attatchments Flashcards
what is an attachment
two way emotional bond which essential for own emotional security
examples of good interactions between an infant and carer
-seeking proximity
-distress on seperation
-joy on reunion
what is reciprocity
doing an action then it elicits a response from each other.
what can reciprocity be compared to.
a dance, reacting to partners movements.
what is interactional synchrony
reflect each others actions/emotion in coordinated and synchronised way.
what does high rates of interactional synchrony mean
better quality attachments
what is the procedure of melt zoff + moore
video recording of 2 week old babies. mother displayed 3 expressions
-tounge out
-mouth open
-pout
what is the findings of melt zoff + moore
positive correlation between adult gestures and baby actions.
what is the conclusion of the melt zoff + moore
infants pay attention and copy any interactions.
other study with 3 day old babies same result
what are some strengths and weaknesses of melt zoff + moore
Strengths
-provided evidence (controlled observation)
Weaknesses
-difficult to distinguish between reciprocity and interactional synchrony
-doesnt tell us the purpose of these interactions
what is the aim of Schaffer + Emerson
how attachment develops with age
what is the procedure of Schaffer + Emerson
was longitudinal study (over 1st year of baby life)
observation/questionairres on 60 Glasgow babies+mothers.
visited mother every 4 weeks until 1 year old.
returned 18 months
Asked about separation/stranger anxiety
findings of Schaffer + Emerson
-separation anxiety 6-8 months.
-stranger anxiety 9 months
-1st attachment (usually mother) (3% father first)
-attachment linked not physical care but emotional care
what is the conclusion of Schaffer + Emerson
attachment develops in stages
what is the 4 stages of attachment
-Asocial stage
-Indiscriminate attachment
-specific attachment
-multiple attachments
what is the asocial stage
0-6 weeks
-attachments with any human.
-no bias towards particular human but prefer human like stimuli
what is indiscriminate attachment
6 weeks-6 months
-babies more sociable
-tell people apart so begin to form stronger attachments
-these attachments dont progress much
what is specific attachment
7- usually 12 months
-show separation anxiety and protest by usually crying when primary attachment figure leaves
-fear of strangers
what is multiple attachments
1 year onwards
-begin form multiple attachments
-usually with people close with
what are some strengths of Schaffer + Emerson
-in own home (eco validity)
-longitudinal study (same children)
-observations/interviews used
what are some weaknesses of Schaffer + Emerson
-Demand characteristics
-sample too small (60 babies)
-families from same area/social class
-60 years ago
-cultural bias
-at asocial stage difficult to make judgements
what are some social reasons babies don’t usually attach to father first
-Father breadwinner
-mother maternity leave
-Father not nurturing
-FMLA leave
-Father physically strong
what are some biological reasons babies don’t usually attach to father first
-Father no breasts
-Mother births childs
what is the procedure of fields study
filmed 4-month old babies in face-face interactions with father as primary caregiver.
what is the findings of fields study
Fathers which were considered first attachment figure spent more time smiling/imitating and holding infants than fathers considered secondary attachment figure
what is the conclusion of fields study
These behaviours (smiling,holding baby) appear important in building attachment with infant.
what is the aim of harlow
worked with Rheus monkeys to study attachment
what did harlow observe about new born monkeys
when kept alone usually died but survived if given something to cuddle
what is the procedure of harlows study
-8 infant monkeys 165 days
-2 mothers made (wire and cloth)
-4 recieved milk from cloth +4 from wire
-Measured time spent with each mother
-also observe when they are frightened by metal object
What is the findings of harlows study
-spent most time with cloth mother. Even if fed by wire mother would just return to cloth mother. When scared by metal object returned to cloth
-Adulthood saw maternal deprivation. fed by wire monkey most dysfunctional. aggressive, less sociable, unskilled at mating
-Neglected and sometimes even killed babies when became mothers
What is the conclusion of harlows findings
-Contact comfort essential for attachment not food
-critical period where if passed develop maternal deprivation (90 days for attachment figure to be introduced)
-If critical period passed attachment impossible+damage ireversable
what is the procedure of lorenz
-Experiment
-randomly divided goose eggs
-(Control) 1/2 hatched with mother (Natural)
-(Experimental) 1/2 in incubator and saw lorenz as first moving thing
what is the findings of lorenz
-Incubator group followed lorenz
-control group followed other everywhere
-when both groups mixed up:
.Experimental group still followed Lorenz
.Control group still followed mother goose
-Imprinting limited to 2 days, if doesnt take place no attachment formed
what is the conclusion of Lorenz
-Imprinting irreversible/long lasting
-early imprinting has an effect on later mate preferences
-Irreversible
-Mate preferences based on what they imprinted on
What did Guiton do
had baby chicks imprint on yellow washing up gloves.
what were Guiton findings
-Try to mate with them when older.
-Found if chicks spent time around own species mating preferences returned to normal.
What are some strengths of Lorenz
-help understand attachment as need for survival
-Supported by Guiton
What are some weaknesses of Lorenz
-Guiton proved imprinting was reversible
-Not generalisable
-Goslings not similar to humans
.Not mammals
.dont eat food directly body
-No higher level thinking
What are some strengths of Harlow
-Monkeys are similar to humans so generalizable
-Practical application - social workers, and better care for monkeys
What are some weaknesses of Harlow
-Unethical- separated from mother, purposely scared them, living conditions (cage)
-confounding variable (different head on mothers)
What does the learning theory suggest about attachment
-children are blank slates
-learn through operant/classical conditioning
-also called ‘cupboard love theories’
-believes attached through food
How is attachment formed through classical conditioning
caregiver continually associated with UCS, until eventually caregiver provides pleasure food does
How does operant conditioning relate to attachment formation
-crying leads to reaction from caregiver (food) and if correct response provided crying is reinforced. (positive)
-Caregiver is also reinforced because crying stop (negative)
what does the learning theory suggest the primary drive is
hunger, as caregiver provides food primary drive become associated with them.
what does the learning theory suggest the secondary drive is
attachment which is learnt by association.
What does Bowlby’s theory of evolution suggest
attachment behaviors are instinctive and will be activated by things that may threaten proximity.
What are the 4 components to Bowlby’s theory
-Monotropy
-Social releasers
-Critical period
-Internal Working Model (IWM)
What does monotropy mean
attachment to one caregiver is different/ more important than others.
what are the two laws in monotropy
Law of accumulated separation
Law of continuity
what does the law of continuity say
more constant/predictable child’s care is better quality attachment
what does the law of accumulated separation say
effects of being separated from mother add up, can lead to later issues
What does Bowlby’s theory mean by social releasers
baby born with innate (cute) behaviors and their purpose is to encourage attachment/attention.
mother and baby have predisposition to become attached
what does Bowlby’s theory mean by critical period
around 2.5 year when infant attachment system is active
if attachment not formed in this time find it much harder to form one later.
What does Bowlby’s theory mean by IWM.
relationship with primary caregiver serve as template for future relationships.
What are some strengths of Bowlby’s theory
-Gosling imprinting
-evidence for IWM-Bailey et al
-Harlow support critical period
What are some weaknesses of Bowlby’s theory
-Law of accumulated separation is socially insensitive and doesn’t consider economic implications and guilt is may cause
-Ignore nurture
-Shaffer + Emerson suggest stranger anxiety at 9 months
What was Ainsworth’s aim
Understand attachment styles of infants towards their mothers
What were some behavioral categories Ainsworth had
-Proximity seeking
-Stranger/Separation anxiety
-Secure base behavior
-Joy on reunion
What was Ainsworth’s procedure
-100 middle class USA families
-mother and infants (12-18 months)
-9ftx9ft room, into 16 squares
-one way mirror
What are the 8 stages of Ainsworth’s strange situation
1- Child and Caregiver enter unfamiliar environment
2- Child encouraged to play
3- Stranger enter and try interact with infant
4-Caregiver leave and stranger try interact with infant
5-Caregiver return and stranger leave
6-Caregiver leave
7. Stranger return and try interact with child
8.caregiver return and reunited with child
What are the 3 types of attachment types Ainsworth found
-Secure
-Insecure Resistant
-Insecure Avoidant
What did children with the secure type attachment experience
-explore freely but check in on mother
-moderate levels of stranger/separation anxiety
-accept comfort when mother return
What did children with the Insecure Avoidant type attachment experience
-Explored freely and don’t seek proximity
-Little to none Stranger/Separation anxiety
-Don’t seek comfort
What did children with the Insecure Resistant type attachment experience
-Explored less, seek higher proximity
-very high amounts of stranger/separation anxiety
-resisted comfort
