Psychology Attachment Flashcards
What does it mean if an infant show joy on reunion?
Securely attached infants show visible pleasure when reunited with their PAF after a period of separation.
What does it mean if an infant has stranger anxiety?
It means that intense distress is shown by the infant in response to strangers.
What is the definition of attachment?
A close emotional bond between two people characterised by mutual affection and a desire to maintain closeness.
What does it mean if an infant is maintaining proximity?
It means the infant seeks to be close physically to their parent attachment figure.
What does it mean if an infant has separation anxiety?
It means that intense distress is shown by the infant when their PAF is not present.
What is the role of the father?
The role of the father is to provide active, physically stimulating, rough and tumble play. For example, chasing and bouncing. This supports infants in the development of their confidence and their ability to access risks. However, if the father is the PAF, it is likely they will take on a more nurturing role where they do things like cook meals.
What were the finding of Schaffer and Emerson Glasgow babies study?
They found separation anxiety forms at around 6-8 months meaning they form an attachment.stranger anxiety then develops one month after. In 65% of cases, the PAF was the mother and in only 3% of cases the father was the PAF. By 18months, all infants has multiple attachments.
What research methods did they use?
They used overt observations and structured interviews.
What are Schaffer and Emerson’s stages of attachment?
- Asocial stage- 0-6 weeks. Show similar response to humans and objects. Begin to recognise familiar voices.
2.indiscriminate- 6weeks-6months. Prefer people to objects. Don’t show anxiety. - Specific attachment- 6 months onward. Separation and stranger anxiety.
4.multiple attachments. 10 months onward.’ Shows attachment behaviours with multiple people
Why is high external validity a strength in the stages of attachment study?
It can be generalised to wider settings. Observations took place in the babies home meaning natural behaviours would be shown.
What were the two problems in the stages of attachment study_
- Assessing multiple attachment. Distress when an individual leaves the rooms doesn’t signify and attachment. Children got upset when playmates left the room.
- A social stage. It is hard to judge young babies based on observation because they have poor coordination and they are fairly immobile.this means they may be highly sociable.
What is interactional synchrony?
Internacional synchrony refers to how a parent and infants behaviour become finely synchronised and iron each other. It serves a critical role in the developmental outcomes in terms of self regulation, symbol use and the capacity for empathy. Emotions are also mirrored.
What is reciprocity?
Reciprocity refers to turn taking. Babies will signal they are ready for interaction and a mother responds. It refers to the process in which a behaviour is responded to with a corresponding action. Responding appropriately helps to form an attachment.
What does. Learning theory suggest about attachment?
Attachments are learned through classical conditioning whereby an infant forms an attachment with the person who feeds them.
Food —pleasure
Primary caregiver +food —>. Pleasure
Primary caregiver —> pleassure
How does operant conditioning link to attachment?
It explains why babies cry for food. Crying leads to a response from the caregiver often in the form of food and when the correct response is produced, the crying is reinforced.
Explain attachment as a secondary drive.
Hunger is a primary drive as it is a biological motivator. This means the caregiver who provides the food becomes associated with them so attachment becomes a secondary drive.
A strength of learning theory
Newer learning theory. It suggests that parents teach children to love them by modelling attachment behaviours. They also reward children with approval when they display their own attachment behaviours.as a result of their interactions, babies may have learned behaviours. This fits with research on the importance of interactional synchrony and reciprocity.
One limitation of learning theory
Research against the use of food a the basis for attachment.in animal studies, geese maintained attachment no matter who fed them and monkeys preferred a. Soft cloth mother over the one that fed them. Babies develop attachment to their others even though other people feed them. These studies show food is nota key element meaning there is no unconditioned stimulus or primary drive.
Another limitation of learning theory.
It ingnores other factors linked to attachment. For example, the quality of attachment is associated with reciprocity and interactional synchrony. Other research suggests it is formed with carers who are sensitive to infants signals and respond to the appropriately. F an attachment was due to feeding, these interactions would have no purpose.
How have attachments evolved?
The ability to form an attachment is innate. Attachment behaviours have evolved through. Natural selection because it aids survival. For example, maintaining proximity means your more likely to survive
Why are social releases?
The innate infant behaviours such as smiling or crying which cause a PCG to respond. Babies are born with a set of cute behaviours to encourage attention from adults. Those who respond sensitively help to create a secure internal working model.
