caregiver-infant interactions in humans✅ Flashcards
define attachment
an enduring, close and reciprocal emotional bond between individuals
what can attachment be characterised by
- a desire for proximity
- sense of security when in presence of attachment figure
- separation anxiety when figure is absent
human infants are altricial; define altricial
- born at early stage of development so need to form attachment bonds with adults who will protect/nurture them
what are some examples of how infants and primary caregivers communicate?
- eye contact
- caregiverease (baby voice)
- facial expressions
describe reciprocity as a form of caregiver-infant interactions
- mutual behaviour
- each responds to the other with a similar action–> actions of one person elicit a response from other
- helps strengthen the attachment bond
how does Brazleton et al.(1975) describe reciprocity as a form of caregiver-infant interactions
Brazleton described reciprocity as a dance, where each partner responds to the other’s moves
describe interactional synchrony as a form of infant-caregiver interactions
- infants move their body simultaneously with PCG in coordinated way
- mirror other person
- includes imitating emotions and behaviours
what did Meltzoff and Moore(1977) find in regards to interactional synchrony as a form of caregiver-infant interactions
- Meltzoff and Moore found that infants as young as 2-3 weeks imitated specific hand gestures and facial expressions eg. sticking out tongue
define caregiverease
- adults who interact with infants use modified form of vocal language to aid communication
eg: high pitch, song like, slow
what are some A03 points of research into caregiver-infant interactions?
-uses well controlled procedures✅
–>valid conclusions can be drawn
-difficult to test infants behaviour in a reliable manner❌
–>more research is required
-findings do not explain why behaviours occur❌
–> not found in all cultures
-research may be sensitive❌
–> feminists may criticize as it discourages women from having career
what are Schaffers stages of attachment?
- pre-attachment (asocial) stage
- Indiscriminate attachment stage
- Discriminate attachment stage
- Multiple attachment stage
describe the Pre-attachment stage of Schaffer’s stages of attachment
- birth - 2/3 months
- behaviour towards non-human objects and humans is similar
- 6 weeks infants become attracted to other humans, preferring them to objects
–> this is demonstrated through smiling at ppl’s faces
describe the Indiscriminate attachment stage of Schaffer’s stages of attachment
- 2/3 months - 7/8 months
- discriminate between familiar and non-familiar faces
- prefer known people
- will still allow strangers to handle and look after them
describe the Discriminate attachment stage of Schaffer’s stages of attachment
- 7/8 months onwards
- develop specific attachments + staying close to particular CG
- show seperation/stranger anxiety
describe the Multiple attachment stage of schaffer’s stages of attachment
- 9 months onwards
- form strong emotional bond ties with other major caregivers
- stranger anxiety weakens
- attachment to PCG is still strongest
describe the procedure of Schaffer and Emerson’s stages of development
- longitudinal study on 60 glasweigian infants over first 18 months of their lives
- visited infants+mothers at monthly intervals
- interviewed mothers, asking questions about everyday experiences to asses separation/stranger anxiety
describe the findings of Schaffer and Emmerson’s stages of development
- between 6-8 months, 50% infants showed separation anxiety w/ person they had specific attachment with
- infants main attachment was often mother
- at 10 months old, 80% infants had specific attachment and 30% had multiple attachments
define multiple attachmnents
- formation of emotional bonds with more than one carer
what did John Bowlby believe in regars to infants and attachments
John Bowlby believed that infants form one special attachment (monotropy) and this creates a template for all future relationships
what did Rutter(1995) propose in regards to infant attachments
- he proposed a model of multiple attachments that saw all attachments of equal importance
- these combine together to help form infants internal working model (IWM)
what are some A03 points of Schaffer’s stages of attachment and multiple attachments
-methodological issues- data may be invalid❌
–>cannot be applied universally
-do not take individual differences into considerastion❌
–>infants may be judged as abnormal if they don’t meet standards
-conflicting evidence on multiple attachments❌
–>limited to individualistic cultures
describe the A03 point of Schaffer’s stages of attachment regarding collected data being invalid
P- data may be invalid
E- based on mothers reports of infants behaviour
E- some may be less sensitive to infants protests so not have reported to researcher
L- if data is invalid, schaffer’s stages may also be invalid
describe the A03 point of Schaffer’s stages of attachment regarding individual differences
P- developmental psychologists dont consider individual differences
E- suggests infant behaviour is inflexible and all infants develop at same rate
E- Schaffer suggests specific attachments come before multiple, however in some cases multiple comes first
L- by not taking individual differences into account some infants may be judged as abnormal if they don’t meet standards set by stages
describe the A03 point of Schaffer’s stages of attachment regarding cultural variations and conflicting evidence
P- not clear when infants reach multiple attachments stage
E- some psychologists found contradictory results in other cultures
E- those who did research in collectivist cultures found infants have multiple attachments before specific ones as they have multiple caregivers
L-shows that Shaffer’s theory may only be applicable to individualistic cultures
what is the traditional role of father
- minor role in parenting
- not psychologically equipped to raise infants + from bonds
- father goes to work
what are some statistics regarding the role of the father
- 9% of british single parents are males
- demonstrates men have much bigger role in parenting than ever before
what are some important factors that affect the relationship between fathers and children?
- degree of sensitivity
- own relationship with parents
- marital intimacy
- supportive co-parenting
describe Degree of sensitivity as a factor of father-children relationships
more secure attachments are found in fathers who show more sensitivity to infants needs
describe Type of attachment to own Parents as a factor or father-children relationships
single parent fathers tend to form similar attachments w/ their children that they had with their own parents
describe marital intimacy as a factor of father-children relationships
degree of intimacy a father has with his relationship with his partner affects type of attachment he will have with his children
describe Supportive co-parenting as a factor of father-children relationships
amount of support a father gives to partner in helping care for children affects type of attachment he will have with his children
describe Schaffer and Emmerson’s Multiple attachment research regarding the role of the father
-whilst at 7 months most babies attached to mother, within few months they formed secondary attachments to father
-75% of infants studied formed attachments to father by the age of 18 months
–> babies protested when father walked away = sign of attachment
describe Grossman’s Play and Stimulation research into the role of the father
-longitudinal study looking at parents’ behaviour and its relationship to the quality of children’s attachment
-quality of infant’s relationship w/ mothers (not fathers) was related to adolescent attachments –> suggests rols of father was less important
-HOWEVER, quality of father’s play was related to quality of adolescent relationships –> fathers have different role in attachment linked in w/ play rather than nurture
describe Field’s ‘Father’s as primary caregiver’s’ research regarding role of the father
-when fathers take role of PCG, they adopt nurturing mother-like behaviours
-filmed 4 month old’s in face to face in interactions with;
- PCG mothers
- secondary CG fathers
- PCG fathers
-PCG fathers, like mothers, spent more time smiling and holding infants than secondary CG fathers (this helps attachments)
-fathers can be the nurturing attachment figure
–> the key is responsiveness, NOT gender
what are some overall A03 points of the role of the father?
-evidence to suggest ROF is nurture
–> ROF is socially constructed
-evidence to suggest ROF is nature
–> ROF is pre-determined
-evidence to contradict Grossman
–> role of father as secondary attachment figure isn’t important
-research into ROF is socially sensitive
describe an A03 point of Role of the father regarding the role of nurture
P- evidence suggets ROF is nurture
E- traditional gender roles may mean fathers shouldn’t show emotions etc..
L- suggests ROF is socially constructed
describe and A03 point of Role of the father regarding the role of nature
P- evidence suggest ROF is governed by nature
E- female hormones may create higher levels of nurturing therefore pre-disposed to be primary attachment figure
L- ROF is primarily determined by father’s biology
describe an A03 point of Role of the father regarding contradicting evidence against Grossmen
P- evidence contradicts Grossman’s view of the ROF
E- MacCallum&Golombok found that infants in single/same sex families don’t developly differently
EL- suggests ROF as secondary attachment figure is not important
describe an A03 point of Role of the father regarding social sensitivity
P- research into ROF is socially sensitive
E- suggests some fathers who want to play role in children’s life may be conflicted by work
L- suggests ROF could be used to create practical applications such as shared parental leave
