A level - Attachment
- Created by: Make7M
- Created on: 06-03-18 18:57
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- Attachment
- Close emotional bond between 2 individuals, which see each other as essential for their own emotional security
- Caregiver-infant interactions
- Reciprocity
- Response to each others signals (take turns)
- From birth, babies and carers spend time through intense and pleasurable interactions
- Babies have periodic 'alert phases', signal they are ready for interaction
- Feldman and Eidelman (2007) Mothers pick up on 2/3 of these alerts
- Babies have periodic 'alert phases', signal they are ready for interaction
- At 3 months becomes more frequent, requiring close attention to verbal signs and facial expressions
- Traditionally babies have a 'passive role' (receiving care), however they have an 'active role' (can initiate interactions, and take turns)
- Brazleton (1975) descirbes as 'dance' as each partner responds to each others moves
- Traditionally babies have a 'passive role' (receiving care), however they have an 'active role' (can initiate interactions, and take turns)
- Interactional synchrony
- Meltzoff and Moore (1977) observed interactional synchrony in babies as young as 2 weeks
- Adult displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions, child's response was filmed and identified by independent observers, association found between adults expression and babies response
- Reflect the actions and emotions of one another in a synchronised way (same time)
- Isabella (1989) observed 30 mothers and babies together, assessing degree of synchrony, and assessed quality of mother-infant attachement
- Higher level of synchrony associated with better mother infant attachment
- Meltzoff and Moore (1977) observed interactional synchrony in babies as young as 2 weeks
- Helps create attachment
- Evaluation
- Controleld procedures, both filmed
- Behaviour recorded in detail, to be later analysed
- Ensures validity
- Behaviour recorded in detail, to be later analysed
- Difficult to understand what the baby means by these interactions
- Cannot tell if the imitation is deliberate or not
- Therefore not certain that interactions have a special meaning
- Cannot tell if the imitation is deliberate or not
- Observations do not tell us the purpose of synchrony and reciprocity
- Able to observe and define these terms reliably, but this is not useful as it does not tell us their purpose
- However there is evidence that they are helpful in the development of an attachment
- Able to observe and define these terms reliably, but this is not useful as it does not tell us their purpose
- Unethical, socially sensitive
- Isabella found high level of synchrony associated with better quality mother infant attachment
- Some mothers may be considered a 'bad mother', or made feel guilty for returning to work
- Isabella found high level of synchrony associated with better quality mother infant attachment
- Controleld procedures, both filmed
- Reciprocity
- Schaffer's stages of attachment
- Schaffer and Emerson (1964) aimed to investigate formation of early attachments, age they developed, emotional intensity and who directed at
- 31 male 29 female (60 babies) Glasgow, mostly skilled working families
- Visited at home, every month for a year, then at 18 months
- Questions asked about babies separation and stranger anxiety, to measure attachment
- Visited at home, every month for a year, then at 18 months
- Babies 25-32 weeks old, 50% showed separation anxiety, usually towards mother (specific attachment)
- Caregiver most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and facial expressions
- At 40 weeks, 80% had specific attachment, 30% displayed multiple attachment
- Caregiver most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and facial expressions
- Asocial stage (first few weeks)
- Indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)
- Specific attachment (from 7 months)
- Multiple attachment (by age 1)
- After they show attachment to one person, they extend this to other adults
- Referred to as 'Secondary attachment'
- In study only 29% had secondary attachment within a month of forming a primary (specific) attachment
- Referred to as 'Secondary attachment'
- After they show attachment to one person, they extend this to other adults
- Majority display stranger or separation anxiety
- Specific attachment formed with 'primary attachment figure'
- Person who shows most intimacy (not spends most time)
- Specific attachment formed with 'primary attachment figure'
- Multiple attachment (by age 1)
- Display more observable social behaviour
- Do not usually show stranger or separation anxiety
- Attachment is 'indiscriminate' not directed toward any 1 person
- Do not usually show stranger or separation anxiety
- Specific attachment (from 7 months)
- Recognise and form bonds with carers
- Behaviour towards inanimate objects and humans is similar
- Preference for familiar adults (more easily calmed)
- Behaviour towards inanimate objects and humans is similar
- Evaluation
- Conflicting evidence
- Not clear when multiple attachment formed
- Bowlby (1969) states babies form attachment to single main carer before they become capable of developing multiple attachments
- Especially in collectivist cultures, where multiple attachments are the norm
- Bowlby (1969) states babies form attachment to single main carer before they become capable of developing multiple attachments
- Not clear when multiple attachment formed
- Measuring attachment
- Just because a baby gets distressed when an individual leaves the room, does not mean the individual is a 'true' attachment figure
- Bowlby (1969) identified that children have playmates as well as attachment figures, they may get distressed when they leave, does not signify attachment
- Their observations do not let us distinguish between behaviour showed towards attachment figures and playmates
- Bowlby (1969) identified that children have playmates as well as attachment figures, they may get distressed when they leave, does not signify attachment
- Just because a baby gets distressed when an individual leaves the room, does not mean the individual is a 'true' attachment figure
- Problem studying asocial stage
- The first few weeks of life described as 'asocial stage', although important interactions take place in those weeks
- Young babies have poor coordination (immobile) therefore difficult to make any judgments based on observations of their behaviour
- Therefore evidence cannot be relied on
- Young babies have poor coordination (immobile) therefore difficult to make any judgments based on observations of their behaviour
- The first few weeks of life described as 'asocial stage', although important interactions take place in those weeks
- Conflicting evidence
- Indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)
- Evaluation
- Strength - carried out longitudinally
- Children were followed-up and observed regularly
- Internal validity, no confounding variable of individual differences
- Children were followed-up and observed regularly
- Good external validity
- Carried out in the families own home
- Children were observed by their parents,and then reported to the observers, behaviour more naturally occuring
- Carried out in the families own home
- Limited sample
- From same location, social class and carried out 50 years ago
- Child-rearing (bringing up) practices vary from one culture to another and over time, therefore cannot be generalised
- From same location, social class and carried out 50 years ago
- Strength - carried out longitudinally
- Multiple attachments and Role of the father
- Less likely to be primary attachment
- Not psychologically equipped - lack emotional sensitivity that women offer
- Oestrogen responsible for caring behaviour in mothers
- Sex stereotypes affect male behaviour, it is seen as feminine to be sensitive to the need of others
- Oestrogen responsible for caring behaviour in mothers
- Not psychologically equipped - lack emotional sensitivity that women offer
- Evidence for the role of the father
- Grossman (2002) carried out longitudinal study, looking at parents behaviour and its correlation to quality of child attachment in their teens
- Found father not related to childs attachment in adolescence
- However, quality of play related to father - suggested fathers have different role - play and simulation
- Found father not related to childs attachment in adolescence
- Field (1989) Filmed face-to-face interactions between 4 month old babies and primary care-giver mothers, secondary care-giver fathers, and primary care-giver fathers
- Primary fathers, like mothers - spend more time smiling, imitating and holding babies
- Fathers can be more nurturing, key is level of responsiveness not gender
- Fathers can be primary caregivers, taking the usual roles of the mother
- Primary fathers, like mothers - spend more time smiling, imitating and holding babies
- Grossman (2002) carried out longitudinal study, looking at parents behaviour and its correlation to quality of child attachment in their teens
- Less likely to be primary attachment
- Animal studies
- Harlow's importance of comfort contact
- Observed, that newborns left in a cage usually died left alone, unless given soft cloth to cuddle
- Tested idea that soft objects aid the role of a mother
- Reared 16 baby monkeys, with two wire model 'mothers'
- In one condition, milk was dispensed by a plain wire mother, in the second condition milk was dispensed from a cloth-covered mother
- Found that monkeys preferred the cloth mother, even if it did not dispense milk
- Shows, comfort contact more important to monkeys than food
- Found that monkeys preferred the cloth mother, even if it did not dispense milk
- In one condition, milk was dispensed by a plain wire mother, in the second condition milk was dispensed from a cloth-covered mother
- Reared 16 baby monkeys, with two wire model 'mothers'
- Maternally deprived monkeys as adults
- Followed monkeys who had been deprived of a 'real' mother into adulthood, to see if it had a permanent effect
- Found that monkeys reared only with a wire mother were most dysfunctional, more aggressive, less sociable, bred less. As mothers, they neglected their young, some attacked their young and others even killed them
- Followed monkeys who had been deprived of a 'real' mother into adulthood, to see if it had a permanent effect
- Concluded a critical period, a mother figure had to be introduced within 90 days for an attachment for form
- After this time, damage done by early deprivation was irreversible
- Evaluation
- Research more valuable, used monkeys, more biologically similar
- Applications - help social workers understand risk factors of child neglect and abuse, so they may intervene to prevent it
- Howe (1998) Information can also be sued to understand importance of proper attachment figures for baby monkeys in zoos
- Unethical - 16 baby monkeys had permanent effects, not protected from harm, no right to withdraw
- Important research, believes attachment formed through CC, baby associates mum with food and pleasure
- Loren'z imprinting
- Randomly divided a clutch of goose eggs
- Half hatched with mother (natural environment), the other half hatched in an incubator, were the first moving object they saw was Lorenz
- Each group followed their 'parent', when mixed up together they continued to follow their 'parent'
- Found, depending on the species, they have a critical period of a few hrs after birth
- If imprinting did not occur during that time, they will not attach themselves to a mother figure
- Found, depending on the species, they have a critical period of a few hrs after birth
- Each group followed their 'parent', when mixed up together they continued to follow their 'parent'
- Half hatched with mother (natural environment), the other half hatched in an incubator, were the first moving object they saw was Lorenz
- Sexual imprinting
- Also found, birds that imprinted on a human would later display courtship towards humans
- Case study, peacock reared in reptile house in zoo, first thing they saw as they hatched was tortoises
- Evaluation
- Differences in attachments between birds and mammals, mammalian mothers show more emotional attachment to young
- Therefore cannot generalise research to humans
- Lorenz's observations have been questioned, 'imprinting has permanent effect on mating behaviour'
- Guiton (1966) found, chicks that imprint on yellow washing up gloves, would try to mate with them, but with experience they learnt to prefer maiting with other chickens
- Not permanent, reduces validity
- Guiton (1966) found, chicks that imprint on yellow washing up gloves, would try to mate with them, but with experience they learnt to prefer maiting with other chickens
- Differences in attachments between birds and mammals, mammalian mothers show more emotional attachment to young
- Randomly divided a clutch of goose eggs
- Ethical and practical reasons
- Harlow's importance of comfort contact
- Explanations to attachment
- Bowlby's Theory
- Evolutionary explanation, survival advantage, attachment ensures young stay close to care givers protecting them from harm
- Adaptive - survival, protection, food, warmth
- Social Releasers - unlock innate tendency to want to look after something 'cute'
- Critical Period - time frame for an attachment to be formed (2 years) before permanent psychologia effects occur
- Monotropy - one primary attachment (usually mother) responds best to baby's signals
- Internal Working Model - current relationship with parents determines future relationships
- Monotropy - one primary attachment (usually mother) responds best to baby's signals
- Critical Period - time frame for an attachment to be formed (2 years) before permanent psychologia effects occur
- Social Releasers - unlock innate tendency to want to look after something 'cute'
- Evaluation
- Schaffer and Emerson's research contradicts monotropy
- Found babies form a primary attachment, and 30% had a secondary attachment shortly after
- Lorenz's research supports critical period
- Found goslings have a critical period of a few hrs
- However, cant generalise to humans
- Found goslings have a critical period of a few hrs
- Monotropy socially sensitive
- Caregiver considered as bad parent, made feel guilty
- Father made feel bad, as cant make attachment
- Caregiver considered as bad parent, made feel guilty
- Schaffer and Emerson's research contradicts monotropy
- Learning theory
- CC - learning through association
- UCS Food
- NS Mother
- UCS Food + NS Mother
- CS Mother
- CR Baby happy
- UCS Baby hapcy
- CS Mother
- No response
- UCS Food + NS Mother
- UCR Baby happy
- NS Mother
- UCS Food
- OC - learnt through consequences
- Dollard and Miller (1950) explained attachment through OC and drive reduction theory
- A 'drive' - something that motivates certain behaviour to reduce discomfort (crying = mom giving food)
- Behaviour that leads to drive reduction = positive reinforcement, therefore more likely to repeat behaviour as it is rewarding
- A 'drive' - something that motivates certain behaviour to reduce discomfort (crying = mom giving food)
- Food = primary reinforcer, as it reduces drive
- Child associates food supplier with drive reduction, parent = secondary reinforcer
- Attachment is formed as they seek the person who supplies the food
- Child associates food supplier with drive reduction, parent = secondary reinforcer
- Dollard and Miller (1950) explained attachment through OC and drive reduction theory
- Evaluation
- Harlow's research contradicts theory
- As monkeys preferred the cloth mother, even if it did not dispense milk
- Therefore does not fully explain attachment
- As monkeys preferred the cloth mother, even if it did not dispense milk
- Theory based on animal research
- Behaviorists believe animals have same basic processes as those in humans
- Also use high control and lab settings
- However, there are ethical concerns, and there is a risk that they are measuring stress
- Also use high control and lab settings
- Behaviorists believe animals have same basic processes as those in humans
- Humans have empathy and emotional characteristics unlike other animals
- Therefore we have to infer on their behaviour through obervations, this is mechanisitc, meaning less reliable
- Harlow's research contradicts theory
- CC - learning through association
- Bowlby's Theory
- Measuring attachment
- Strange Situation by Mary Ainsworth (1969) assess quality of child's attachment to a caregiver
- Psychologist observerved infants through a two-way mirror
- Infants were judged on:
- Proximity seeking
- Exploration and secure-base behaviour
- Stranger anxiety
- Separation anxiety
- Response to reunion
- Separation anxiety
- Stranger anxiety
- Exploration and secure-base behaviour
- Proximity seeking
- 1. Child encouraged to explore
- 2. Stranger enters and attempts to interact with child
- 3. Caregiver leaves, leaving child with stranger
- 4. Caregiver returns, stranger leaves
- 5. Caregiver leaves, child alone
- 6. Stranger returns
- 7. Caregiver returns
- 6. Stranger returns
- 5. Caregiver leaves, child alone
- 4. Caregiver returns, stranger leaves
- 3. Caregiver leaves, leaving child with stranger
- 2. Stranger enters and attempts to interact with child
- Secure
- Insecure avoidant
- Insecure resistant
- Insecure avoidant
- Evaluation
- Cultural variations
- Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg
- Simonella (2014)
- Jin (2012)
- Evaluation
- Strange Situation by Mary Ainsworth (1969) assess quality of child's attachment to a caregiver
- Bowlbys Theory of maternal deprivation
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