Attachment - Introduction To Attachment Flashcards
Define attachment
Attachment is a close two way emotional bond between the individual in which each feel the other as essential for emotional security
What are the three attachment behaviours
Proximity, separation anxiety and secure base behaviour
Explain proximity
People try to stay physically close to those whom which they are attached
Explain separation distress
When people are distressed when an attachment figure leaves their presence
Explain secure base behaviour
When we are independent of our attachment figure we still tend to make regular contact with them.
Infants display secure- based behaviour when they regularly return to their attachment figure while playing
What are the two types of caregiver - infant interactions
Reciprocity and interactional synchrony
What is reciprocity
A description of how two people interact.
Mother-infant interaction is reciprocal in both infant and mother respond to each other’s signals and each elicit a response from the other
What is an example of reciprocity
Babies have periodic ‘alert’ phases
Signal tat they are ready for interaction.
Mothers respond to infant alertness 2/3 of a time
3 months- interaction turns frequent
Involves close attention to each other’s verbal signals and facial expressions (Feldman 2007)
Brazleton et al described interaction as a dance
When is an interaction reciprocal
When each person responds to other and elicits a response from them
What is interactional synchrony
Mother and infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other and this in a co-ordinated synchronised way
How can you identify interactional synchrony
When mother and infant interact in such a way that their actions and emotions mirror the other
Explain the findings of meltzoff and Moore (1977)
Observed the beginnings of interactional synchrony in infants as young as 2 weeks old
Adult displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions / 1 0f 3 distinctive gestures
Childs response was filmed
Independent observers identified
Association found between the expression/gesture and action of babies.
What
Explain Isabella et al (1989) study for interactional synchrony
Observed 30 mothers and infanta together and assessed the degree of synchrony. The researcher assessed the quality of mother-infant attachment
High levels of synchrony associated with better quality mother-infant attachment
Shows IS important or development of mother infant attachment
What is limitation of caregiver interactions (observing infants)
Researchers dont know if infants behaviour is deliberate.
Eg in most observations the same pattern of behaviour is shown which is normally just hand movements or changes in expression
Highlights difficulty in being certain of what is taking place in infants perspective
Hard to conclude if interactions have special meaning
What is a strength of caregiver interactions (fine detail)
Observations are well controlled and therefore can be used to capture fine detail
Eg most observations, both mother and infant filmed from multiple angles
Ensures fine details of behaviour can be recorded and later analysis.
In addition babies behaviour does not change by being observed
Research has good validity
