Attachment Flashcards
1
Q
Definition of attachment
A
A two-way, enduring, emotional tie to a specific other person
2
Q
Reciprocity
A
Infant and caregiver are BOTH ACTIVE CONTRIBUTORS in the interaction and are RESPONDING to each other.
3
Q
Interactional synchrony
A
The infant and caregiver’s behaviours and emotions are synchronised because they are moving in the same or similar pattern.
4
Q
Isabella et al- Research Support of Interactional synchrony and Reciprocity
A
-30 mothers and infants watched and assessed on their degree of synchrony. -Mother-infant pairs who had shown more instances of IS were significantly more likely to be securely-attached.
5
Q
Research Support of IS & R: Meltzoff and Moore
A
-Infants as young as 3 days imitate the facial expression of adults. -Implies ability to mirror is an innate behaviour.
6
Q
Le Vine et al- limitation of care-giver infant interactions
A
-Kenyan mothers have little physical contact with their infants. -these infants do have a high proportion of secure attachments.
7
Q
limitations of cavegiver- infant interactions (Interactional synchrony and reciprocity) (2)
A
- difficulty interpreting from the infants point of view- dont tell us whether the behaviour and interaction has a special meaning (Le vine et al). - findings are mainly correlational meaning they cannot be taken as evidence that the secure attachment is a direct result of these behaviours
8
Q
What are the strengths of Interactional synchrony and Reciprocity? (3 cases, 1 point)
A
- Condon and Sander 2. Isabella et al. 3. Meltzoff and Moore. 4. Practical application- music therapists recognise the importance of R & IS in their therapeutic work
9
Q
Condon and Sander- research support for Interactional synchrony
A
babies would coordinate their actions in time with adult speech, taking turns to ‘contribute’ to the conversation- babies would move in time with the rhythm of the convo, in a subtle form of turn taking
10
Q
what are the stages of attachment as identified by ….?
A
Schaffer: - pre- attachment stage, - indiscriminate attachment stage, - discriminate attachment stage, - multiple attachment stage
11
Q
strengths of the stages of attachment as identified by Schaffer
A
- high level of mundane realism as families were visited in their own home
12
Q
limitation of stages of attachment as identified by Schaffer
A
lack of cultural and temporal validity, human childrearing cultures are variable (van ljzendoorn)
13
Q
Pre-attachment stage (birth-3 months)
A
-From 6 weeks, infants become attracted to other humans, prefer them to objects and events. -Demonstrated by smiling at people’s faces.
14
Q
Indiscriminate attachment stage (3-7/8 months)
A
-Infants begin to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar people. -Smile more at known people. -Allow strangers to look after them.
15
Q
Discriminate attachment stage (7-8 months onwards)
A
-Infants begin to develop specific attachments, stay close to particular people, distressed when separated. -Protest and avoid strangers.
16
Q
Multiple attachment stage (9 months onward)
A
-Infants form strong emotional ties with other major caregivers, e.g. grandparents. -Fear of strangers weakens, mother figure remains strongest attachment.
17
Q
Bowlby & multiple attachments…
A
-Infants form ONE primary attachment, any other attachment are of secondary importance. -Bowlby’s theory of montropy. (one main attachment forms IWM of the child, and influence them in later life)
18
Q
Rutter & multiple attachments…
A
-All attachments are of equal importance, come together to form the child’s IWM
19
Q
Fathers as playmates
A
-HARDY reported that fathers are less able than mothers to detect low levels of infant diseases. -GEIGER found that father’s play interactions are more exciting and pleasurable than mother’s while mother’s are more nurturing and affectionate.
20
Q
Geiger- fathers as playmates
A
found that father’s play interactions are more exciting and pleasurable than mother’s while mother’s are more nurturing and affectionate.
21
Q
hardy- fathers as playmates
A
reported that fathers are less able than mothers to detect low levels of infant diseases.
22
Q
Fathers as caregivers
A
-LAMB found that fathers who become main care providers seem able to quickly develop greater sensitivity to children’s needs.
23
Q
Lamb- fathers as caregivers
A
fathers who become main care providers seem able to quickly develop greater sensitivity to children’s needs.
24
Q
the greater the sensitivity of the father…
A
…the more secure the attachment.
25
Single-parent fathers' attachment with their children are most influenced by what?
Their attachment with their parents.
26
Married fathers' attachments with their children are strongly influenced by what two factors?
-Higher levels of marital intimacy. -More supportive co-parenting.
27
Children with secure attachments to their fathers go on to have...
...better relationships with peers, less problem behaviours and are more able to regulate their emotions.
28
Children who grow up without fathers have often been seen to...
...do less well at school and have higher levels of risk taking and aggression, especially in boys.
29
How do supportive fathers help mothers?
They provide them with much needed time away from childcare to help reduce stress, improve self-esteem and improve the quality of a mother's relationship with her children.
30
Research into development of attachment
Schaffer and Emerson
31
Schaffer and Emerson procedure
-60 newborns and their mothers, working class, Glasgow. -Longitudinal study, carried out over a long period of time, ppts were studied in their own home for each month of the first year and then again at 18 months.
32
Schaffer&E, which two research methods were used?
-Naturalistic observation. -Self-report.
33
In what 2 ways is attachment measured?
-Separation protest. -Stranger anxiety
34
S&E conclusion 1. Separation protest was first shown at 6-8 months and stranger anxiety one month later
1. There is a pattern of attachment formation common to all infants, which suggests the process is biologically controlled
35
S&E conclusion 2. Strongly attached infants had caregivers who were quicker to respond and interacted with the infants more
Attachments are more easily made with those who display sensitive responsiveness, recognising and responding appropriately to an infant's needs, rather than those spending the most time with a child
36
S&E 3. At 18 months, 87% of infants had at least 2 attachments and 31% had 5 or more
Multiple attachments are the norm and of similar quality, which opposes Bowlby's idea that attachments are a hierarchy of one prime attachment and other minor ones. There is nothing to suggest that mothering can't be shared by several people.
37
4. Attachments to different adults were of similar quality
Multiple attachments are the norm and of similar quality, which opposes Bowlby's idea that attachments are a hierarchy of one prime attachment and other minor ones. There is nothing to suggest that mothering can't be shared by several people.
38
5. For 39% of the infants, the attachment that they formed first was not to the main carer.
Attachments are more easily made with those who display sensitive responsiveness, recognising and responding appropriately to an infant's needs, rather than those spending the most time with a child
39
Lorenz imprinting procedure
-Newly hatched birds instinctively IMPRINT on the first large moving object they see, usually their mother. -Goslings divided into two groups. -One group with mum, one in incubator and Lorenz was the first moving object they would see when they hatched.
40
Lorenz. When each group hatched, who did they follow?
The mother and Lorenz.
41
What evidence was there for Lorenz's suggestion that imprinting is an innate behaviour rather than a learned behaviour?
When they were exposed to their actual mother, they still followed Lorenz - it's irreversible, and innate. - It happened too early to be learnt.
42
What evidence was there that imprinting must occur within a set time period? (Also in humans a critical period)
If the imprinting did not happen within the first 25 hours after hatching then it would not occur at all.
43
What were the four conditions in Harlow's study?
1. Wife mother with milk and cloth mother without milk. 2. Wire mother without milk and cloth mother with milk. 3. Wire mother with milk. 4. Cloth mother with milk
44
What did Harlow record?
- The amount of time spent with each mother. - The amount of feeding time. - Mother preference during stress (loud noises). - The degree of exploration when in a larger cage.
45
What did Harlow want to investigate?
He wanted to investigate which was more important to the infant monkeys contact comfort to food.
46
Harlow, In condition 1 how much time per day did the infant monkeys spend on the cloth mother?
17-18 hours
47
Harlow, In condition 1 how much time per day did the infant monkeys spend on the wire mother?
1 hour
48
Harlow, which mother did the infant monkeys run to when put in a stressful, frightening situations?
The cloth mother
49
Harlow, how did the infant monkeys behave when the wire mother was present in a large unfamiliar cage?
They weren't interested in the mother, still scared.
50
Harlow, how did the infant monkeys behave when the cloth mother was present in a large unfamiliar cage?
Comforted by the cloth mother, and confident to explore the room
51
What did Harlow conclude?
- Contact comfort is associated with lower levels of stress and willingness to explore - cc provides emotional security. - Therefore, attachment concerns emotional security more than food.
52
Harlow limitation
The study involved animals, therefore we should be cautious about making generalisations on humans.
53
What are the two main explanations of attachment?
- Learning theory. - Bowlby's monotropic theory
54
What does the learning theory suggest?
That attachment behaviour is learned through conditioning.
55
What are the two types of conditioning?
Operant and Classical
56
Classical conditioning suggests what?
That attachment behaviours are learnt through the association of the mother with food
57
How does classical conditioning work?
The process occurs when an association is formed between a stimulus in the environment that already naturally produces a response, and a neutral stimulus, so that the neutral stimulus beings about the same response.
58
What is operant conditioning?
It suggests that humans and other animals learn from the consequences of their behaviours. Behaviours which have good consequences are likely to be repeated
59
What Dollard & Miller suggest about operant conditioning?
They said that hunger is a very unpleasant, uncomfortable experience for the infant. Since infants are helpless and incapeable of alleviating the hunger themselves, the only thing they can do is cry. This causes the caregiver to bring food to the infant. The caregiver feeding the infant causes the removal of the discomfort of hunger for the infant. Therefore, for the infant, being with their carer is associated with the removal of discomfort
60
What kind of reinforcement do Dollard & Millar demonstrate?
Negative reinforcement
61
Limitations of the learning theory explanations of attachment
- Bowlby (was strongly influenced by Harlow's research) monkeys weren't attached to the mothers who fed them. - While Harlow's research was carried out on non-humans, there is further evidence against the LT from research on human infants. - Schaffer and Emerson- for 39% of the infants, the attachment that they formed first was not to the main carer. - behaviourist explanations = reductionist as they simplify attachment behaviour too much by focusing only on feeding. Biological & cognitive factors are not considered.
62
Strength of the learning theory explanations of attachment
in the 1st year, babies are fed 2000 times by a main carer so it seems likely an association would be formed
63
What did Bowlby believe?
That attachment behaviour was innate
64
Why is Bowlby's theory known as monotropic?
because he suggested that there is one main attachment that is more important than any other attachment they may make later
65
When is the critical period?
2 1/2 years
66
When did Bowlby suggest an attachment must be formed, otherwise it never will?
within the first 2 1/2 years, called the 'critical period'
67
What did Bowlby believe the purpose of attachment to be, in the short-term?
Survival of the infant
68
What did Bowlby believe that long-term purpose of attachment was? What did he call this?
to form a template for the future relationships throughout life. He suggested that the infant forms a mental model of relationships between themselves and others. he called this the 'internal working model'
69
(evaluation) How does Bowlby's theory support Lorenz's research support?
- critical period for attachment - imprinting 25h. - one main attachment - only one imprint. - innate - imprinting happens immediately and was irreversible. - IWM - goslings tried to mate with humans when they grew up
70
Give some contradictory research of Bowlby
Rutter et al, studied infants who had been abandoned or orphaned and raised in institutions in Eastern Europe prior to adoption by families in the UK or USA. They found that some of these kids were able to form attachments with their adopted parents even when they were adopted after they had reached 2 1/2 years of age. (some difficulties with other relationships however)
71
What do Rutter's findings mean for Bowlby's theory of attachment?
It contradicts the critical period of 2 1/2 years. Supports IWM, difficulty forming other relationships
72
In what ways do the animal studies we looked at earlier support the IWM?
Harlow; monkeys unable to interact with other monkeys, monkeys couldn't mother properly
73
In what ways do Schaffer and Emerson contradict Bowlby's theory of monotropy?
- Different adult attachments of similar quality, contradicts monotropic. - 1st attachment for some was not with person who spent most time with them, but who spent less time & interacted more, contradicts the person who spends most time with them. - supports innate, all children followed the same pattern, protest separation 6-8 months
74
What did Ainsworth say the three attachment types are?
- Securely attached, Insecure-avoidant and Insecure-resistant
75
Ainsworth's aim
To produce a method for assessing the quality of attachment, by placing an infant in a situation of mild stress and of novelty.
76
What was the research method used in Ainsworth's study?
controlled observation
77
Ainsworth's procedure is generally known as...?
The strange situation
78
List all 8 steps of the strange situation
1. Mother and child are introduced to the room 2. Mother and child are left alone and the child can investigate the toy. 3. A stranger enters the room and talks with the mother. The stranger gradually approaches the infant with a toy. 4. Mother leaves the child alone with the stranger, and the stranger interacts with the child. 5. Mother returns to greet and comfort the child. 6. The child is left on its own. 7. The stranger returns and tries to engage with the child. 8. Mother returns, greets and picks up the child. The stranger leaves.
79
Ainsworth, how long did each step take?
Each step, except the first one, took three minutes
80
Ainsworth, Behavioural categories were used. What does this mean?
That it was a structured observation
81
Ainsworth, what were the behavioural categories?
- Separation anxiety: the distress the infant shows when parted from attachment figures. - the infants Willingness to explore. - Stranger anxiety: an infant's response to the presence of a stranger. - Reunion behaviour: the way the caregiver is greeted on return
82
Ainsworth findings, Securely attached infants
- were generally happy to explore the unfamiliar room if their mother was present. - showed moderate distress when their mother left. - greeted her positively when she returned. - showed moderate avoidance of the stranger when the mother wasn't present (mother described as sensitive)
83
Ainsworth, what percentage of the sample was classified as securely attached?
70%
84
Ainsworth findings, Insecure-avoidant
- did not orientate to their mother while investigating the toys and room. - did not seem concerned by her absence. - showed little interest in her when she returned. - were also not very interested in the stranger (the mother sometimes ignored the infant)
85
Ainsworth, what was the percentage sample that were classified as avoidant insecure?
15%
86
Ainsworth findings, Insecure-resistant
- showed intense distress, particularly when their mother was absent. - sought contact with her when she returned but simultaneously rejected er and resisted contact. - showed this sort of ambivalent behaviour towards the stranger as well (mothers appeared to behave ambivalently towards their infants)
87
Ainsworth, what percentage of the sample was classified as resistant insecure?
15%
88
Ainsworth conclusions
- there are significant individual differences between infants in the quality of attachment. These differences can be classified into three attachment types. - this study also shows that most American children are securely attached. - there appears to be association between mother and infant attachment types, which suggests that mothers' behaviour may be important in determining attachment type. i.e. attachment depends on the warm and loving responsiveness of the caregiver. She called this the caregiver sensitivity hypothesis.
89
Strengths of Ainsworth's study
- Support for the caregiver-sensitivity hypothesis is found in other studies with larger samples. - It developed useful methodology - the SS was the first method of classification of attachment type and now the most widely used. Important to have methodology so we can then measure the effects of attachment on later behaviour. - Reliability; studies which have used the SS procedure have generally agreed on the 3 attachment types and have found that securely attached is always most common.
90
Limitations of Ainsworth's study
Low population validity, all american. Low ecological validity, very artificial, not real life. Ethical issues, shouldn't experience more than what they experience in everyday life. Attachment type classification is not a characteristic of the infant but linked to individual relationships with caregivers
91
What was Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenburg's aim?
To investigate cultural variation in attachment types through a meta-analysis of studies which had used the SS procedure in various cultures
92
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenburg's procedure
A meta-analysis was conducted which compared the findings of 32 studies that had used the SS to measure attachment and to classify the attachment relationship between mother and infant. 8 different countries, Western and non-western cultures.
93
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenburg's findings
- Secure attachment was the most common type of attachment in all 8 nations. - West Germany, 35% insecure-avoidant (high). - Japan 27% insecure-resistant (high). - Israel 29% i-r (high). - Intra-cultural differences were often greater than inter-cultural differences.
94
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenburg's conclusions
- some consistency with Ainsworth's findings of the three attachment stages suggesting that there may be universal characteristics that underpin infant and caregiver interactions. - however, the significant variations suggest a difference in the pattern of the three attachment types across cultures
95
Evaluate Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenburg's, why do we need to be cautious when interpreting the data?
different number of studies done in each country so cant really compare them
96
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenburg's further evaluation
Greater variation within cultures than between cultures, undermines cross-cultural research as it shows that it is wrong to think of one country as a specific culture, so lack validity. Universal conclusions cannot be drawn as there were many other cultures not represented in the meta-analysis
97
What does Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation explain?
What happens if this attachment is broken or never formed
98
Explain how Bowlby used the term maternal deprivation
he used it to describe the disruption of the attachment bond due to separation of an infant from it's mother. He suggested that if a child experiences prolonged separations from their attachment figure before the ages of 2 1/2 years, they are likely to suffer irreversible damage to their emotional, social and intellectual development.
99
What could cause an infant to be separated from their attachment figure?
- attachment figure dies. - AF leaves, goes to prison, works away
100
What are the short term effects of attachment disruption?
- protest, child screams, cries, protests angrily when the parent leaves, cling to parent to stop them leaving. - despair, child stops protesting and they appear calmer but upset. Child refuses others, attempts for comfort and often seems disinterested in anything. - detachment, if it continues, child will accept loss of the attachment figure, and start to engage with others. Reject caregiver on their return and show anger
101
Robertson & Robertson
they filmed and studied various children under the age of 3 during short separations. John, 17 months, stayed for 9 days in a residential nursery. The staff had little time to attend to his personal needs.
102
R&R, how did John behave over the 9 days he was in the residential nursery?
he was distressed and upset
103
R&R, how did John behave when his mother came to collect him and in the months following?
he would not accept her and struggled to get our of her arms
104
R&R, can you identify any of those behaviours as showing protest, despair or detachment?
first 9 days - distress.reject mother - detachment. Wouldnt form relationships with nurses - despair
105
What does Robertson suggest the long-term outcome might be for John? Will he recover from this experience or might it have caused irreversible damage?
If he never experienced any separations again then he might recover and not suffer serious long-term effects, but the separation had left him very vulnerable and full of anxiety
106
What are the long term effects of maternal deprivation?
- emotional development, "affectionless psychopathy" (inability to experience empathy, affection and concern for others and mornal emotions such as love and guilt. - social development, lack of internal working model, difficulty forming healthy relationships. - intellectual development, low IQ
107
Bowlby 44 juvenile thieves study findings
- 16 of the thieves were identified as ap while there were no affectionless psychopaths in the control group. - 86% of the 16 ap thieves had experienced early ad prolonged (>6 months) separations from their mothers. - only 17% of the remaining thieves and 4% of the control group had experienced such separations
108
Bowlby thieves conclusion
findings suggest a link between early separations and later social and emotional maladjustment, leads to antisocial behaviour as theft and ap.
109
Which of Harlow's findings support maternal deprivation?
Social; couldn't socialise, couldn't mother their children. Emotional; self-harmed
110
Give one criticism of Bowlby's theory of MD
Rake-Yarrow studied mothers who were severely depressed and found 55% of their chldren we Insecure attached. So, deprevation can occur without separation
111
Bowlby's findings are correlational and therefore
do not show a casual relationship between early separations and damage to e, s or i development
112
What did Quinton and Rutter find?
greater behavioural problems in samples of adolescents separated briefly from attachment figures before the age of 5 through hospitalisation, than among adolescents who weren't hospitalised
113
Define Institutionalisation
A period of time spent living away from the family home, e.g, in an orphanage, children's home or hospital. Although there may be adequate physical care provided, there would generally not be any provision of emotional care
114
What does Rutter describe privation due to institutionalisation as leading to
- dependant behaviour. - disinhibited attachment (interacts with & seeks attention from all adults equally whether familiar or a stranger). - reduced empathy. - lack of guilt. - inability to form lasting relationships. - inability to follow rules. - impaired language and social skills
115
Rutter et al orphan study aim
to assess whether loving and nurturing care could overturn the effects of privation the children had suffered in Romanian orphanages
116
orphan study procedure
- longitudinal study, 111 Romanian orphans who had suffered an extreme lack of physical and emotional care before adoption of British families. They were assessed on arrival in Britain then at 4 6 and 11
117
orphan study, what were the 3 conditions?
1. children adopted before the age of 6 months. - children adopted between 6 months and 2 years. - children adopted after 2 years
118
orphan study, what was the IV?
the age at which the child was adopted
119
orphan study, explain why this is a quasi experiment
it is something naturally occurring, cannot be manipulated by the researcher
120
orphan study, what was the DV?
how well they recover from their privation
121
orphan study, why was a control of British adopted children also assessed?
to see whether the problems are just to do with adoption
122
orphan study, findings of the initial assessment
around 50% of the Romanian orphans were delayed in cognitive functioning at initial assessment and most were underweight, the control group did not show these deficits
123
orphan study, findings of the age 4 assessment
R orphans showed improvement in physical and cognitive development. adopted before 6 months showed normal levels of development compared to uk children who were adopted at the same ages. Those adopted after 2 showed indiscriminate friendliness
124
orphan study, findings of the age 6 follow up
improvements maintained but not advanced upon. still attachment problems. 20% of such children showed normal functioning. a substantial number were securely attached, but still exhibited disinhibited attachment behaviours
125
orphan study, findings of the age 11 follow up
many showed normal levels of functioning, 50% of those showing disinhibited attachments at ages 6 were still doing so
126
evaluate orphan studies
- reliability of findings, consistent, reliable. - criticism, they weren't studied in the orphanages so we dont know which aspects of privation were most influential. - methodology, longitudinal, strength, no need for retrospective data they withness all data so accurate, limitation, attrition - high drop out rate
127
What did Bowlby believe about future relationships?
The primary attachment would be reflected in later relationships through an internal working model of relationships
128
What did Mullis et al and Laible find?
the attachment behaviours used with peers in late childhood reflect the attachment behaviours in infancy
129
Youngblade and Belsky
found that 3-5 yr old securely attached children were more curious, competent, empathetic, resilient and self confident and got along better with other children and therefore more likely to form close friendships
130
What should we see if Bowlbys belief is true?
a continuity of attachment style from infancy through to adulthood
131
limitations of continuity of attachment
- correlational so dont prove that attachment quality has a causual effect on childhood relationships- may be other factors affecting attachmentquality and later relationships
132
Definition of a bond
A bond is a set of feelings, that tie one person to another. e.g. parents often feel very strongly bonded to their new born babies. We cannot see this as its feelings
133
What are the 4 characteristics of attachment (Maccoby)
1. Seeking proximity. 2. Dissress on Separation. 3. Joy on reunion. 4. Orientation of behaviour
134
What is Feldman's definition of interactional synchrony?
The temporal coordination of micro-level of social behaviours.
135
What was Brazelton et al (1975)'s suggestion?
Suggested that the basic rhythm is an important precursour to a late communications. This regularity of an infant's signals allows a cargiver to anticipate the infants's behaviour and responce appropriately.
136
What did Feldman (2007) find?
Around 3 Months this interation (reprocity) tends to be incresingly infrequent.
137
Grossman - role of the father
Longitudinal study looking at parent’s behaviour and quality of children’s attachment into their teens. Quality of fathers’ play with infants was related to the quality of adolescent attachment, suggesting play and stimulation was an important role for fathers and not nurturing.
138
Feld (1987) - Fathers as Primany Caregivers
filmed 4-month old babies in face-to-face interaction with primary caregiver mothers, secondary caregiver fathers and primary caregiver fathers. PCF- more likely to smile, hold and imitate baby behaviours than SCF. Key to attachment is level of responsiveness not gender
139
Limitations in role of the father
1. Inconsistent findings. 2. Fathers role isn't a distinct role. 3. Why are father's not the primary attachments. 4. socially sensitive research.
140
Explanations of 1. inconsistent findings in role of the father
The researchers asked different questions so findings are not consistent
141
Explanation of 2. Fathers non distintive role in role of the fathers
Why are children without fathers any different from those with. Grossman - distinct role is to play/simulation. MacCallum and Golombox (2004) children who grew up in a single or same sex parent families do not develop any differently.
142
Explanations of 3. Fathers as primary attachments in role of the father
Fathers are not the primary cargivers as traditional gender roles. Mothers have higher levels of Oestrogen and so therefore higher levels of nurturning and Mothers are biologically pre-disposed to be the primary attachment figures.
143
Explanations of 4. Social sensitive research in the role of the father
This research suggests that children may be disadvantaged by particular child-rearing practices. Mothers who return to work quickly after giving birth, restrict the opportunity for achieving interactional synchrony. However: Kassamali and Rattani (2014) - Results revealed that maternal employment itself does not enhance or deteriorate attachment with the child. It is combinations of factors that revolve around it impact on their bond
