Week 8 - social development / attachment Flashcards
Which English psychiatrist originated attachment research
John Bowlby
what is attachment
intense, emotional relationship that is specific to two people (Kegan et al, 1978)
attachment phases
1) pre-attached
2) indiscriminate attachment
3) discriminate
4) multiple attachments
pre attachment phase
- about 6 weeks, babies develop attraction to other humans
-lasts about 3 months
-demonstrated by smiling, gurgling etc. directed to anyone
indiscriminate attachment phase
- 3 months old. infants start to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar people
- allow for strangers to still handle and look after them.
- lasts until about 7 months
discriminate attachment phase
- from 7/8 months start forming specific attachments.
- actively stay close to certain people. separation anxiety when not
- can consistently differentiate mother to other people
multiple attachment phase
- 9 months +, strong attachments made with other caregivers and other children.
- strongest attachment stays as the mother
Cupboard love (psychoanalytic approach)
- Freud, 1926. Infants become attached to caregiver because the caregiver satisfies infants needs. (food, security, oral sexual gratification) .
- unhealthy attachments occur when infants are deprived of food and oral please.
-psychoanalytic perspective stresses importance of breastfeeding and the maternal figure.
Cupboard love (Behaviourist view)
-infants become attached to those who satisfy their psychological needs.
-Infants associate their caregivers with gratification. Infants feel secure whenever the caregiver is present.
Harlow’s studies with rhesus monkeys
-challenged cupboard love theories.
-Harlow (1959) placed infant rhesus monkeys with surrogate mothers. One cage was wires with milk. the other cage was cloth but no milk. Infants spent most their time with the cloth mother even though she provided no nourishment. demonstrates importance of cloth comfort.
The ethological approach
-Lorenz (1935) goslings would follow the first moving object. Later called this imprinting. Imprinting takes place for a brief critical period in life and it can not be undone.
Bowlby’s evolutionary theory
-argued that new born human infants are entirely helpless. genetically programmed to behave towards their mother to ensure survival. mother also inherits genetic blueprint that programmes her to respond to the baby.
Bowlby’s theory critique
- infants from multiple attachments
- importance of fathers
- attachment behaviour wouldn’t have evolved if only functioned to protect the child.
Ainsworth attachment types
1) Type A - insecure avoidant
2) Type B - securely attached
3) Type C - insecure resistant
- Not all children fall into the category therefore type D = insecure/ disorganised (unusual cases)
Insecure-avoidant
-15% of children.
-ignores mother wihile playing.
-few signs of distress when mother leaves
-comforted as easily with stranger than mother. treats mother and stranger similarly
