Attachement Flashcards
A close emotional relationship between two people, characterized by mutual affection and desire to maintain proximity
Attachment
Person. The father of attachment - studies the importance of attachment, and children growing up in orphanages who had trouble forming friendships = the idea of attachment theory. They aren’t something nice we form, they are key to social and emotional development
John Bowlby
- Asocial Phase(0-6 weeks)- rudimentary smile 2. Phase of Indiscriminate Attachment (6wks-6mo) - enjoy attention from just about anyone 3. Specific Attachment Phase (7-9 mo) - protest when separated from one individual 4. Phase of Multiple Attachments (weeks after stage 3) attached to other key caregivers in their lives (dad, babysitter)
Stages of Attachment - Shaffer and Emerson, 1964
Attachment theory - Infants are attracted to those who satisfy oral needs (feeding is usually done by mom), feeding forms the attachment relationship
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Testing to see if Freud’s psychoanalytic theory (feeding forms attachment) was correct. Used monkeys and wire/cloth mothers. The baby monkey went to their cloth mother always, spent 17-18 hours on her daily, only 1 hour on wire mother. Findings: contact comfort is KEY in forming attachment. (orphanage children have problems because of this)
Henry Harlow’s Empirical Research in Psychoanalytic Theory
Attachment Theory - Rewardingness leads to love. Classical conditioning: the environment influences our behavior. Mom/caregiver is associated with pleasurable situations, they become the secondary reinforcer, the baby loves mom because she gives affection, food, dry diapers, soothing
Learning Theory of Attachment
Attachment Theory. Piaget. To love you, I must know that you will be there. Must know who their caregiver is (have developed schemas), and object permanence, Mom won’t disappear on me, they haven’t poof-ed into the void. These two skills are necessary for attachment theories
Cognitive Development Theory
Attachment Theory. John Bowlby. Predominate theory explaining why we attach. “Perhaps I was born to relate and love” All species are born with innate behavioral tendencies that contribute to survival of the species. Attachment is adaptive - helps with survival to protect babies and ensure needs are met
John Bowlby’s Ethological Theory
Cute features (elitcit positive reactions from caregivers, encourage caregivers to continue to take care of them) Inborn, reflexive responses (sucking, grabbing, smiling, which reinforces caregiving) Adults are biologically predisposed to care (can’t ignore a baby’s cry) Adults are PREPARED to form attachment, but they need to LEARN to respond appropriately
Biological Factors/influcences on Attachment - Ethological Theory
Person. Student of John Bowlby, believed children do not all have the same attachment relationship with their caregivers. Wanted to a assess different attachment styles, created a new measurement strategy: strange situation. This is one of the most widely used paradigms in developmental psych
Mary Ainsworth
Measuring Attachment strategy: Series of separations and reunions between the child, caregiver, and a stranger. Mom and baby play, stranger comes and sits in the room, stranger tries to play with the child, mom leaves and child is alone, mom comes back, stranger leaves. Then, mom leaves, child is left alone, then the stranger comes to soothe, mom comes back. Look at how baby responds, MA argues that it is universal/cross cultural. Four attachment styles are found
Strange Situation
Strange Situation: Attachment Style. Upset when mom leaves happily greets her when she returns, increase proximity. Calms down quickly with contact from the mother. Seek physical contact with her because she was gone
Secure Attachment
Strange Situation: Attachment Style. Stay close to mom, does not explore mom, very upset when she leaves (to the point of hyperventilating) ambivalent upon return - stays close but acts angry and resists physical contact. Due to parent’s distanced behavior towards them
Resistant/Preoccupied [insecure]
Strange Situation: Attachment Style. Little distress when mom leaves, ignores mom when she returns - little engagement but pushes toys away. Cannot use contact to soothe: mother has been unavailable when the child has needed comfort. May be sociable with strangers.
Avoidant/Anxious [insecure]
Strange Situation: Attachment Style. Confused about whether to approach or avoid caregiver, dazed, freeze, no idea what they should be doing. Usually the result of abuse parenting (sensitive parent when they’re sober, but abusive when drunk, child avoids triggering)
Disorganized/Disoriented/Fearful [insecure]
