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
