Attachment figures Flashcards
What is attachment ?
A close two way emotional bond between the individuals in which each individual sees the other as essential for their own emotional security.
What behaviours are displayed which show attachment?
Proximity
separation distress
secure-base behaviour
What did schaffer and emerson find 1964 ?
They found that majority of babies did become attached to their mother first (7 months) and within weeks or months formed secondary attachments to other family members including father
What % and age was it found that infants formed an attachment with their father. ?
75% and 18 months.
This was determined by the fact that infants protested when their father walked away
Research of the role of the father :
Grossman (2002) carried out a longitudinal study looking at both parents’ behaviour and its relationship to the quality of children’s attachment in their teens
What results were found from the longitudinal study ?
Quality of infant attachment with mothers but not fathers was related to children’s attachment in adolescence suggesting father attachment is less important.
How was the quality of father’s play relevant to attachment ?
The quality of fathers’ play was related to the quality of adolescent attachments.This suggests that fathers have a different role- play and stimulation and less to do with nurturing.
Research on fathers as primary caregivers ?
Tiffany Field (1978) filmed 4 month year old babies in face to face interaction with primary caregiver mothers , secondary caregiver fathers and primary caregiver fathers.
Results on research on fathers as PCG ?
Primary caregiver fathers like mothers spent more time smiling,imitating and holding infants compared to secondary caregiver fathers.
Why are the results important (fathers PCG) and what does it show. ?
The behaviour appears important in building an attachment with the infant. It seems fathers can be more nurturing attachment figure.
What is the key to the attachment relationship ?
The level of responsiveness not the gender of the parent.
