Factors and Effects of Attachment

Grandparents as primary caregivers in skipped- generation families forge

significant attachment relationships with grandchildren.

Infants form a hierarchy of attachment that includes

________primary and secondary attachment figures ordered in strength of preference.

Secure attachment in the first year of life provides

________an important foundation for psychological development later in life.

Caregivers consistently available to

respond to infants needs not immediacy but consistency

Babies develop attachments to

a variety of familiar people, including fathers, grandfathers, siblings, caregivers

Research has found that the proportion of infants classified by the
Strange Situation as having a secure attachment

does not differ very much by country

What is more likely to differ across cultures is

the proportion of infants in the different categories of insecure attachment.

Risk factors:

Health Issues (Prematurity, birth complications, and newborn
illness )
Maternity Leave, Inadequate childcare
Family circumstances (stress, parental well-being, PPD)
Socio-economic factors & financial stress

Factors that affect attachment security:

Early availability of a consistent caregiver
Quality of caregiving: Sensitive caregiving and Proximal care, in cultures that emphasize
interdependence

Caregiver sensitivity and responsiveness at the core of

secure and healthy attachment

New life circumstances can change relationships

 Parental hospitalization or death
 Decreased quality of mother–child interaction
 Decreased marital satisfaction
 Increase in maternal depression

children usually continue to behave in ways that cause

their later relationships to replicate their earlier ones

Securely attached children are more

joyful, curious, competent, empathic, resilient, and self-confident

Securely attached children interact more

positively with parents, preschool teachers, and peers.

Securely attached children are better able to

resolve conflicts.

Insecurely attached children show more

fear, distress, anger

Much emphasis is on maternal attachment, however,

babies can and do develop secure attachment to other close individuals and caregivers

Parent does not need to be

“perfect” to have secure attachment

Caregivers should often let their babies have

an active part in determining the onset and pacing of interaction in the first year.

Infant temperament also plays a role in

the dyadic relationship (involves two individuals)

Rather than looking only at the parents or only at the baby, researchers are increasingly looking at

how the characteristics and behaviors of the parents and the baby shape each other over time.

A substantial body of research has shown that mothers are more likely to respond positively to their babies when they have

1. Good social support, especially when caring for a difficult infant

2. A positive relationship with their partner

3. Adequate economic resources

4. Good psychological health (for example, lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, or higher levels of life satisfaction)

5. A history of good care in their own childhood

Paternal sensitive, stimulating play with infants is associated with

favorable emotional and social adjustment