Attatchment Flashcards
Define the term ‘attachment’ in the context of caregiver-infant interactions.
Attachment is a reciprocal (two-way) bond between two individuals. In this context, it refers to the bond between a parent (usually the mother) and their child.
Describe the concept of ‘reciprocity’ in caregiver-infant interactions.
Reciprocity is the idea that attachments are interactional, and that mothers and infant initiate and respond to each other in a meaningful way. Both get something out of the interaction, for example pleasure, comfort, security and so on.
Explain the term ‘interactional synchrony’ in the context of caregiver-infant interactions.
‘Interactional synchrony’ means carrying out the same actions at the same time. In this case, mothers and infants act in a way that mirrors each other. High levels of synchrony are linked with better quality attachment.
What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) find about parent-infant attachment?
Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found that infants tend to become attached to the mother first, then form attachments with other figures (such as the father) later on- usually by the age of 18 months.
What did Grossman (2002) discover about the role of the father in attachment?
Grossman (2002) found that the quality of mother-child attachment was important when assessing the quality of attachment into adolescence, but this was not the case for father-child attachment, suggesting the role of the father is less important. However, the quality of father’s play was related to the quality of attachment, suggesting the father’s role may be more of a stimulatory one.
What did Field (1978) find about fathers as primary carers?
Field (1978) found that fathers who were primary attachment figures acted in very similar ways to mothers who were primary attachment figures towards their children. This suggests that fathers are able, if required, to take on the more caring, nurturing role usually associated with the mother.
Describe the findings of MacCallum and Golombok (2004) on the role of the father in attachment.
MacCallum and Golombok (2004) found that children growing up in single-parent or same-sex families do not develop any differently from those who grow up in more ‘conventional’ families. This suggests that the role of the father is not significant in attachment.
Define ‘Stages of attachment’ in the context of infant behavior.
‘Stages of attachment’ refers to how the behavior of babies and infants changes and progresses as they age. Particular behaviors should be seen at particular ages.
What was the aim and procedure of Schaffer & Emerson’s 1964 study on early attachments?
The aim of Schaffer & Emerson’s 1964 study was to investigate the formation of early attachments. The procedure involved assessing 60 babies at regular intervals by asking the mothers questions about their behavior when separated from the mother (separation anxiety), and towards strangers (stranger anxiety).
What were the findings and conclusions of Schaffer & Emerson’s 1964 study on early attachments?
Schaffer & Emerson found that around half of the babies showed separation anxiety between the ages of 25-32 weeks. Attachment generally formed with the mother primarily, although the babies tended to become attached to the caregiver who responded most sensitively to them, rather than who they spent most time with. By 40 weeks, most babies had a specific attachment, and 30% had multiple attachments. The conclusion was that infant attachments develop through a number of stages.
How does the longitudinal aspect of Schaffer & Emerson’s 1964 study contribute to its validity?
The longitudinal aspect of the study allowed the same infants to be studied over time, increasing the internal validity of the research.
What are the limitations of Schaffer & Emerson’s 1964 study in terms of its sample?
The sample was limited as the babies were all raised in one area of Glasgow and were all from similar social backgrounds. This means that the results may not be reflected in other areas where child-rearing practices may be different.
Describe the Asocial stage of attachment in babies.
In the Asocial stage, babies recognize their carers and enjoy human company, but they do not behave much differently towards humans than non-human objects.
What is the Indiscriminate stage of attachment?
The Indiscriminate stage, from around 2-7 months old, is when babies start to prefer familiar adults, accept comfort from any adult, and show little or no stranger/separation anxiety.
Define the Specific stage of attachment.
The Specific stage, from around 7 months, is when babies start to show stranger anxiety and anxiety when separated from one particular carer (usually the mother). This adult becomes the specific attachment figure, and is the person who responds most sensitively to the baby.
What is the Multiple stage of attachment?
The Multiple stage is when babies extend their attachment behavior to other adults, forming multiple attachments. For most babies, this has happened by the time they are 1 year-old.
How did Lorenz investigate attachment in animals?
Lorenz investigated imprinting, an innate need to attach to a living creature in order to survive. He found that when he was the first living creature seen by a group of newly-hatched goslings, the goslings followed him around everywhere- they had imprinted on him. Lorenz suggested there is a critical period in which this must happen, or it will not happen at all.
What is ‘sexual imprinting’ as described by Lorenz?
‘Sexual imprinting’ is a term used by Lorenz to describe the behavior of birds who had imprinted on a human and displayed courtship rituals towards humans.
Describe the concept of imprinting in animal behavior studies.
Imprinting is a rapid learning process that takes place early in the life of a social animal and establishes a behavior pattern involving recognition of and attraction to a particular type of object or organism. In a study by Guiton et al., chickens who had imprinted on yellow rubber gloves initially showed courtship behavior towards the gloves, but later learned to mate with other chickens.
What were the findings of Harlow’s study on attachment formation with rhesus monkeys?
Harlow found that the monkeys sought comfort from a cloth ‘mother’ when frightened, and spent more time cuddling it, suggesting that comfort was a more important factor in attachment than food. He also found that the monkeys involved in the study had problems as adults, such as social dysfunction, aggression, problems mating, and poor parenting skills.
What is the critical period in attachment formation according to Harlow’s study?
Harlow concluded that there is a critical period when attachment must be formed (90 days for monkeys), or it will never form.
How has the research on attachment influenced practical applications?
The lessons from the research on attachment have led to practical applications, such as how animals are reared in captivity, and also in humans, for example, how to understand and prevent risk and abuse of children.
What are some ethical considerations in Harlow’s research on attachment?
It has been argued that Harlow’s research was ethically unjustifiable, due to the suffering caused by the monkeys and the long-term damage. However, the findings were arguably important enough to justify this harm.
