Attachment Booklet 2: Caregiver-Infant interactions in humans Flashcards
We can recognise an attachment when people display the following behaviours…
-Proximity
-Separation distress
-Secure base behaviour
What is proximity, as an attachment behaviour?
When the infants try to stay physically close to those whom they are attached
What is separation distress, as an attachment behaviour?
Infants are distressed when an attachment figure leaves their presence
What is secure base behaviour, as an attachment behaviour?
Even when we are independent of our attachment figures we tend to make regular contact with them
What can an attachment be defined as?
An emotional relationship between two people in which each seeks closeness and feels more secure when in the presence of the attachment figure.
What are the two interactions listed in the spec?
-Reciprocity
-Interactional synchrony
From an early age babies have meaningful social interactions with their carers. It is believed that these interactions had are needed in order to…
create and reinforce an attachment bond
What research do we use for reciprocity?
Jaffe (1973), demonstrated that infants coordinate actions with caregivers in conversation.
What does reciprocity mean?
Responding with actions as if in a conversation without speech
When is reciprocity expected to happen?
Believed from around three months this interaction tends to be increasingly frequent.
What is an example of reciprocity?
When a baby cries the mother responds by feeding the baby or when the mother pulls a silly face the baby laughs
What does reciprocity influence?
The childs physical, social and cognitive development. Becoming basis for development of trust.
What is interactional synchrony?
When mother and infant interact in such a way that their actions and emotions mirror each other
What is the case used for interactional synchrony?
Meltzoff and Moore (1977) Found association between expression the adult had displayed and the actions of the baby. Later re done in (1983) with babies 3 days old
What are the evaluation of reciprocity and interactional synchrony?
😒There are problems with testing infant behaviour
😒Reciprocity and interactional synchrony is culturally biased
😊Research investigating it is conducted using controlled observations
😒Observations describe behaviour but don’t explain
😊Evidence to suggest that this imitative behaviour forms basis for social development (Meltzoff)
Who identified the stages of attachment?
Schaffer and Emerson (1964)
What did Schaffer and Emerson aim to investigate?
-The age at which infants become attached
-Who they become attached to
-Whether it is possible to develop multiple attachments
What where the characteristics of Schaffer and Emerson study?
-Longitudinal study
-60 working class glaswegian infants
-First year of life and then again at 18 months
-Naturalistic observation
-Self report through caregivers
What was found in Schaffer and Emerson?
The baby showed separation anxiety after a carer left and/ or stranger anxiety in response to unfamiliar adults.
What are the 4 stages of attachment?
- Pre-attachment
2.Indiscriminate attachment
3.Discriminate attachment
4.Multiple attachment
What is involved in Stage 1. Pre-attachment?
(Birth-6 weeks)
-behaviour towards non- human objects and humans is similar
-Babies prefer other humans to objects, show by smiling at faces
What is involved in Stage 2. Indiscriminate attachment?
(6 weeks - 7 months)
-Infants begin to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar people, smiling more at familiar
-Babies accept comfort from any adult, don’t show separation anxiety
What is involved in Stage 3. Discriminate attachment?
(7 - 12 months)
-Babies begin to show stranger anxiety
-Anxious when separated from one adult
-50 percent of babies showed separation anxiety, typically towards mother
-Said to have formed attachment with the primary attachment figure (specific attachments)
What is involved in Stage 4. Multiple attachments?
(12 months)
-They form strong emotional ties with other major caregivers, called secondary attachments
-Become less scared of strangers and attachment to mother remains strongest
What are the evaluations of the Stages of attachment?
😊Schaffer and Emerson carried out in families homes
😒Unrepresentative sample
😒Schaffers stages of attachment is culturally relative
😒Ignores individual differences
What is the expectation of fathers in modern day western families?
-The father should play a greater role in bringing up children than previously
Why are more fathers expected to play a role in childcare in modern western society?
-As mother working full time has increased in recent decades and fathers have more active roles as a result
Mothers usually adopt a more caregiving and nurturing role compared to the father. What role does the father usually adopt?
Fathers adopt a more play-mate role than mothers, more likely to encourage risk taking in children by engaging in physical games.
Infants prefer contact with father and mother when?
Father - when in a positive emotional state, want to play
Mother - When in a negative emotional state, distressed and need comforting
What are the statistics of single fathers and fathers being the caregiver in families?
-In 2013 10% of families the male was the primary caregiver whilst the mother goes out to work
-9% of single parents are males
Which studies are involved in father role?
-Lamb (1987), Found that children form strong attachment with fathers for play
-Field (1978), Found that responsiveness is important in a parent figure, not gender
What are the evaluations of the role of the father?
😊The role of the father may be important not for children but mothers too
😊Role of the father benefits children in long term
😊Role of father can help prevent negative development outcomes
😒Doesn’t explain why no difference in children who aren’t raised by fathers don’t turn out differently - MacCallum and Golombok (2004)
