Attachments 1

Question 1

What is an attachment

Answer 1

A close two way emotional bond

- see each other as essential for their own emotional security

Question 2

Attachment behaviours and their definitions

Answer 2

• proximity- people try to stay physically close to those they are attached to
• separation distress- people become distressed when their attachment figure leaves
• secure base behaviour- explore the environment but return to attachment figure for comfort

Question 3

Name and define the 2 types of infant and caregiver interactions

Answer 3

• interactional synchrony - mother and infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other so this is a coordinated way
• reciprocity - how to people interact eg mother interaction is reciprocal as the infant and mother respond to each others signals

Question 4

Schaffer and Emerson’s (1964) aims

Answer 4

Aimed to investigate the formation of early attachments in particular the at which they developed, their emotional intensity and to whom they were directed

Question 5

Methods of Schaffer and Emerson’s

Answer 5

• 60 babies from skilled working class homes in Glasgow
• 31 male +29 female
• babies were visited at home every month for a year than again at 18 months
• researchers asked mothers questions regarding the child like if the mother left did they protest if so this shows separation anxiety

Question 6

Findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s research

Answer 6

• between 25 and 32 weeks about 32% showed signs of separation anxiety towards a particular adult
• attachments tended to be the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and facial expressions (reciprocity)
• by the age of 40 weeks 80% of the babies had a specific attachment and also set 30% displayed multiple attachments

Question 7

Name all Stages of attachment

Answer 7

• asocial - first 8 weeks
• indiscriminate attachment - 2-7 moths
• specific attachment - from 7 months
• multiple attachments - from the age of 1

Question 8

Associal features

Answer 8

• baby recognises and forms bond with carers

- baby’s behaviour towards human and non human objects are similar

Question 9

Indiscriminate attachment features

Answer 9

• babies display more observable social behaviour
• preference for people than inanimate objects
• recognise and prefer familia adults

Question 10

Specific attachment features

Answer 10

• anxiety towards strangers
• ## separation anxiety from specific attachment

Question 11

Multiple attachment features

Answer 11

• babies start to show attachments to more than one adult
• these are secondary attachments - they form quickly after specific attachment
• by the age of one most infants had multiple attachments

Question 12

Strengths of Schafer and Emerson’s research

Answer 12

• large sample size - 60 babies
• has provided a framework to help understand how attachments develop
• high ecological validly

Question 13

Limitations of Schaffer and Emerson’s research

Answer 13

• bias samples
• data collection
• problems with a stage model
• out of date

Question 14

Strengths of ainsworths

Answer 14

• reliable - highly controlled, easily replicated

- useful - provided a way of measure it attachments, used in many studies

Question 15

Weaknesses of ainsworth

Answer 15

• sample of white middle class American infants - not representative - can’t generalise
• ethics - purposely distressing the infants
• validity