Attachment - Key Psychologists Flashcards
Meltzof & Moore - 1977 (Interactional synchrony)
Observed the beginnings of interactional synchrony in infants as young as 2 weeks old.
An adult displayed one of three facial features or one of three distinctive gestures, and the child’s response was filmed.
An association was found between the expression/gesture and the action of the child.
Isabella et al - 1989 (Interactional synchrony)
Observed 20 mothers and infants together and assessed the degree of synchrony and the quality of mother-infant attachment.
They found that high levels pf synchrony were associated with better quality mother-infant attachments e.g., the emotional intensity of the relationship.
Schaffer (stages of attachment)
60 babies from Glasgow at monthly intervals for the first 18 months of life using a longitudinal method.
Measured separation anxiety and stranger anxiety. Between 25 & 32 weeks of age (6-8 months), about 50 % of the babies showed signs of separation anxiety towards a particular adult, usually the mother.
Attachment tended to be the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to the infant’s signals and facial expressions.
STAGES OF ATTACHMENT
Asocial stage (0-6 weeks) - Similar responses to objects & people. Preference for faces/ eyes. Show preference for familiar adults in that those individuals find it easier to calm them.
Indiscriminate attachments (6 weeks – 6 months)- Display more observable social behaviour. Preference for human company. Ability to distinguish between people but comforted indiscriminately.
Specific (7 months +) - Infants show a preference for one caregiver, displaying separation and stranger anxiety. The baby looks to particular people for security, comfort and protection.
Multiple (10/11 months +) Attachment behaviours are displayed towards several different people e.g. siblings, grandparents etc.
