10/10 Lecture -Psyc 2101

Attachment Theory

  • Distress and Caregiver Interaction

    • Infants in distress often allow caregivers to approach and pick them up.

    • Upset at caregiver's departure but soothed upon return.

    • Avoidant Attachment

    • Avoid reliance on caregivers for security.

    • Low proximity seeking; do not maintain contact.

    • High avoidance; actively avoid the caregiver when they return.

    • Indifferent to the caregiver, showing little emotional response.

  • Other Attachment Styles

    • Ambivalent/Resistant Attachment

    • Infants desire proximity but resist contact when caregiver returns.

    • Show mixed emotions, upset at separation, yet resist being picked up upon reunion.

    • Disorganized/Disoriented Attachment

    • Anomalous behavior indicative of inability to form a coherent strategy to deal with stress or affection from caregivers.

Mary Ainsworth's Study

  • Ainsworth’s comparison of caregiver interactions regarding attachment types focuses on:

    • Secure Attachment: Caregivers are sensitive and responsive to the infant's needs (observed in 1950s).

    • Caregivers engage actively, recognize infant moods.

    • Provide feeding on demand rather than timed schedules.

    • Emotional synchrony in interactions; they match the child’s emotional states during interactions.

    • Research highlights that Avoidantly Attached Infants often are subjected to caregivers who fail to respond sensitively to their needs.

    • Important note: Parenting impacts attachment beyond maternal roles; fathers and other caregivers also play a crucial role.

Role of Fathers and Other Caregivers in Attachment

  • Fathers’ Contributions

    • Expressions of nurturance from fathers have significant impacts on social and emotional well-being.

    • Different psychological disorders have associations more closely linked to father behavior than commonly assumed.

  • Multiple Attachments

    • Infants often form relationships with multiple caregivers (grandparents, etc.).

    • By 18 months, many infants display multiple strong attachments.

Infant Social Interaction

  • Infants respond positively to the presence of peers.

    • Exhibit smiles, laughs, and vocalizations toward other infants.

    • Display preference for interactions with children over objects.

    • Engage in early social interactions that foster friendships.

Personality and Temperament

  • Personality Defined: The combination of enduring characteristics making individuals unique; shaped early in life by temperament.

  • Temperament: Patterns of emotional response and energy level; modifiable by environmental factors.

    • Early manifestations of personality are tied to responsiveness and reactivity in infants.

    • Dimensions defining temperament:

    • Activity Level

    • Approach or Withdrawal

    • Quality of Mood

    • Distractibility

    • Rhythmicity

    • Threshold of Responsiveness

  • Types of Temperament

    • Easy Babies (40%): Generally positive, regular in needs, and adaptable to new situations.

    • Difficult Babies (10%): Negative mood, resistant to change, and slow to adapt.

    • Slow to Warm Up Babies (15%): Initially withdrawn, but adapt to new experiences over time.

Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Development Stages

  • Two stages relevant to infancy are:

    • Trust vs. Mistrust (0-18 months): Infants learn to trust caregivers depending on how well needs are met; the outcome is hope or difficulty in forming bonds.

    • Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (18 months-3 years): Toddlers seek independence; success leads to autonomy, failure causes shame and doubt in their abilities.

Gender Differences in Attachment and Socialization

  • Impact of Gender on Parenting

    • There are societal expectations influencing how boys and girls are treated differently regarding toys, clothing, and interactions during development.

    • Supportive evidence for varying approaches in response; males often encouraged to be adventurous, while females might receive more protective responses.

Family Life Dynamics

  • Changes in family structures over the past three decades:

    • Increased number of single-parent families; only 64% of children live with two married parents.

    • Shrinking average family size (2.5 children).

    • Growth in adolescent parents (6.7 births per 1,000 women aged 15-17).

Infant Care Outside the Home

  • 66% of children between 4 months and 3 years experience non-parental care.

  • Effects of childcare on development:

    • High-quality childcare leads to various developmental benefits with negligible attachment differences compared to parental care.

    • Children in non-parental care may also show good problem-solving and social skills due to early educational experiences.

Growth Patterns in Early Childhood

  • Growth rate slows after the age of 2:

    • Average height at 2 years is 3 feet; average weight around 28 pounds.

    • By age 6, the average height is approx. 46 inches and weight around 46 pounds.

Nutrition and Health Impacts on Growth

  • Access to better nutrition and healthcare plays a pivotal role in children's physical development. In developing countries, stunted growth is noted due to inadequate resources.