~Infant Attachment Flashcards
Why is Attachment a really important topic for early infant development?
Because it’s characterizing the emotional bonds that form between infants and their caregivers
True or False: Attachment refers to bonds that are both healthy and unhealthy
True
In infancy, who does the infant form main/central attachments with during the second half of the first year?
The adult caregiver(s) that are most central to the infants’ daily life. These are often the parents, grandparents, daycare providers, ect.
Attachment is ___
reciprocal
What are the 4 functions of Attachment?
- Helps maintain an infant’s sense of security about the world
- Regulate infant’s affect and arousal
- Builds a foundation of communication & expression of feelings between the parent and child
- Provide a base for the baby’s exploration
Will a baby with Secure or Insecure Attachment be more reluctant to explore?
Insecure
What is the Internal Working Model?
The Internal Working Model is the lens through which we view relationships, what do you expect from others, and what are your beliefs about what you deserve from relationships.
Expectation system for reliability, consistency, warmth, and effectiveness of caregiver responses
How does an infant form an Internal Working Model?
As a result of forming attachment bonds
What are the 4 phases of developing Attachment?
Phase 1: “The Asocial Phase” (birth to 6 weeks)
Phase 2: “Indiscriminate Attachment” (6w to 7 months)
Phase 3: “Specific Attachment” (7 to 9 months)
Phase 4: “Multiple Attachments” (9+ months)
What occurs during Phase 1: “The Asocial Phase” (birth to 6 weeks) of developing attachment?
- “Pre-attachment.” Indiscriminate social (and non-social) responsiveness
- A point in their life where they don’t yet have strong attachments to the caregivers in their lives
- They do recognize their caregivers, but are happy to have their needs met by anyone
During Phase 1: “The Asocial Phase” (birth to 6 weeks), do babies have a preference for social interactions or interactions with their caregiver?
Babies don’t have a strong preference for social interactions specifically, or interactions with their caregivers in particular
What occurs during Phase 2: “Indiscriminate Attachment” (6w to 7 months) of developing attachment?
- Show recognition of familiar people, but no clear emotional preference.
- Begin to show a preference for social interactions over other stimuli, but not with a clear emotional preference for specific caregivers.
- Will show increased recognition of familiar people, but they will be happy to interact with strangers, and are not so fussed about being separated from parents, and social interaction is pleasant for them
What occurs during Phase 3: “Specific Attachment” (7 to 9 months) of developing attachment?
- Attachment to a central figure. Separation anxiety;
- You start to see signs of attachment forming with a primary caregiver, typically, whoever is most involved in their day to day care
- You see evidence of this attachment showing up in their behaviour, particular in how they respond to engaging with the caregiver vs. others, including strangers
At what phase during the development of Attachment do you see stranger anxiety emerge?
Phase 3: “Specific Attachment” (7 to 9 months)
What can affect an infants level of stranger anxiety?
What culture they grew up in. Some cultures take a village approach to raising a child whilst others value the infant staying with mum at all times
What occurs during Phase 4: “Multiple Attachments” (9+ months) of developing attachment?
- Form attachments with other people in their lives.
- Attachments become increasingly reciprocal as child learns to understand caregivers’ needs.
- Develop multiple attachments
How is Attachment measured in children 1-2 years old?
Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Procedure
What does the Strange Situation procedure test?
- Infants reaction to separation from parent
- Infants reaction to reunion with parent
- Infants reaction to interaction with stranger
- Infants level of comfortability in exploring their environment
What are the 4 types of Attachment Bonds?
Secure, Resistant, Avoidant, & Disorganized
How does a Securely Attached child react when the parent leaves the room?
Child tends to be distressed when parent leaves (may or may not cry, but unhappy)
How does a Securely Attached child react when the parent re-enters the room?
Child is happy; easily soothed by the parent
How does a Securely Attached child react when in the presence of a stranger?
Tolerates stranger (especially if parent is present), but prefers interactions with parent
How does a Securely Attached child feel about exploration?
Actively explores the environment in parent’s presence—secure base
How does an Ambivalently/Resistantly Attached child react when the parent leaves the room?
Usually quite distressed; may also be wary of parent pre-separation
How does an Ambivalently/Resistantly Attached child react when the parent re-enters the room?
“Mixed signals”: Clinginess; anger. Not easily consoled by parent’s return
How does an Ambivalently/Resistantly Attached child react when in the presence of a stranger?
Generally wary of the stranger, even with parent there
How does an Ambivalently/Resistantly Attached child feel about exploration?
Tend not to explore—seek closeness from parent; stay nearby
How does an Avoidant Attached child react when the parent leaves the room?
Typically not distressed by separation
How does an Avoidant Attached child react when the parent re-enters the room?
Avoid parent or are slow to greet; don’t seek comfort
How does an Avoidant Attached child react when in the presence of a stranger?
React to stranger much the same way they react to parent
How does an Avoidant Attached child feel about exploration?
Explores, and typically more interested in surroundings than parent
How does a Disorganized Attached child react when the parent leaves the room?
Disoriented, confused, distressed response
How does a Disorganized Attached child react when the parent re-enters the room?
Disoriented, confused, distressed response:
- Freezing, trance-like behaviour
- Huddling on floor
- Approach or avoidance
How does a Disorganized Attached child react when in the presence of a stranger?
Not easily soothed by stranger; finds SSP very stressful
How does a Disorganized Attached child feel about exploration?
Tend not to explore—unsure of how to navigate stressful environment
What types of Attachment Bonds are associated with Insecure Attachment?
Resistant, Avoidant, & Disorganized
If it’s not secure, it’s some version of insecure attachment
When might a Securely Attached baby not be upset when a parent leaves them?
When the leaving of the parent is routine in their everyday life. Such as a parent who leaves and returns from work at the same time everyday
Across cultures, ___ Attachment shows up at pretty similar rates, but rates of different forms of ___ Attachment can differ
Secure // Insecure
Across different cultures & countries, what % of babies show the typical pattern of Secure Attachment?
65-70%
A Japanese baby may give more ___ and seem more ___/___ by the SS due to their ___ Attachment, and how common it is there for parents to anticipate the babies needs
mixed signals // distressed // confused // secure
In Northern German families, there tends to be higher rates of ___ Attachment behaviours than are typical in many other parts of the world
Avoidant
Why are there higher rates of Avoidant Attachment behaviours in Northern German families than there tends to be in other parts of the world?
Families tend to value independence in their kids, and make it a big part of their parenting from early on to teach a healthy and supportive level of independence.
When looking at behaviours in the SS to determine Attachment Style, what can affect the baby’s behaviour that doesn’t match up with the guidelines?
Cultural context
What is the hallmark of Disorganized Attachment?
Having a confused, and kind of disoriented, uncertain response to all aspects of the SS
Why do children form Disorganized Attachment?
Something about the child’s home environment is not ideal, and could stand to be changed or supported, can include abuse and neglect
What behaviour do parents demonstrate that tends to foster Secure Attachment in babies?
High Contingent Communication
What is High Contingent Communication?
Paying attention to their baby’s signals, and responding to them accordingly
What does a parent show to a baby when they demonstrate High Contingent Communication?
- Emotionally available & positive
- Sensitive & attentive
- Interactional synchrony
What is Interactional Synchrony?
Means that baby and parent are insync with one another
Parents whose children develop Secure Attachment tend to let the infant set ___, ___, & ___ of interactions
onset // pacing // end-point
True or False: “Good enough” is sufficient to help a baby build a Secure Attachment
True
