Attachment

Question 1

Define attachment.

Answer 1

A close two way emotional bond between two individuals in which each individual in which each individual sees the other as essential for their own emotional security.

Question 2

How do caregiver-infant interactions develop attachments?

Answer 2

Non-verbal communications between caregivers and infants. It’s the manner in which each responds to the other. The more sensitive one is to another, the deeper the attachments.

Question 3

Define reciprocity.

Answer 3

Interactions between carers and infants results in mutual behaviour, with both parties being able to produce responses from each other, which also helps the attachment to form.

Question 4

Define interactional synchrony.

Answer 4

The co-ordinated rhythmic exchanges between career and infant.

Melzoff & Moore (1977)

• An adult model displayed 1 in 3 facial expressions hand movements where the fingers moved in a sequence.
• A dummy was placed in the mouth of the infant’s mouth during the initial display to prevent the response.
• Following the display, the dummy was removed and infants mimicked the specific facial expressions or hand movements.

This supports the idea that infant mimicry is an innate ability to aid the formation of attachments.

Question 5

Describe Schaffer & Emerson’s (1964) study into attachment.

Answer 5

Schaffer & Emerson (1964)

• Longitudinal study on 60 Glaswegian babies.
• Visited once a month every month for the first year, then back again at 18 months.
• Observations, interviews plus parents kept diaries.
• Looking for separation and stranger anxiety.

Question 6

What four stages of attachment did Schaffer & Emerson (1964) find?

Answer 6

Stage 1: Asocial - 0-3 months.
⟶ Infants have no preference between objects or humans, happier in the presence of humans rather than be alone, accept comfort from anyone.

Stage 2: Indiscriminate attachment: 3-7 months.
⟶ Preference for people rather than inanimate objects, recognise and prefer familiar people.

Stage 3: Discriminate stage: 7-12 months.
⟶ Primary attachment formed, shows separation and stranger anxiety.

Stage 4: Multiple attachments: 1 year +
⟶ Form secondary attachments with familiar adults

Question 7

Define sensitive responsiveness.

Answer 7

Recognising and responding appropriately to and infants needs.

Question 8

Animal Studies

Answer 8

Lorenz & Harlowe