attachment- caregiver-infant interaction, role of the father, schaffer's stages Flashcards
What is the definition of attachment?
A close two way emotional bond between individuals in which each sees the other as essential for their own emotional security
what is reciprocity?
the way two people interact. Mother-infant interaction is reciprocial as both parties respond to one another (elicit a signal and a response)
what is interactional synchrony?
mother and infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other and do this in a co-ordinated (synchronised) way
M…… (1980)
who researched into separation anxiety?
MACCOBY (1980)
- when attached, ppl try to stay in close proximity -> suffer from separation anxiety (kicks in within 6 to 7 months) or distress when attachment figure leaves
- object permenance needs to be achieved before separation anxiety kicks in
- if babies DO NOT see the person, they are attached to = they DO NOT exist
how long does it take for reciprocity to kick in?
3 months
M&M
who investigated interactional synchrony?
Meltzoff & Moore (1977)
describe the method used by … to investigate interactional synchrony?
- observed babies around 2 weeks old
- an adult would display one of three facial expressions and one of three distinctive gestures
- the child’s response was filmed and identified by observers
what was the result of … interactional synchrony?
an association was found between the expression or gesture the adult had displayed and the actions of the babies
think I J
name a piece of evaluation which supports interactional synchrony
Isabella et al (1989)
- observed 30 mothers and infants together and assessed the degree of synchrony
-> also looked at the quality of mother-infant attachment
HIGH levels of synchrony were associated with better quality infant-mother attachment (emotional intensity)
S&E (1964)
who looked into the idea of secondary attachment?
SCHAFFER & EMERSON
-found that majority of babies were attacjed to their mothers first (around 7 months)
- within a few weeks or months, they formed secondary attachments to other family members
- 75% of infants would have formed an attachment to the father by the age of 18 months -> determined when the father walked away
who aimed to investigate the formation of early attachments?
what type of study did they use? pros and cons?
SCHAFFER & EMERSON (1964)
-longitudinal study
+ observe changing patterns (+)
- can become subjective and less ppl are likely to be committed (-)
describe the method used by Schaffer& Emerson in their study of early attachment
- observed 60 Glasgowegian babies (31F and 29M) for 18 months from skilled working class famillies
- the babies and their mothers were visited at home every month for the first year then again at 18 months
- researchers asked mothers questions about the kind of protest babies showed in 7 everyday separations -> which is noted down in a diary
- this assessed separation and stranger anxiety
what were the findings from the Glasgow babies study?
- between 25-32 weeks about 50% of babies showed separation anxiety towards their caregiver
- attachment formed when the caregiver was most interactive and sensitive to the infant’s signals and facials (RECIPROCITY)
what is stage 1 of attachment?
asocial stage
- recognises and forming bonds with its carers
what is stage 2 of attachment?
- indiscriminate attachment
- within 2 to 7 months babies display more observable social behaviour
what is stage 3 of attachment?
- specific attachment
- from around 7 months babies begin to display anxiety towards strangers and anxious when separated
what is stage 4 of attachment?
-multiple attachments
- begin to show attachment towards one individual (spend most time with) = secondary attachments
describe the behaviour in stage 1 of attachment
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- smile at anyone
- recognise specific faces
- preference for familiar individuals
- happier in the presence of humans than when alone
- prefer faces to non faces
- behaviour between humans and non human objects are similiar
describe the behaviour in stage 2 of attachment?
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- recognise and prefer familiar ppl
- preference for ppl than inanimate objects
- smile more at familiar than unfamiliar faces
- accept comfort from any adult
describe the behaviour in stage 3 of attachment?
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- primary attachment
- use familiar adults as a secure base
- separation anxiety
- stranger anxiety
- Object permeanence
only one option
describe the behaviour in stage 4 of attachment?
- form secondary attachements with familiar adults whom they spend time with
what did Bowlby base his theory on? and what is it called?
- evolution -> innate attachments
MONOTROPHIC
how and where did Bowlby conduct his studies?
technique: observed and interviewed children that were separated in the aftermath of WW2
place: conducted in hospitals or institutions
bowlby
what does letter A stand for in the mnemomic?
ADAPTIVE
attachments are an advantage, or beneficial to survival as it ensures a child is kept safe, warm and fed
what does letter C stand for in the mnemomic ASCMI?
CRITICAL PERIOD
- This is the time in which an attachment can form i.e. up to 2.5 to 3 years old.
- Bowby suggested that if an attachment is not formed in this time, it never will. If an attachment does not form, you will be socially, emotionally, intellecturally and physically stunted
Bowlby extended this ‘sensitive period’ to 5 years
what does letter S stand for in the mnemomic ASCMI?
SOCIAL RELEASERS
– e.g. a cute face on a baby. These unlock the innate tendency for adults to care for a child because they activate the mammalian attachment system.
what does letter M stand for in the mnemomic ASCMI?
MONOTROPHY
- means ‘one carer’
- Bowlby suggested that you can only form one special
intense attachment (this is typically but not always with the mother) -> UNIQUE - maternal deprivation = emotional and intellectual developmental deficits
- infant could bond with another adult-mother substitute
what does letter I stand for in the mnemomic ASCMI?
INTERNAL WORKING MODEL
- A mental schema for relationships
- IWM is our perception of the attachment with our primary attachment figure
- THEREFORE, future relationships w others depend on relationship w mother
