attachment

what is attachment

the study of the deep and enduring emotional bond that forms between individuals. particularly between infants and their primary caregiver

when an infant is attached what 3 behaviours are displayed

1. seeking proximity

2. distress on separation and pleasure when reunited

3. secure base behaviour

what was Lorenz's aim

to investigate the mechanism of imprinting

what was Lorenz method

-split a clutch of goose eggs into two samples
-one naturally hatched with their mother being the first moving object they saw. whereas the other half hatched artifuically in an icubator with Lorenz being the first moving object they saw
-he marked the goslings and recorded their behaviour (who they followed)
-he varied the time between birth and seeing moving object in order to measure the critical period

what did Lorenz find

-natural group followed mother, incubator group followed him. even when mixed up
-critical period of 4-25 hrs
-later tried to mate with humans

what were Lorenz conclusions

-there is a critical period of attachment
-imprinting is irreversible
-impriiniting provides a template for future behaviour, particularly mating

what was Harlow and Harlows aim

to determine whether food or close comfort was the important factor in attachment

what was harlow and Harlows method

-removed 16 rhesus baby monkeys from mother
-placed in a cage with two surrogate mothers (wire and cloth). they either dispensed food or not
-he measured;

1. the amount of time spent with each monkey
2. time feeding
   3, mother preference doing stress (mechanical monster)

what was harlow and harlows result

-monekys preferred contact with the cloth mother, regardless if she dispensed milk or not
-monkeys with only wire mother showed signs of stress
-when frightened - sought comfort from cloth mother
-severe consequences in adulthood: agressive, antisocial behaviour, bred less, neglected young and killed in some cases

what were harlow and Harlows conclusions

-comfort more important than food. preferred cloth mother. comfort is more important for attachment than nourishment
-long term effects of attachment deprivation, highlighting the importance of healthy emotional and social development

what did green say

-on a biological level, at least, all mammals have the Brians structure as humans
-only difference relates to size and number of connections. more appropriate to generalise harlow and Harlows

what is one weakness of the animal studies into attachment

-whethewr we can generalise to humans
-less appropriate to generalise Lorenz findings as imprinting is much less complex than the attachment mechanism for humans
-greens reaserch makes it easier to generalise
-neither sample are human, can be argued that we cannot appropriatley generalise either regardless of similarities

another weakensss of the animal studies into attachment

-questioned on numerous ethical grounds
-argued - animals dont have the right to be researched on. couldn't give consent etc. pursuit of academic conclusions doesnt make it appropriate
-however, would be impossible to carry it out on humans and have useful real life applications, for example neglect among infants in social work
-cost benefit analysis of harm was benefit to human understanding of attachment

strenght of the animal studies into attachment

-can still generalise with useful conclusions
-lorenz's critical period laid the foundations for bowlbys reaserch which has been revolutionary. bowlbvy claimed the critical period for attachment in humans is 2.5 yrs and faiulture to attach can have serious LT consequences
-simailey, Harlows reaserch showed us the consequences of early childhood neglect - influenced the internal working model
-therefore huge significance to understanding human attachment

is learning theory nature or nurture

nurture

is bowlbys montropic theory nature or nurture

primarily nature with a bit of nurture

what is nurture

a behavioural explanation of attachment, where it can be explained using the concepts of classical and operant conditioning

what is nature

evolutionary explanation of attachment based on the work of Lorenz and harlow. refers to it as an innate system which is biological programmed into babies from birth

what does learning theory do in relation to attachment

looks at how behaviours are learned through experience, through how infants learn new behaviours through adapting to their environment.

NS, UCS, UCR, CS, CR in pavlova study

NS - bell
UCS - food
UCR - dog salivating
CS - bell
CR - salivating without the presence of food

NS, UCS, UCR, CS, CR in attachment

NS - mother
UCS - milk
UCR - satisfaction/ pleasure
CS - feeder/ mother
UCR - pleasure stimulated through the association of the feeder

what are primary reinforcers. give an example in infants

any stimulus that satisfy primary drives (hunger, sex etc). in infants the primary drive would be hunger and the primary reinforcer would be milk

what becomes the secondary reinforcer in infants

the feeder who provides the primary reinforcer - mother.

why does the infant seek to be with its caregiver

the infant seeks to be with the person who provides food as they are a source of rewrd which builds an attachment bond

what is positive reinforcement

adding a desirable or pleasant consequence after a behaviour in order to increase the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated

what is negative reinforcement

preventing an unpleasant or undesirable consequence after the desired behaviour is exhbited in order to increace the likelihood of it being repeated

what is punishment

adding an unpleasant or undesirable consequences after an undesired behaviour is exhibited in order to reduce the chance of it being repeated.

example of positive reinforcement in attachment amoung infants

infant cries - caregiver provides food. infant will be likely to repeat this behaviour

example of negative reinforcement in attachment amoung infants

infant crying - undesirable - so caregiver provides the food to stop the crying.

what is a weakness of learning theory of attachment

-reasearch into animal attachment challenges its claims
-suggests that humans and animals attach to aim to be close to whoever feeds them. harlow found that the monkeys were more likely to attach to the cloth mother even when it didn't provide food. comfort is so significant
-in Lorens geese study they remained imprinted regardless of who fed them
-these actively negate the claims afreesed bin learning theory suggesting that it is wrong or much more multifaceted

another weakensss of learning theory of attachment

-oversimplisitc or reductionist
-explaining attachment througha stimulus response association or reinforcement fails to take into account more intricate aspects of attachment bond
-Isabella suggests that the main factor effecting attachment is how sensitive a caregiver is to their baby needsrathet than simple provisions. suggesting repsonviness is key
-incomplete explanation, doesnt take into account parental sensitivity and the impact of attachment

strenght of leant ring theory

-takes a nuanced appaorced into the roots of attachment development
-doesnt place an overalisase on the nurture datable. it does claim that attachment takes place as a result of envuormental factors
-howerver, it indewntfies the notion of a primary drive and social relasers which perpetuates the notion of innate drives that the infant posses
-this allows for a more mulitfacted approach that is interactionalist

what does CRIIMPS stand for

CR - critical period
I - internal working model
I - innate programming
M - monotophy
P - proximity
S - social relasers

what is the critical period

hypothesised to be 0-2.5 yrs. essential to have developed by 4. there will be detrimental consequences to the Childs ability to form relationships later in life if an attachment bond hasn't formed

what is innate programming

suggests that attachment is innate and biologically programmed into babies from brith to help them survive

what is internal working model

suggests that the montoropic bind forms a mental representation/framework of what relationships are like which effects the quality of relationships with peers and partners and children later in life.

what can internal working models be

-positve or negative
-theose that are securely attach will form positive internal working models allowing them to socially and emotionally competent and from strong bonds later in life

what is monotrophy

the notion that infants have one special emotional bond where the relationship is stronger and more important

what is proximity seeking

babies are biologically programmed to attach through their instinct to seek proximity to their principle carer to protect them from hazards

what are social realeasers

innate mechanism of babies that lead adults wanting to provide care and comfort. e.g crying, giggling and physical characteristics that elicit caring

what is a strnght of montopric theory

-reaserch support - particularly from animals
-harlwos study coorbabtates may concepts present. mostly that the monkeys were unable to form successful bonds later in life suggesting a poor internal working model
-increaces validity of monotoptic theory as it showcases concepts in a real life setting

what is a weakness of the montipioc theory

-socially sensitive as it has negative implication on mothers
-bowbly suggests that a baby needs constant care from the mother for healthy social development - which increaced soicetial pressures on mothers to be sole caregiver
-erica burman suggests that montophy was a terrible burden of reposnsiblity on mothers ands pushes them into a certain lifestyle, regardless of that good subsister care does not have an effect on healthy social development
-creates an inaccurate and stereotypical ideas

what is another strength of bowl by

-incorpates both innate and nurture based reasoning
-less simplified and determisntic
-provides a basis of conditioned that an attachment bind is formed upon

what was ainsworths aim

to assess the security of an infant's attachment behaviour in an unfamiliar situation

what was ainsworths investigation and who did it observe

-controlled observation - not an experiment

• American infants aged between 12 and 18 months

what 4 behaviours of the infant were observed

-level of exploration (secure base behaviour)
-stranger anxiety
-seperation anxiety
-reuinon behaviour

outline stage 1 out of the 8 stages

-30 secs
-infant, caregiver, researcher
-reasercher brings caregiver and infant into the room and then leaves

outline stage 2 out of the 8 stages

-3 mins
-infant and caregiver
-caregiver sits and infant is free to explore the room
-secure base beahvior and exploration

outline stage 3 out of the 8 stages

-3 mins
-infant, caregiver, stranger
-stranger walks into the room, talks to the caregiver and tries to interact with the infant, caregiver leaves the room
-seperation anxiety

outline stage 4 out of the 8 stages

-3 mins
-infant, stranger
-stanger tries to interact with the infant
-stranger anxiety

outline stage 5 out of the 8 stages

-3 mins
-infant, stranger
-stranger leaves as caregiver returns. at the end of this stage the caregiver leaves
-reunion behaviour

outline stage 6 out of the 8 stages

-3 mins
-infant
-infant alone in room
-speration anxiety

outline stage 7 out of the 8 stages

• 3mins
  -infant, stranger
  -stranger returns and tries to interact with infant
  -stranger anxiety

outline stage 8 out of the 8 stages

• 3mins
  -infant, caregiver
  -caregiver returns and interacts with infant, stranger leaves
  -reunion behaviour

what were the characteristics and percentage of secure attachment

1. willingness to explore using secure base beahvior
2. high stranger anxiety
3. some separation anxiety but can be soothed
4. enthusiastic reunion with caregiver
5. harmonious and cooperative relationship
6. 66%

what were the charachtersitics of insecure avoidant attachment

1. high willingness to explore independently from caregiver
2. low stranger anxiety
3. little/no seperation anxiety
4. avoids contact with caregiver on reunion
5. avoids contact and intimacy with others and treats caregiver similarly
6. 22%

what were the charachtersitics of insecure resistant attachment

1. low willingness to explore
2. high stranger anxiety
3. very high seperation anxiety
4. seeks and rejects reunion from caregiver
5. both seeks and rejects intimacy and social interaction
6. 12%

what did ainswoth and bell conclude from the strange situation

-attachemtent behaviour can be categorised into three broad types
-awcure attachment is the most common and the prefferecd type of attachment in North America and Ainsworth and bell argues that is can be linked to deathly emotional and social development later in a Childs life.
-they claimed that the mothers beahvior toward the infant created the type off attachment the child displayed

what is one strength of ainsowrth and bells strange situation

-strong inter rate reliability
-different observers watch the same children with 49% inter rate reliability
-strngthes the support for the attachment type classification note being baed on reaseefch bias
-numerous studies have reported similar findings - replicable and reliable

strange istuion is terms of ecological validity

-some argued child and mother are in an unfamiliar playroom and mother is aware that they are being observed - questions to ecological validity of findings.
-however vaughn and waters compared the beahvior from at home and showed that the children displayed the same attachment types in both
-suggests findings posses ecological valitidity and reflect actual attachment

disadvantage in terms of culture

-stranage isutaiton baded in america, culture bound assement tool
-in different cultures children and caregivers may reason differently to the eight stages therefore may not be valid

• takahsi, japanse mothers are rarely operated from their children sp high levels of seperation anxiety. German children encouraged to be independent.
  -means that the stance situation may only be a truly valid test of atathcmenty in culottes that have similar child rearing paretics than american and otherwise inoccret condluiosn may be drawn

disafdanavtge

may be just testing temperament and not mothers sensitivity towards could which is genetically caused therefore concept of attachment is not really being measured

what is the main purpose of looking at attachment behaviours around the world

observing whether attachment is innate and biological (nature) or as a result of culture and upbringing (nurture). if it is as a result of nature we would find very similar attachment behaviours around the world (universality) whereas if It was a result of nature we would expect to see large differences

what was van ljzedoorn and kroonenbergs aim and method

aimed to investigate whether attachment styles differ between cultures
did this by conducting an a meta anyliss of 32 studies of strange situation type experiments across 8 different countries including western and non western cultures

how many out of 32 were us studies

18

what wrre van ljzedoorn and kroonenbergs findings

-secure attachment was the most common across all nations
-in western cultures dominant insecure was avoidant
-in non Western cultures dominant insecure was resistant
-variations within cultures was 1.5 times greater than out of cultures

what did van ljezdoorn and krooneberg conclude

-secure being most common suggests that there might be potentially innate ahchteristics of infant attachment
-the variations in insecure suggests culture must play some part
-indicatr that is may not be accurate to believe we can draw conclusions about one culture due to the presence of sub -cultures that differ in child rearing practices

what is a strnght of research into cultural variations in attachment

-they mostly use the strange situation observation as a reaserch tool
-found to have high inter rate reality rate (bick) 94%
-highly standardised and way to replicate
-as an a meta anywise the individual studies may not be exact replications of each other but with such a high inter rate relibilyt we can be cojnfident in correctly observed infant attachment types

what is a weakness of reaserhc into cultural variations of attachment

-strtange situation is ethnocentric as it was designed by an american to asses attachment but based on America ideals of attachment behaviour
-rothbaum - explored how japanese and american mothers differed in mother cild attachment; e.g calling out for nap time
-this means findings and insight of van ljexedoorn lack external validity

what is another weakness of reaserhc into cultural variations of attachment

-lack population validity
-27/32 were conducted in western cultures. no African countries
-mesman et al found in rural Kenya expressed sensitive reposnding motor physically than verbally
-sugegsts isn't a true cross culture study and so needs to be taken into consideration when making conclusions from findings

what is maternal deprivation

when a bond has formed in the crucial period but there is prolonged separation from mother with no substitute caregiver amounting to loss in motherly care

what was bowlbys maternal deprivation hypothesis

-child must have a warm, intimate and continuous relationship with their mother.
-breaking maternal bonds with the child during early years of life is likely to have serious effects
-if prolonged operation occurs within critical period the effects of well being are particlayl serve although the child is at risk up to 5 (sensitive period)

what is the law of accumulated separation

any seperation from the mother, no matter how brief, contributes to an overall negative effect. these effects are permeant and irreversible.

what are the four long term effects of maternal deprivation

1. intellectual - risk of low iq or struggle acdemically
2. emotional - risk of behaviour disorders/ trouble with school or police
3. social - poor internal working model so trouble forming friendships with others
4. affectionless psychopathy - particularly behaviour disorder categorised by a lack of remorse

what was bolwbys aim and method for the 44 thieves study

-aimed to investigate the relationship between early prolonged seperation from mothers and the devlopment of emotionless psychopathy amoung children
-collected a sample of 88 children refefgred to child guidance clinic
-44 thieves and 44 other behaviour issues (control)
-diagnnoed affection less psychopathy amount the children and took examinations of children's history for early and prolonged separation from mother

results of bowlbys 44 thieves study

thieves group:
-16 out of 44 were diagnosed
-86% out of those diagnosed had experienced early and prolonged separation from mother
control group:
-non of children were diagnosed
-4% experienced prolonged and early separation from mother

what did bowl by conclude form his 44 thieves study

-early and prolonged operation from mothers is strongly associated with development of affectionless psychopathy amoung children
-speration is likely a causal factor

what did spitz reaserch

-visted serval orphanages in South America
-children in these orphanages received very little warmth or attention from the staff and had become apathetic
-many suffered from depression due to lack of emotional care and long term seperation from others

what did rutter claim as a weakness of bowlbys study

-confused deprivation and privation in his reaserch
-claims bowl by never made a distinction between the two and it wasn't clear whether the 44 thieves ever actually formed an attachment to a maternal figure or not
-44 thieves had experiences several changes in caregivers in their early childhood leading rutter to believe that the problems were asa result of privation rather than deprivation and the same for spitz
-long term severe damage should be associated with privation rather than deprivation and questions validity of bowlbys entire hypothesis

what is a weakness - hilda lewis

-various pieces of reaserch that provide contradictonatry evidence
-hilda lewes - smaller scale - 500 young people
-found in her sample of prolonged seperation that it did predict criminality or difficulty forming close relationships
-hugelu weeks the support for the theory of maternal deprivation because it suggests other fats like the mothers emotional stability may be more of a cause of issues than deprivation

strenght of bobbles maternal deprivation hyptioehsis

-lead to real world application that has ad an enormous impact of child rearing practices and a social change on how children are cared for in hospital
-aprents used to not be able to stay for infection control however his reassert showed distress for children alone in hospital
-led to changes in children's wards e.g. parent required to stay with a child and infants overnight
-lead to important and significant changes in family lives and reduced the suffering of children

what is institutionalisation

refers to living in an institutional setting such as places like hospitals or orphanages where individuals, typically infants, live for long, continuous periods of time away from a family environment often with little emotional care provided

what was the aim of Rutters ERA study

to investigate the long term effects of early instituionslisation of physical, emotional and cognitive development in Romanian children adopted by uk fmailes compared to britihs adopted children who had not experienced deprivation

what was the method that rutter used in is ERA study

• 135 Romanian children adopted before 3.5 by uk families were compared to a control group of 52 British adopted children who had not experienced deprivation
  -romanain orphans divided into two group (adopted before 6 months and after 6 months)
  -control were included to certain whether negative effects were due to separation from carers or the institutional conditions of the Romanian orphans
  -assesed on a variety of measures of physical, intellectual and cognitive functioning
• assessed at ages 4,6,11,15,22 and beyond (longitudinal)

physical findings of rutters study

Childhood
-weight - on arival 51% were in the bottom 3% of population
-height - shorter than normal
-by age 4 these physical differences were no longer apparent when compared to control (before 6 months)
adulthood:
-physcial effects of brain were much more long lasting

emotional findings of rutters study

chilhood:
-disinhibited attachment was shown in late adoptees. by age 6 many Romanian orphans showed it. by 11 50%. recovery was better for those before 6 months
long term;
-self reported emotional difficulties marked increace for young adulthood late adoptees.

coginitive findings of rutters study

childhood
IQ at age 11:
-102 for adopted early
86 for those between 6 months and two years
77 for those after 2 yrs
-adhd like traits
-quasi autism and social functioning issues
long term:
iq had returned to normal rates by adulthood but umeplyoment was higher for late adoptees

outline the conclusions of rutters ERA study

findings suggest that the age that a child was adopted and the level of eposure to institutionalisation has had an impact of recovery. those adopted before 6 months show no dignigficany problmes whereas those after 6 months do
all orphans did however improve when given good substitute care. this can be used to refute bobbles maternal deprivation hypothesis that the effects of deprivation and permeant and irreversible - deterministic

what was mackes aim and method

aimed to investigate the long term neurobiological effects of early institutional deprivation on brain volume, IQ and ADHD symptoms in original Romanian orphans
she took MRi scans of 67 of original orphans and 21 of original British opens over 30 years after start of project

what were makes results and conclusions

-foudn that romaine brains 8.6% smaller than British brain
-longer time, lager reduction. 1 month = 0.27%
-dpetrivation associated with low iq and ADHD
-therefore the length of time spent in an institution bedsore adoption significantly impacts the recovery of a child

what is a strenght of reaserch into instiruionalisation