Attachment Flashcards
(29 cards)
Define attachment
A close two-way emotional bond between individuals.
Define interactional synchrony
mother & infant reflect both the actions and emotions of each other in a coordinated way.
Define reciprocity
both infant and mother respond to each other’s signals.
Describe the role of the father
- usually secondary attachments
- role is more play & simulation rather than nurturing.
- can be more nurturing if take on role as main caregiver.
Describe Schaffer & Emerson’s study
visited 60 babies & mothers at home in Glasgow for the first 12 months (every month) and again at 18 months.
asked mothers questions to assess their emotional intensity by measuring separation anxiety.
Explain the findings of Schaffer & Emerson’s study
after 6-7 months around 50% showed separation anxiety towards a specific attachment
by 9 months 80% had formed a specific attachment, 30% displayed multiple attachments, by 18 months 75% formed secondary attachments with the father.
What are the 4 stages of attachment identified by Schaffer & Emerson?
asocial Stage (first few weeks)
indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)
specific attachment (7 months)
multiple attachments (after stage 3)
Describe asocial attachments
- baby’s behaviour towards objects and humans is similar
- happier in the presence of humans.
Describe indiscriminate attachments
- babies display more observable behaviour.
- not different towards any one person.
Describe specific attachments
- most babies show anxiety towards strangers.
- become anxious when separated from primary caregiver.
Describe multiple attachments
- attachment extends to other adults.
- these become secondary attachments.
How do attachments start?
infant-caregiver interactions
What is attachment characterised by?
- separation anxiety
- stranger anxiety
- reunion behaviour
- secure base behaviours
What is a strength of Schaffer & Emerson’s study?
- external validity
- study carried out in families own homes
Evaluate Schaffer and Emerson’s study (AO3)
- low population validity - all from Glasgow - small sample reduces conclusion strength
- use of diaries unreliable - some caregivers may be busy - not accurately describe observations
- affected by demand. social desirability characteristics.
- mothers tend not to write negatively about their child.
- lacks temporal validity - conducted in 1960s when gender roles different.
- more men stay at home whilst women work. parenting differences
- used the study to construct a theory – bad science
- order effects – if stranger conducts same test over and over, infant will become accustomed to it
Define sensitive responsiveness
recognising / responding appropriately to infants needs
Name and explain the 4 factors that affect relationships with the father (AO1)
- degree of sensitivity: more secure attachments to children are found in fathers showing more sensitivity to needs
- types of attachment with own parents: single-parent fathers tend to form similar attachments with their children to those they had with their own parents
- marital Intimacy: the degree of intimacy a father has with their partner affects the type of attachment they have with the child
- supportive co-parenting: amount of support father gives to partner in helping care for children affects type of attachment they have with the child
Outline research into the role of the father (AO1)
- western cultures have an expectation for Fathers to play greater role in bringing up their kids.
- # of Mothers working full time has increased.
- mothers adopt more caregiving, nurturing role
- fathers adopt more play-mate role
- prefer Paternal contact when playful, and prefer maternal contact when distressed.
- schaffer and Emerson - most common second attachment is father.
- 27% of initial sample had attachment with father
- 75% of 18 months old had formed an attachment with father
If fathers are vital, what happens if there is no father figure? Why don’t more men become primary caregiver if they are capable to? Therefore…
there is a lack of consistency in the data
Goodsell and Meldrum (2009) found that…
having a secure attachment with both parents is linked - not necessarily true that one is more suited
Practical implications into the role of the father
- paternity/maternity leave
- custody of children: men gain more equality
- role modelling parent skills in young men
- more societal acceptance of single fathers
What does research into the role of the father suggest?
- stereotypes towards men going to work, women staying at home
- some fathers less likely to engage in physical play – middle-class Indian families
- paternal leave not given up until recently – could affect attachment to father
- different rules in different countries
- emphasises that mother is the primary caregiver
Outline research conducted by Geiger (1996) into the role of the father
- fathers have a different role from mother
- mum is associated with care and nurture
- dad is associated with fun and playfulness
Grossmann (2002) - role of the father
- 44 families – longitudinal study
- looking at quality of attachments with parents and children from infancy to teenage years
- early attachment to mother was better predictor for what the teenage relationship would look like
- father less important to later development in terms of nurture
- however, if father engaged in active play when they were young, adolescent relationship with both parents was strengthened
- supports Geiger’s work
