attachment

Question 1

attachment definition

Answer 1

• close two way emotional bond between two individuals
• identified by: proximity, separation distress, secure-base behaviour

Question 2

schaffers stages

Answer 2

• asocial stage (first few weeks)
• indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)
• specific attachment (7 months)
• multiple attachments (8 months +)

Question 3

schaffers stages: asocial

Answer 3

• behaviour towards inanimate objects and humans is similar
• some preference for familiar adults

Question 4

schaffer’s stages: indiscriminate attachment

Answer 4

• preference for humans than inanimate objects
• recognise and prefer familiar adults
• don’t show stranger or separation anxiety
• attachment is same towards all (indiscriminate)

Question 5

schaffer’s stages: specific attachment

Answer 5

• stranger anxiety and separation anxiety when separated from one particular adult
• formed specific attachment to primary attachment figure, most often person who offers most interaction and responds to baby’s signals
• biological mother is 65% of cases

Question 6

schaffer’s stages: multiple attachments

Answer 6

• secondary attachments with other adults
• 29% of babies formed secondary (multiple) attachments within a month of primary (specific) attachment

Question 7

schaffer and emerson’s study

Answer 7

• 60 babies from glasgow, working class families, visited babies and mothers in their homes every month for first 18 months of life
• measured by asking about child’s behaviour during everyday separations and responses to unfamiliar adults
• between 25 and 32 weeks 50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards particular adult, specific attachment
• 40 weeks, 80% specific attachments, 30% multiple attachments
• tended to be with most interactive and sensitive to signals caregiver, not necessarily most seen

Question 8

caregiver-infant interactions

Answer 8

• reciprocity has a two-way nature, the response to signals
• alert phases
• interactional synchrony
• important for development of attachment
• baby is active

Question 9

caregiver-infant interaction: alert phases

Answer 9

• babies signal they are ready for interaction
• mothers respond two thirds of the time, Feldman and Eidleman
• more frequent from 3 months, take turns to respond to signals

Question 10

caregiver-infant interaction: interactional synchrony

Answer 10

• mirroring behaviour simultaneously, “coordination of micro-level behaviour” (Feldman)
• actions and emotions mirror between mother and infant
• Meltzof and Moore, observed interactions of synchrony from 2 weeks, found association between gestures or facial expressions of caregiver and child
• Isabella et al, observed 30 mother and child, high level of synchrony found with better quality mother-infant attachment (emotional intensity)