Child - Attachment Flashcards
Ainsworth definition for attachment
An affectional tie between a person and another
Behavioursit theory of attachment
Born as a blank slate - learn to attach over time via classical conditioning via association e.g infants attaching to mothers due to milk
Evolutionary theory of attachment
Innate drive to form attachment to carer to ensure survival e.g. babies innately cry and seek proximity from carer to protect them. E.g. mothers attach to infants during to rush of oxytocin when giving birth
Lorenz’s theory of attachment
Animals have an innate drive to form attachments with primary caregivers
Imprinting- animals forming attachments to the first large and moving object from 1 hour, weaker attachments between 12-17 hours but no attachment after 32 hours
Bowlby- the maternal deprivation theory
Attachment is innate behavior to ensure survival.
We attach to one primary care giver = monotropy.
our attachments are an internal working model for future attachments. Attachments as a child are the attachments in future relationships
Bowlby - privation and deprivation
Privation - no attachment during the critical period (0-3 years) lead to cognitive difficulties and speech and motor problems aswell as developmental delays
Deprivation- when an attachment breaks during the sensitive period (3-5) lead to behavioral and social issues.
Schaffer and Emerson - stages of attachment
3 months - indiscriminate attachments
4 months - can distinguish between primary and secondary caregiver but accept care from anyone
7 months - single attachment figure. Show fear of strangers
9 months - multiple attachments and become independent.
Koluchova - Czech twins
A- to investigate the long term impact of privation and whether social, emotional and developmental issues can be overcome.
Case study + longitudinal.
Twin boys from Czech, mother died when they were young, placed in an institution at 1, went to aunt for 6months, then to father who had been remarried. The step mother would beat the children for 5 years + locked away.
R- when the boys were rescued at 7, they were very small and could not speak. They had the development of a 3 year old. But by 11 language was normal and by 15 IQ was normal.
C- privation can be overcome with live + support
Curtiss- Genie
A- to investigate the long term effect of privation and whether social, emotional and behavioral issues can be overcome.
Case study + longitudinal.
At 16m she was told she had developmental delay. Her father locked her away for 12 years. She was tied to a potty and bound to a sleeping bag.
R- after therapy Genie learned to express herself but she never became sociable with adults. She never reached cognitive development
Bowlby - 44 thieves
A- to investigate the long term effect of maternal deprivation.
88 children (44 were were juvenile thieves, 44 were a control)
They were interviewed by psychologists and Bowlby.
R- more than 50% of thieves had been separated before 5 from mothers. 14 showed affection less psychopathy. 86% of the 14 had been sperated for a long time
Hodges+Tizard - care home/ adoption
A- to investigate effects of privation due to institutionalized care.
Natural experiment + longitudinal.
65 who were in residential nurseries.
Carers were dis encouraged to form attachments to children.
At 4, 24 were adopted, 15 returned to biological family. They were assessed at 4,8&16 on social and emotional competance.
R- at 4 no kids had formed attachments. At 8 those adopted formed good attachments. Those retro families showed behavioral problems and weaker attachments.
C- early infant attachment disruption- long term damage
Hodges+Tizard - care home/ adoption
A- to investigate effects of privation due to institutionalized care.
Natural experiment + longitudinal.
65 who were in residential nurseries.
Carers were dis encouraged to form attachments to children.
At 4, 24 were adopted, 15 returned to biological family. They were assessed at 4,8&16 on social and emotional competance.
R- at 4 no kids had formed attachments. At 8 those adopted formed good attachments. Those retro families showed behavioral problems and weaker attachments.
C- early infant attachment disruption- long term damage
Harlow - monkeys
A- to see if privation can be overcome
Controlled observation
He took monkeys and isolated them. He tried to put them back with other monkeys to see the effect of failure to attach. The monkeys engaged in bizarre behavior and were unable to communicate with the other monkeys.
Harlow also stated the term motherless mothers. Where the monkeys who were abused went on to abuse their own offspring
C- privation is permanently damaging
Ainsworth- A,pps,m
A- to observe attachment behavior of a child using the strange situation
56 pps, white and middle class. 23 were studied longitudinally. The other infants were 49 weeks.
Controlled observation.
Ainsworth - pr
9ftX9ft
2 chairs surrounded with toys
Researcher observed via a 1 way mirror
Each stage was 3 mins:
Mother + child enter and play.
Stranger enters and approaches baby.
Mother leaves and stranger tries to comfort baby.
Mother enters and stranger leaves.
Mother leaves.
Stranger enters.
Mother enters and stranger leaves
