Lecture 10 concepts Flashcards
John Bowlby’s Ethological Theory of Attachment
1) Evolutionary benefit of attachment (survival through safety and competence)
2) Feeding is not the most important
3) Children form an internal working model (set of expectation about the availability of attachment figures, their likelihood of support during distress) about attachment
Bowlby’s stages of attachment
1) Pre-attachment (approximately birth to 6 weeks): infants attract caregivers with eye contact and signals like grasping, crying, smiling and gazing. Infants recognise the caregiver’s scent, voice and face, but are not yet attached to the caregiver. They don’t mind being alone with unfamiliar adults and don’t fear strangers.
2) Attachment in making (approximately 6 weeks to 8 months): infants babble and smile more and calm more quickly when picked up with familiar caregivers than strangers. They also learn that their actions affect the behaviour of those around them. They begin to develop a sense of trust, but still do not mind being separated from their caregiver.
3) Clear cut attachment (approximately 8 months to 18 months): attachment is evident. Babies become upset and experience separation anxiety when separated from a relied upon caregiver. The baby may show distress when the primary caregiver leaves, but the anxiety can be short lived if the replacement caregiver is empathetic and supportive.
4) Reciprocal relationships (approximately 18 months and on): separation anxiety decreases as language and cognitive skills grow. Toddlers can understand some of the circumstances influencing the caregiver’s comings and goings and can predict their return. As they get older, toddlers grow less dependent on caregivers and more confident that they will be accessible and responsive in times of need.
4 attachment styles
1) Secure attachment: child is feeling secure, explorative and happy. Believes and trusts that his/her needs will be met. The caregiver is quick, sensitive and consistent in responding to the child’s signals and needs. (±65% of the sample)
2) Avoidant attachment: child is not very explorative and emotionally distant. Subconsciously believes that his/her needs probably won’t be met. The caregiver is distant and disengaged. (±20% of the sample)
3) Ambivalent attachment: child is anxious, insecure and angry. Cannot rely on his/her needs being met. The caregiver is inconsistent; sometimes sensitive, sometimes neglectful. (± 10-15% of sample)
4) Disorganised attachment: child is depressed, angry, complete passive and non-responsive. Severely confused with no strategy to have his/her needs met. The caregiver’s responsiveness is extreme, erratic: frightened or frightening, passive or intrusive. (± 10-15% of sample)
Cultural variations in attachment styles
Cultures that value independence more show more avoidant attachment => e.g., German babies.
Cultures in which mothers rarely leave their baby in other’s care show more resistant attachment. E.g., Japanese babies.
Stability of attachment
Relatively stable, but less stable in low income and high stress families. Insecure attachment types can change from one type to another, with the exception of disorganized/disoriented attachment, which is relatively stable.
Developmental recovery is possible if caregiver becomes more sensitive in later life.
