Role of the Father and Ainsworth strange situation Flashcards
What are examples of research to suggest fathers are not important as attachment figures
- Bowlby stated the monotropy had to be a female. He also said ‘Fathers should provide an economic rather than emotional bond’
- Shaffer and Emerson. In stage 3 (specific attachment)
. 65% of children the first specific attachment was the mother
. Only 3% of fathers were attached too - Biological factors - Hormones
. Oestrogen = associated with caring behaviour
. Oxytocin = ‘bonding hormone’ released during childbirth and breastfeeding (associated with emotional connection)
What are the examples of research to suggest that fathers are important as attachment figures
- Shaffer and Emerson - During stage 4 (multiple attachment)
. 75% of children form an attachment with the father by 18 months
. Fathers who show sensitivity to the infant are more likely to develop secure attachments - Father as play mate - Many psychologists have said fathers serve a different purpose as the playmate
. Lamb (1987) - when children are happy they prefer the attachment with there dad when they want to play. But when children are upset/ill they prefer their mums attachment to care for them
What changed social norms link to the role of the father and what do they show
- Rise in feminism - Feminisation of the economy
- Increased opportunities for women (more women in paid work and education) - less women at home
- Changing role of men (Decline in traditional labour industry) - more men taking on roles in the home
- Changes in laws/ polices re maternity/paternity pay - split more equally
- Many children in Nursery provisions as both parents work2
What is the conclusion of the role of the father
Bowlby and Shaffer + Emerson are outdated
the role of the father is important but only secondary
What did Ainsworth come up with and what was Ainsworth’s aim
Ainsworth came up with the 3 types of attachment
Aim : To be able to observe key attachment behaviour as a means of assessing the quality of a child’s attachment type
What was Ainsworth’s procedure
The strange situation is a controlled observation. Designed to measure the security of attachment a child with display towards their care giver.
It takes place in a controlled setting
(e.g. Laboratory) with a 2 way mirror and video footage through which psychologists can examine behaviour.
The procedure consisted of 8 episodes lasting 3 minutes each designed to highlight a certain behaviour in secure infants such as - secure base behaviour
- Proximity seeking
- Stranger and separation anxiety
What was Ainsworth’s sample like
White middle class American babies and their mothers
How is the Data from Ainsworth’s study collected
Collected by a group of observers (to test inter-observer reliability) they record what the infant is doing every 15 seconds (Time sample) using behavioural categories .
What were the 8 episodes in Ainsworth’s study and what were they testing for
1- Parent and infant play in an unfamiliar setting (test for nothing)
2 - Parent sits while the infant plays (Use of parent as secure base)
3 - A stranger enters and talks to parent (stranger anxiety)
4- Parent leaves, Infant is alone with stranger, Stranger offers comfort if needed (separation anxiety)
5 - Parent renters the room and greets infant and offers comfort if needed, Stranger leaves (Reunion behaviour)
6 - The parent leaves the infant alone (separation anxiety)
7 - The Stranger enters and offer comfort (stranger anxiety)
8 - The parent renters, greets the infant and offers comfort (reunion behaviour)
What are Ainsworth’s types of Attachment
- Secure (type B)
- Unsecure avoidant (Type A)
- Unsecure resistant (Type C)
What happens in secure attachment when:
- Mother is present (secure base)
- Mother leaves (separation anxiety)
- Stranger enters (Stranger anxiety)
- Mother returns (Reunion behaviour)
And how many infants are secure
- Mother is present (secure base) = Mum was used as safe base
- Mother leaves (separation anxiety) = Moderate distress
- Stranger enters (stranger anxiety) = Moderate distress
- Mother returns (reunion behaviour) = Infant is enthusiastic to accept comfort
66% of infants were secure
What happens in Unsecure avoidant attachment when
- Mother is present (secure base)
- Mother leaves (separation anxiety)
- Stranger enters (Stranger anxiety)
- Mother returns (Reunion behaviour)
And how many infants are unsecure avoidant
- Mother is present (secure base) = Doesn’t seek proximity
- Mother leaves (separation anxiety) = Low stress
- Stranger enters (Stranger anxiety) = Low stress
- Mother returns (Reunion behaviour) = ‘indifferent’ so do not need/seek comfort]
22% of infants were unsecure avoidant
What happens in Unsecure resistant when
- Mother is present (secure base)
- Mother leaves (separation anxiety)
- Stranger enters (Stranger anxiety)
- Mother returns (Reunion behaviour)
And how many infants are unsecure resistant
- Mother is present (secure base) = infant seeks high proximity e.g. no exploration of surroundings
- Mother leaves (Separation anxiety) = High separation anxiety
- Stranger enters (Stranger anxiety) = High stranger anxiety
- Mother returns (reunion behaviour) = seeks comfort then resists
(resentful they have been left)
12% of infants were shown to be unsecure resistant
