Chp 12.4: Social Flashcards
What are Infant-Caregiver Attachment Relationships?
- Close emotional bonds between an infant and a caregiver
- Characterized by reciprocity
- mutual affection and a desire to maintain proximity
- Develops before infant is 1 year of age
Why are Attachment Relationships Formed?
- Safety & survival (Evolutionary Perspective)
- Fulfilment of basic needs?
- Disproved by Harlow’s infamous studies on Rhesus monkeys
psychosocial stages
a sequence of eight developmental stages proposed by Erikson, each of which involves a different “crisis” (i.e., conflict) over how we view ourselves
imprinting
in some species, a sudden, biologically primed form of attachment
attachment
the strong emotional bond that develops between children and their primary caregivers
What are Bowlby’s three phases of attachment in infancy? (6)
Indiscriminate attachment: Newborns cry, smile… to everyone, evoke caregiving from adults
Discriminate attachment: around 3 months, infants direct attachment behaviour toward familiar caregivers than strangers
Specific attachment behaviour: 7-8 months, develop first meaningful attachments to specific caregivers, they become their ‘secure base’
How to Examine Attachment Relationships in Humans?
- Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Paradigm
* Allows researchers to explore infant-caregiver attachment relationships in the face of separation & stranger anxiety
stranger anxiety
distress over contact with strangers that typically develops in the first year of infancy and dissipates in the second year
separation anxiety
distress experienced by infants when they are separated from a primary caregiver, peaking around age 12 to 16 months
Strange Situation Test (SST) (and things to observe)(1+2)
Key observations in the experiment:
1. Can infant use caregiver as a secure base (from which to explore environment)?
• When caregiver is in the room
2. Can infant use caregiver as a safe haven when upset?
• When caregiver re-enters room after period of absence
Secure Attachment (and reaction in SST) (1+3)
Caregivers who attend consistently and appropriately to their infant’s signals are likely to have securely attached infants.
In the Strange Situation, secure infants…
1. Actively explore when caregiver is present, using the caregiver as a secure base
2. Is often visibly upset by separation
3. Is comforted by the caregiver upon reunion, using the caregiver as a safe haven
Anxious-Resistant Attachment (and reaction in SST) (1+3)
Caregivers who are inconsistent in meeting their infants’ needs are likely to have anxious/resistant infants.
In the Strange Situation, anxious/resistant infants…
1. Stay close to the caregiver and explore very little
2. Are very distressed at caregiver’s departure
3. Are ambivalent upon reunion, resisting physical contact (angry at them for leaving)
Anxious-Avoidant Attachment (and reaction in SST) (1+3)
Unavailable/rejecting caregivers, those who usually do not respond to infants’ signals and who feel uncomfortable with physical contact tend to have avoidant infants.
In the Strange Situation, avoidant infants…
1. Appear focused on exploration (but not as in-depth as secure infants)
2. Exhibit little distress during caregiver separation
3. May appear to ignore the caregiver upon reunion.
Disorganised Attachment (and reaction in SST) (1+3)
Caregivers who are frightened or who are frightening to their infants are likely to have disorganized infants.
In the Strange Situation, disorganized infants…
1. Appear to lack a consistent strategy to deal with attachment separation and reunion
2. May appear confused as to whether she wants to approach or avoid the caregiver
3. May freeze or appear dazed
Benefits of Secure Attachment
- Related to host of positive outcomes
- Cognitive, emotional, social
- Long term, e.g., better quality romantic relationships
