usually taken to refer to a child’s first year of life
what is caregiver-infant interactions
communications between caregiver and infant which form the basis of attachment important for child’s development
What is reciprocity
a care-giver interaction a mutual process wher each party responds to each others signals to continue interaction
what is interactional synchrony
when a caregiver and infant reflect the actions and emotions of the other in a coordinated way
Mirror each other in terms of their facial and body movements
Meltzoff and Moore study
Investigated interactional synchrony in babies as two weeks old. They had an adult do three distinct expressions in which the baby’s response was filmed and identified by the observer using different behavioural categories they filmed in a way in which they couldn’t see what the adult was doing
meltzoff and moore study findings
association was found between the expression the adult displayed the action of the baby done this in three day old baby suggesting that it is innate
thought that this was intentional
this is when infants begin to acquire an understanding of what other ppl are thinking and feeling which is fundemental for social relationships
Isabella study and findings
observed mothers and infants together and assessed degree of synchrony better synchrony showed better quality relationship between mother-infant
Real or psuedo imitation
Piaget believed after the first year is true imitation however before that it is response training. Infant repeating a behaviour that is rewarded (operant conditioning) like caregiver smiling. In piaget’s view the infant had not consciously translated what they see into a matching movement ( psuedo-limitation)
Undermining AO3 M&M: intentional behaviour
Meltzoff and moores claims that imitation in infants is intentional and innate have been criticised.
Piagets suggestion that anything before the end of the first is operant conditioning
suggests what the infant would be doing is just pseudo imitation they may not be consciously translating what they have seen into a matching movement, meaning that the behaviour is not innate but is learned
supporting M&M AO3: supported by other research
M&M findings have been supported by research
Researcher. two month old infants first interacted via a video monitor with their mother in real time. then wen the monitor played a recording the infant showed acute distress. shows that the infant is actively provoking a response rather than displaying a response that has been rewarded.
Therefore, the infant is an active and intentional partner in the mother-infant interaction, supporting the notion that such behaviours are not innate not learned.
Methodological strengths M&M
well controlled procedures: mother and infant being filmed and cant see what the other person is doing
Recording the video fine details can be recorded and later analysed.
Caregiver cant be seen and reduces the likelihood of researcher bias.
Babies don’t know they’re being observed so reduces the likelihood of demand characterstics
Good internal validity
Schaffer and Emerson Glasglow babies aim
To investigate the formation of early attachment, the age at which they developed their emotional intensity and to whom they were directed.
Schaffer and Emerson Study
sample sixty babies both boys and girls from glasgow. Most being from the working class. was a longitudinal study was studied for every month for the first year than again at 18 months Interviewed and observed the mothers. They assessed separation anxiety and stranger anxiety
Findings of Schaffer and Emerson
Between 25-32 weeks about 50% of babies showed separation anxiety and showed joy at reunion with the mother and were most comforted by that person.
In 65% of the children the first speciific attachment was to the mother and another 30% of mothers had a joint first object of attachment.
Fathers were rarely sole object of attachment (3%)
Findings of attachment types in Schaffer and emerson study
By 4 weeks 80% babies had a specific attachment and 30% displayed multile attachement types and 75% of infrnats developed an attachment with their father in 18 months
Schaffer and Emerson conclusion
Attachments are likely to happen to those who sensitive primary attachments are likely to be with the mother then secondary attachments are likely to be with the father.
Schaffer 1st stage
Asocial stage (first few weeks): behaviour to inanimate objects and human similar. Use reciprocity and interactional synchrony to play a role in establishing a relationship with others
smile at anyone. prefer humans when alone and prefer famiiar individuals
Schaffer 2nd stage
During 2-7 months can distinguish between humans and inanimate objects and prefer humans allow anyone to hold them dont show separation and stranger anxiety. More observable and social behaviour.
Schaffer 3rd stage
Specific attachment around 7 months display stranger anxiety and become anxious when separated from one particular the adult. Said to have a formed an attachment. They show joy when they are reunited. They have a primary attachment. use familar adults as secure base
Scahffer 4th stage
Multiple attachments: after attachment behaviour towards one adult they make a secondary attachment. By the age of 1 the majority of infants had developed multiple attachment
Fathers as attachment figures
Tend to be secondary
Turn for father for play
help them be brave
mothers are fir comfort and nuturing
provide them with secure environment
