Attachment

Question 1

Ainsworth’s Study

Answer 1

• Home observations during 1st year

- Identified 4 mother/parent behaviors that influence development of attachment category

Question 2

Four Mother/Parenting Behaviors

Answer 2

1. Sensitivity
2. Acceptingness
3. Cooperativeness
4. Accessibility

Question 3

Sensitivity

Answer 3

Attends to and correctly interprets baby’s signals (indicating his/her wants & needs)
Sensitivity ≠ Warmth
B mothers > A mothers = C mothers

Question 4

Acceptingness

Answer 4

Expresses positive feelings about (having) the baby
But realistically acknowledges challenges
B mothers > C mothers > A mothers

Question 5

Cooperativeness

Answer 5

supports baby’s autonomy (development of independence)
Minimizes unnecessary control of behavior
An American &/or individualistic cultural value?
B mothers > A mothers = C mothers

Question 6

Accessibility

Answer 6

available to baby
responsive to baby even when baby is not distressed; doesn’t ignore baby
B mothers > A mothers = C mothers

Question 7

Direct Influences

Answer 7

• Infant temperament
  Jerome Kagan’s radical position: infant temperament determines Ainsworth’s parenting behaviors
  “Goodness of fit” position: Difficult babies require especially good parents

Question 8

Indirect Influences

Answer 8

• Outside stressors
  e.g., economic, job, etc.
  May make it harder to be sensitive, accepting, cooperative, accessible

Question 9

Bowlby’s Definition of Attachment

Answer 9

• close special relationship that infant develops with major caretaker
  Usually mom, but not necessarily

Question 10

How does Proximity help an infant survive?

Answer 10

Importance of “physical proximity” (physical closeness)

Question 11

Phase 1 (Bowlby)

Answer 11

Birth – 6 wks
“Pre-Attachment” or “Promiscuous Attachment Behaviors”
Produces cute behaviors that attract adults (resulting in physical proximity)
Baby not selective about audience

Question 12

Phase 2 (Bowlby)

Answer 12

• 6 wks to 6-8 months
  “Attachment in the Making” or “Selective Attachment Behaviors”
  Same cute behaviors, but they are directed more to attachment figure(s)
  Crying still not selective
  Bowlby ambivalent about whether baby “wants” the physical proximity (or is s/he just more responsive to familiar stimuli)

Question 13

Phase 3 (Bowlby)

Answer 13

• 6-8 mo to 18-24 months
  “Clearcut Attachment” or “New Attachment Behaviors”
  Motor development results in “self-produced locomotion”

Question 14

Phase 4 (Bowlby)

Answer 14

- 18-24 mo to death
“Reciprocal Attachment”
Why “til death”?
Internal Working Model
Why “reciprocal”?
- Parent attached to child as well.

Question 15

Strange Situation Procedure

Answer 15

- Created by Mary Ainsworth
Procedure induces mild/moderate stress because babies show attachment most clearly when under stress
Stresses
Unfamiliar environment (lab)
Unfamiliar person (research assistant)
Separation from mother
Most appropriate for 12-18 month olds

Question 16

Group A

Answer 16

usually not upset when mom leaves room; ignore or avoid her during reunion episode; very involved with toys

Question 17

Group B

Answer 17

• may or may not cry when mom leaves (70%); greet her positively during reunion (different forms of positive greeting); if cry, are easily comforted on reunion

Question 18

Group C

Answer 18

may be passive or very upset when mom leaves; shows mixed positive and negative response during reunion; positive = approach mom; negative = upset and can’t be comforted

Question 19

Group D

Answer 19

category identified by Mary Main; babies show bizarre behavior during reunion (walk backwards or look sideways when approach mom; temporary immobilization)

Question 20

Interpretation of Attachment Group Categories

Answer 20

Group A: Avoidant-Insecure
Group B: Secure
Group C: Ambivalent or Resistant-Insecure
Group D: Disoriented or Disorganized Insecure
Controversies
Are Group A babies really insecure/maladjusted?
How common are the Group D babies?

Question 21

Sroufe’s Longitudinal Study

Answer 21

• Children: 10 yrs old
  2 week “sleep-away” camp
  Cabin composition
  Mix of children with A, B, & C baby classifications
  Counselors don’t know “who is who”
  Measures
  Counselor ratings of social/emotional adjustment
  Ratings of mothering behavior (HOME scale administered before camp)

Question 22

Summer Camp Study

Answer 22

Children: 10 yrs old
2 week “sleep-away” camp
Cabin composition
Mix of children with A, B, & C baby classifications
Counselors don’t know “who is who”
Measures
Counselor ratings of social/emotional adjustment
Ratings of mothering behavior (HOME scale administered before camp)
Analyses designed to resolve controversy:
Which influences the adjustment ratings?
Early attachment category?
Quality of later mothering behavior?
Attachment hypothesis vs. Continuity of Care hypothesis
Results:
Both are significant predictors (i.e., influences)
One predicts more strongly
Later mothering predicts more strongly

Question 23

Development after 10 years

Answer 23

Both early attachment and later parenting influence adjustment
Which is stronger has varied across studies
Sample findings
Early attachment predicts satisfaction with romantic relationships during early 20’s (although later adjustment predicts more strongly
Early attachment predicts later parenting sensitivity (for those who became parents)