Attachment

Created by: sydneyjones
Created on: 22-05-18 09:36

Reciprocity

Reciprocity is a form of interaction between infant and caregiver involving mutual responsiveness, with both parties being able to produce response from each other.

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Reciprocity evaluation

Meltzoff & Moore (1997) who demonstrated that babies as young as 12-27 days would attempt to imitate facial and physical gestures.

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Interactional synchrony

Interactional synchrony is form of rhythmic interaction between infant and caregiver involving mutual focus, reciprocity and mirroring of emotion or behavior. Infants coordinate their actions with caregivers in a kind of conversation.

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Asocial stage of attachment (0-6 weeks)

Very young infants are asocial in that many kinds of stimuli, both social and non-social, produce a favourable reaction, such as a smile.

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Indiscriminate attachments (6 weeks-7 months)

Infants indiscriminately enjoy human company and most babies respond equally to any caregiver. They get upset when an individual ceases to interact with them.

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Specific attachment (7-9 months)

Special preference for a single attachment figure. The baby looks to particular people for security, comfort and protection. It shows fear of strangers (stranger fear) and unhappiness when separated from a special person (separation anxiety).

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Multiple attachment (10 months+)

The baby becomes increasingly independent and forms several attachments. By 18 months the majority of infants have form multiple attachments.

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Role of the father

There is now an expectation in Western cultures that the father should play a greater role in bringing up children than was previously the case. Fathers adopt a more play-mate role than mothers.

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Role of the father evaluation

Geiger (1996) fathers interactions more exciting, mother more affectionate and nurturing

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Lorenz imprinting

Imprinting occurs without any feeding taking place. If no attachment has developed within 32 hours it’s unlikely any attachment will ever develop.

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Learning theory

Attachment is a learned behavior that is acquired through both classical and operant conditioning.

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Harlow monkey studies

Harlow concluded that “contact comfort” (provided by the cloth mother) was more important than food in the formation of attachment.

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Monotropy

A child has an innate (i.e. inborn) need to attach to one main attachment figure. This is called monotropy. This concept of monotropy suggests that there is one relationship which is more important than all the rest.

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Monotropy evaluation

+ universal, Ainsworth ganda tribes - overemphasised Parke different attachements different benefits

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Bowlby's monotropic theory

Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment suggests attachment is important for a child’s survival. Attachment behaviors in both babies and their caregivers have evolved through natural selection.

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Critical period

This theory also suggests that there is a critical period for developing at attachment (about 0 - 2.5 years). If an attachment has not developed during this time period then it may well not happen at all.

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Internal working model

A person’s interaction with others is guided by memories and expectations from their internal model which influence and help evaluate their contact with others.

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Childhood relationships Internal working model

when we form our primary attachment we also make a mental representation of what a relationship is which we then use for all other relationships in the future

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Adult relationships Internal working model

People tend to base their parenting style on the internal working model so attachment type tends to be passed on through generations of a family. There will be continuity between early attachment experiences and later relationships.

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Secure resistant attachment

Infants are upset when left alone by the mother.Infants are happy when mother returns and seek contact with the mother.Infants avoid the stranger when alone, but friendly when the mother is present.

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Insecure avoidant

Infants are unconcerned by mother’s absence when she leaves the room.Infants shows little interest when they are reunited with the mother.

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Insecure resistant

infants are clingy to their mother in a new situation and are not willing to explore. they are extremely distressed when left alone by their mother.when the mother returns they are pleased to see her but then cannot be comforted by her

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Schafer and Emerson attachment types

The results provide some support for Schaffer’s stages of attachment and suggest that attachment develops through a series of stages across the first year of life. + high external validity - lacks population validity - social desirability

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Internal working model evaluation

Hazan and shaver love quiz Early attachments do affect later, romantic attachments.

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Cultural variations Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg

secure attachment was the majority of infants (70%). The lowest percentage of secure attachments was shown in China, and the highest in Great Britain.

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Cultural variations evaluation

+ standardised methodology - not golbally representative - misleading results 18/32 American

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Maternal deprivation

Aggression, Delinquency, Dwarfism, Intellectual retardation, Depression, Dependency, Affectionless Psychopathy, Social maladjustment.

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Maternal deprivation evaluation

+ Practical studies 44 thieves - investigator effects bowlby made himself

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Romanian orphan studies

Those who were adopted by British families before 6 months old showed ‘normal’ emotional development compared with UK children adopted at the same age. Many adopted after 6 months old showed disinhibited attachments

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Romanian orphan studies evaluation

+ real life application, better care in institutions - confounding variables trauma - lack of generalisability

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