Test 3_Attachment Flashcards
Attachment
An affectual and enduring bond between the infant and some significant individual.
Imprinting
Observed in precocial animals (ducks, geese).
Animal bonds to mother, usually within 24-48 hours after birth.
Baby tends to follow mother
When mature, exhibits mating rituals towards similar characteristcs.
The more energy expended during the imprinting, the greater the bond.
Human Imprinting
Possible stimuli: heart beat, smell, voice, facial features
Generally, no evidence for Human Infants imprinting on Human Mothers
Mothers imprinting on Infants?
Mothers do show certain preferences and tendencies in their behavior towards infants, but does not seem to be as dramatic as imprinting.
Instead, the attachment seems to be longer process involving the development of synchronous behaviors and emotional bonding in humans (and altricial animals).
Two dimensions of attachment
The Need for Closeness
Contact Comfort / warmth & support
The Wish to Explore
Desire to gather information and learn / curiosity
Bowlby’s Phases of Attachment
Indiscriminant Sociability
Attachment-in-the-Making
Clear-Cut Attachment: Infant/ Caretaker
Goal-Corrected Partnership
Bowlby’s Phases of Attachment 1) Indiscriminant Sociability
Birth to 6-weeks
Infant:
Responds positively to variety of stimuli based on physical features
Contour, Contrast, Movement
Human Face is attractive because it is high in these characteristics
Caretaker:
Responds to the smiling and other responses of the infant
Begins to develop synchronous behaviors.
Bowlby’s Phases of Attachment 2) Attachment-in-the-Making
6-weeks to 6/8 months
Infant:
Discriminates between people and objects… preferring people
Signaling: Greeting and Proximity Maintaining Behaviors
Clear recognition of caretaker
Caretaker:
Responds infant signaling
Further development of synchronous behaviors.
Bowlby’s Phases of Attachment 3) Clear-Cut Attachment: Infant/ Caretaker
6/8 months to 18/24 months
Infant:
Increased mobility
Active initiation of interaction with caretaker
“true attachment”
Discrimination between primary, secondary, subsidiary caretakers, and strangers
Uses caretaker as base from which to explore
Caretaker
Balance achieved in interactions
Strong synchronous behaviors.
Bowlby’s Phases of Attachment 3b) Clear-Cut Attachment, Anxieties
Stranger Anxiety Predominant 6–12 months Apprehension expressed towards strangers (range from neutral to negative response) Related to predictability Related to caretaker responding
Separation Anxiety Predominant 12–18 months Upset when caretaker leaves… Protest, Despair, Detachment Related to predictability Related to object permanence
Bowlby’s Phases of Attachment: 4) Goal-Corrected Partnership
18/24 months +
Infant:
Infers and predicts caretaker’s behavior
Develops a plan to adjust caretaker behavior according to infant’s desires
Strong preference for primary caretaker
Caretaker
Responds to infant’s advances
May adjust own behavior in response to infant
Strong synchronous behaviors continue
how can you tell who is the primary care taker?
a clear preference for them is shown during times of stress. The primary caretaker can always soothe the infant. The secondary caretaker can usually soothe the infant unless the primary is present. A subsidiary can usually soothe the infant, but not if the primary or secondary are present
Strange Situation
Developed by Mary Ainsworth, is a procedure for measuring the quality of attachment between 1 and 2 years of age. It involves short separations from and reunions with the parent. This takes eight short episodes in which brief seperation occurs.
From Strange situation, Secure Attachment
Developed by Mary Ainsworth 66% of North American infants Use parent as secure base May or may not cry when separated Prefer parent over stranger At reunion, seek contact and comfort
From Strange situation, Avoidant Attachment
Developed by Mary Ainsworth 15-20% of North American infants Unresponsive to parent when present Not usually distressed on separation React to stranger in same way as parent At reunion, avoid or slow to great parent Fail to cling
From Strange situation, Resistant Attachment
Developed by Mary Ainsworth
10-15% of North American infants
Seeks closeness to parents and fails to explore before separation
Upon return, angry, resistant, hitting and pushing
Not easily comforted
From Strange situation, Disorganized/Disoriented Attachment
Developed by Mary Ainsworth 5-10% or North American infants Pattern of greatest insecurity Variety of confused, contradictory behavior Dazed facial expression
Can have multiple primary caretakers
Yes
What is a fathers usual role?
Fathers often a second primary caretaker… but
Often acts more like “playmate” whereas mother is more likely to be “caretaker”. Play is a vital context in which fathers build secure attachments.
Can siblings also serve as primary caretakers?
Yes
What is quality of attachment in infancy is related to?
cognitive and social development in early childhood
Can a child bounce back from adversity?
A child whose parental caregiving improves or who has compensating affectual ties outside the immediate family can bounce back from adversity.
Is intermittent or continuous maintained longer?
Intermittent, because it only happens some times so they wont quit as fast
self-regulation
Emerges as the pre frontal cortex develops and as caregivers sensitively assist infants in adjusting their emotional reactions. With motor, cognitive, and language development and warm parental guidance, children acquire more effective self-regulation strategies. Children who experience negative emotion intensely find it harder to inhibit feelings and shift attention away from disturbing news.
social referencing
seeking emotional information from care givers in uncertain situations. By the middle of the second year, toddlers realize that others emotional reactions may differ from their own.
development of empathy
As toddlers develop self-awareness, they begin to empathize. During childhood and adolescence, gains in language, emotional understanding, and perspective taking support an increase empathy.
Empathy motivates
prosocial/altruistic behavior
Functional approach to emotional development
Emphasizes that the broad function of emotions is to energize behavior aimed at attaining personal goals. Emotions are central in cognitive processing, social behavior, and physical health. Gradually, children gain voluntary control over their emotions.
Temperament
early appearing, stable individual differences in re-activity and self-regulation.
Temperament: easy child
40 percent, quickly establishes regular routines in infancy is generally cheerful, and adapts to new experiences
Temperament: difficult to warm up child
10 percent has irregular daily routines, is slow to accept new experiences, and tends to react negatively and intensely
Temperament: slow-to-warm up child
in inactive, shows mild, low-key reactions to environmental stimuli, is negative in mood, and adjusts slowly to new experiences
New York Longitudinal Study
temperament can increase a child’s chances of experiencing psychological problems or protect a child from the negative effects of a negative home life
Thomas and Chess
parenting practices can modify children’s temperament considerably
Emotional changes during the first 6 months
Basic emotions generally become clear, well-organized signals. Happiness strengthens the parent-child bond and reflects and promotes motor and cognitive bond and reflects and promotes motor and cognitive mastery.
When does the social smile appear
6 to 10 weeks
When does laughter appear
3 to 4 months
When does anger and fear appear
increase from the second half of the first year into the second year, as infants cognitive and motor capacities improve
When do self conscious emotions (guilt, shame, embarrassment, envy and pride) occur
toddlerhood provides the foundation for these. With age these emotions become more internally governed.
