Attachment Theories Flashcards
Caregiver-Infant Interactions-Interactions
From an early age, babies have frequent and important interactions with their care giver
Caregiver-Infant Interactions-Reciprocity
The mothers respond to the babies “alert phrases” which signal that they are ready for interaction. From 3 months, these interactions become more frequent , and the parent and baby pay close attention to each other’s facial expressions. Reciprocity occurs when each persons responds to the other, and elicits a response from them. In simple terms, one is responding to the others moves and expressions
Caregiver-Infant Interactions-Interactional Synchrony
This is when the actions of the mother and baby become synchronised. This means they are doing the same action at the same time
Caregiver-Infant Interactions-Evaluation
+Has Research Support-Isabella and Meltzoff and Moore’s studies for Interactional Synchrony
-It is hard to know what is happening when observing infants-Is imitation deliberate?
-Studies do not tell us the purpose of Synchrony and Reciprocity
+Studies are very controlled-details of observations are in-depth- increases validity
Attachment Figures-Parent-Infant Attachment
This attachment was traditionally between mother and infant. But other attachments (secondary attachments), normally to the father, are important too
Attachment Figures-The Role of The Father
Grossmann’s research found that the quality of the fathers play is important to attachment. The father is seen as a play figure, while the mother is the caring figure
Attachment Figures-Fathers as Primary Caregivers
According to research, the Father acts and takes the responsibility as the mother primary caregiver. This suggests that the gender of the parent does not attach attachment
Attachment Figures-Evalaution
- Inconstant Finding on Fathers- Some fathers are secondary caregivers, overs are Primary caregivers- asks the question “what is the role of the father”
- If Fathers has a distinct role, why are children without fathers not different- Fathers secondary role is not important
Schaffer’ s stages of Attachment-Asocial Stage
The baby shows similar behaviour towards objects and humans are similar. They show preference to familiar humans who comfort them
Schaffer’ s stages of Attachment-Indiscriminate Attachment
From 2-7 months, they show a preference towards humans than objects. They accept cuddles from any human and they don’t show stranger and separation anxiety
Schaffer’ s stages of Attachment-Specific Attachment
From around 7 months, they start to show anxiety towards strangers and experience separation anxiety when separated from the biological mother (normally). This person is their primary attachment figure
Schaffer’ s stages of Attachment-Multiple Attachments
At this stage, they start to build an attachment to adults who they spend time with. These people are known as secondary attachment
Schaffer’ s stages of Attachment-Evaluation
- Problems with asocial stage-Fully based on observations of babies
- Conflicting evidence on multiple attachments-Some research says that multiple attachments are formed first
- Difficult to measure multiple attachments-Difficult to distinguish between babies behaviours
Harlow’ s materially deprived monkeys as adults
The monkeys who were reared with the iron maiden grew up dysfunction, and those reared with the soft cloth monkey did not develop normally. These monkeys were more aggressive, and bred less than others. As mothers, these monkeys neglected their young and others attached their children
Explanations of Attachment-Learning Theory-Classical Conditioning
Food creates a feeling of pleasure in the baby. Food is US, Pleasure is UR. The mother is the NS. When the mother feeds the baby, it feels pleasure. Over time, this association continues unfilled the mother (now the CS) creates a feeling of pleasure (now the CR)
