Attachment-Infant-Caregiver Interactions

Definition of Attachment

Attachment can be defined as a close two-way bond between an infant and a caregiver that is essential for emotional security. 

Characteristics- Proximity- Staying physically close to the attachment figure. 

Separation distress- Signs of distress are portrayed when the attachment figure leaves. 

Secure-Base- When exploring and playing the attachment figure is always returned to. 

Reciprocity

An interaction is reciprocal when each person responds to the other and elicits a response from them.

Three months- The interaction is frequent and involves attention to each other verbal and facial expressions.  

Tradational views of childhood has seen the baby in a passive role but now the baby takes an active role.

Both mother and child take turns in initiating interaction and response. 

Interactional Synchrony -The temporal co-ordination of mircro-level social behaviour. 

Mother and Infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other and do this in a co-ordinated way. 

Synchrony means carrying something out at the same time. 

Meltzoff and Moore- Observed interactional synchrony and found an association between the expressions of the caregiver and the action of the baby. 

Interactional synchony is important for the quality of infant-caregiver attachment. Isabella et al assessed the degree of synchrony and also the quality of mother-infant attachment. They found that the higher the levels of synchrony, the better the quality of mother-infant attachment. 

Attachment Figures

Traditionally we think of attachement in terms of mother-infant. 

Schaffer and Emerson study shows that babies become attached to their mother first and father second. Within a few weeks/months secondary attachments were formed. Including the father. 

Role of Father

Longitudinal study to observe and find out the father's role in child development. Showed that quality of attachment with the mother was more important in the quality of attachment in adolescence but not fathers. Father attachement is not as important. The quality of father's play is related to the quality of attachment in adolescense. Father's play a different role in attachment -play and stimulation.