Attachment introduction

attachment

A close emotional relationship between two people, characterised by mutual affection and a desire to maintain proximity

Maccoby (1980) 4 characteristics of attachment:

1. Seeking proximity to primary care giver
2. Distress on separation
3. Pleasure when reunited
4. General orientation of behaviour towards PCG

bond

Set of feelings that ties one person to another

bond example

parents often feel strongly about their newborn baby

Communication meaning

interactions between infant and PCG serve to develop and maintain an attachment between them

communication between infant and PCG

rich and complex and occurs in many ways even though the infant cannot talk

Bodily contact

Physical interactions between carer and infant help to form the attachment bond, especially in the period immediately after birth

mimicking

Infants seem to have an innate ability to imitate a carers' facial expressions, which suggests it is a biological device to aid the formation of attachments

Caregiverese

Adults use a modified form of vocal language that is high-pitched, song-like, slow and repetitive

caregiverese function

aids communication between carer and infant and serves to strengthen the attachment bond

Intersectional synchrony

Mother and infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other and do so in a co-ordinated way, move in a similar pattern

Reciprocity

Interactions result in mutual behaviour, both mother and infant being able to respond to each other's signals and elicits a response from each other

recirpocity function

fortify attachment bond

Mimicking: meltzoff and Moore (1977)

Babies between 12 and 21 days old were filmed as they watched an experimenter pull a range of expressions

Interactional synchrony: Isabella et al (1989) supports or challenges

supported the idea that interactional synchrony reinforced attachment bonds

Interactional synchrony: Isabella et al (1989) findings

infants with secure attachments demonstrated more evidence of said behaviour during their first years of life

Interactional synchrony: Isabella et al (1989) evaluation

Le Vine et al reported that Kenyan mothers have little physical contact and interactions yet still have a high proportion of secure attachments

Pre-attachment phase

birth to 3 months, from 6 weeks of age = infants become attracted to other humans preferring them to objects and events (demonstrated through infants smiling at people's faces)

Indiscriminate attachment phase

3 to 7-8 months, infants begin to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar people, smiling more at known people, though they will allow strangers to handle and look after them

Discriminate attachment phase

7/8 months onwards, infants begin to develop specific attachments, staying close to particular people and becoming distressed when separated from them

Multiple attachments phase

9 months onwards, infants form strong emotional ties with other major caregivers, like grand parents, and non-caregivers, like other children, the fear of strangers weakens, but attachment to the mother figure remains the strongest

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) study

investigating when attachments begin and how intense

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) procedure

measured separation protest and stranger anxiety in 60 Glaswegian infants regularly until 1 year old and then at 18 months (classic longitudianal study)

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) findings support for specific attachment

50% specific attachment 6-8 months, fear of strangers a month later

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) findings challenge Bowlby monotropy

65% the first specific attachment = mother. In 39% the person who fed/bathed/changed infant was not PCG but still the main attachment object.

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) findings multiple attachments

18 months 87% had at least 2 attachments, 31% had 5 or more.

Evaluation of Schaffer and Emerson

S and E's stage theory is generally correct, has external validity -bias and inaccuracy as data collected by direct observation or interviews with mother, all pps were from the same culture and social class

Bushnell, SAI, MULLIN (1989) challenge Schaffer and Emerson

presented 2 day old babies photos of their mothers and a stranger, babies showed preference for their mothers

Rutter (1995)

proposed a model of multiple attachments that saw all attachments as of equal importance forming a child's internal working model

role of the father

less as a caregiver more of a playmate

4 factors affecting father-child relationship

1. degree of sensitivity
2. type of attachment with own parents
3. marital intimacy
4. supportive co-parenting

Geiger (1996) - role of the father

fathers play is more exciting and pleasurable than mothers

Lamb (1987) - role of the father

children often prefer interacting with their father when in a positive emotional state

Geiger (1996) - role of the mother

mothers are more nurturing and affectionate than fathers

Lamb (1987) - role of the mother

mothers are preferred by infants when they're distressed and seeking comfort

Hrdy (1999) - role of the father

reported that fathers are less able than mothers ro detect low levels of infant distress

Lamb (1987) - sensitive responsiveness

fathers who became PCGs were able to quickly develop more sensitivity to children's needs, sensitive responsiveness is not a biological ability limited to women

children with secure attachments to their father:

have better relationships with peers, less problem behaviours and are able to regulate their emotions

Children without fathers:

do less well in school and have higher levels of risk taking and aggression (especially in boys)

fathers are important for mothers too:

supportive fathers provide mothers with time away from childcare, reduce stress in mothers, improves self-esteem and quality of mother-children relationship

fathers who spend more time with children:

form more secure attachments

Pederson (1979)

most studies on the effects of no father focus on single mothers from poor socio-economic backgrounds (social factors)