Attachment Flashcards
(43 cards)
What’s attachment ?
A close 2 way emotional bond between 2 individuals. Each individual sees the other as essential for their own emotional security
What’s reciprocity? (Carer-infant interactions)
The give and take dynamic in interactions between caregiver and child.
Refer to idea of back and forth communication that’s responsive to each others behaviours
What’s international synchrony ? (Carer-infant interactions)
The coordinated, rhythmic exchange between caregiver and infant were both parties match each others behaviours and emotion
What’s sensitive responsiveness ? (Carer-infant interactions)
Caregivers ability to perceive/interpret and appropriately respond to an infants signals, emotions and needs
Key aspect for secure based attachment
How are reciprocity and interactions synchrony different ? (Carer-infant interactions)
Reciprocity: turn taking
Interactions synchrony: at the same time
What did Brazelton et al (1975) say about babies roles in interaction ? (Carer-infant interactions)
Described interaction as a ‘dance’ because it’s like a couples dance where each partner responds to other persons moves
What was the study by Meltzoff and Moore about supporting idea that interactional synchrony is important for developing attachment ? (Carer-infant interactions)
PROCEDURE:
- observed beginnings of international synchrony in baby as young as 2 weeks old
- used independent observer who didn’t know aim of study to judge infants behaviour on the film
- adult displayed one of three facial expressions
- baby’s response was filmed and labelled by independent observer
FINDINGS:
- baby’s expressions and gestures more likely to mirror those of adults more than chance would predict
- showing significant association
What was the study by Isabella et al (1989) ? (Carer-infant interactions)
Supports idea interactions synchrony is associated with good quality attachments
- observed 30 mothers and babies
- assessed degree of synchrony
- assessed mother-baby attachment
- found high levels of synchrony were associated with better quality mother-baby attachment
What was Le Vine et al (1994) study ? (Carer-infant interactions)
Doesn’t support idea interactional synchrony is important for attachment formation as it’s not found in all cultures
- Kenyan mothers have little physical contact or interactions with their infants
- but such infants have high proportion of secure attachment
What’s Tronick’s still face paradigm ? (Carer-infant interactions)
The mother stops reacting to child’s actions
Child becomes distressed (cries, loses posture, looks away)
Suggests parents with high sensitive responsiveness will build better attachment between parent and infant
What are strength for the idea of carer-infant interactions ?
Observations where conducted in controlled environment which increases validity of the theory as variables can be controlled helping to get a cause and effect
What are limitations to idea of carer-infant interactions ?
Babies behaviours are difficult to interpret so relying on inference and assuming intentionally meaning lacks validity and scientific credibility
Outline Schaffer and Emerson study on stages of attachment:
AIM:
- investigate formation of early attachment in particular age at which they (early infant - adult attachment) develop their emotional intensity and to whom it’s directed to
SAMPLE:
- 60 babies (31 male, 29 female) from working class families
HOW OFTEN ASSESSED:
- every month for first yr in mother and child’s home
- and then at 18 months
WHAT BEHAVIOURS WERE MEASURED:
- separation and stranger anxiety
- researcher asked parents abt kind of protests their babies showed after in 7 everyday separation
- parents obsevered babies behaviour
What were the findings of Schaffer and Emerson’s study on stages of attachment ?
ASOCIAL STAGE:
- 0-6 weeks
- baby behaviour to humans and inanimate objects are similar
INDISCRIMINATE ATTACHMENT:
- 6 weeks-7 months
- baby display more obvious and observable behaviours
- show clear preference to being wi humans than inanimate objects
- accept comfort from anyone
- no show of stranger or separation anxiety
SPECIFIC ATTACHMENT:
- 7-9months
- baby display attachment to specific figure
- show separation and stranger anxiety
MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT:
- 9+ months
- baby extend attachment behaviour to multiple attachments with those who spend regular time with them
What are some research that go against Schaffer and Emerson’s study on stages of attachment ?
BOWLBY:
- believe children have one primary attachment
- other attachments are insignificant and less important
VAN IJZENDOON:
- believe babies are born with multiple attachments from the outset
CARPENTER:
- 2 week old baby’s showed distress when shown mothers face with someone else’s voice
- shows babies recognise mothers face from early age
Whats an animal study ? (Animal studies on attachment)
Studies carried out on non human animal species
There’s ethical reasons
Animals breed faster so can look at different generations
What’s imprinting ? (Animal studies on attachment)
Bird species mobile from birth attach to and follow the first moving object they see
What’s contact comfort ? (Animal studies on attachment)
Physical and emotional comfort infants receive from being in physically contact with primary caregivers or mother
Outline Lorenz’ research on geese: (animal studies on attachment)
PROCEDURE:
- randomly divide large clutch of eggs into two groups
- one group the mother goose will hatch the eggs
- other group Lorenz will hatch them using incubator
FINDINGS:
- incubator group followed Lorenz everywhere and the normal hatched ones followed mother goose around
- two groups were mixed up and marked to identify which group they belong to then upturned box placed on them
- box was removed and found that all naturally hatched geese followed mother goose and all the ones in incubator followed Lorenz
CONCLUSION:
- imprinting and there’s a certain period called the critical period where it happens (between 4-25hrs)
What are some research that contradict Lorenz’ study ? (Animal studies on attachment)
SLUCKIN:
- questioned critical period where
- replicated Lorenz study
- successfully imprinted
- isolated 1 duck in darkness for over 5 days
- suggests it’s more of a sensitive period than critical
Outline Harlow’s research on monkeys: (animal studies on attachment)
PROCEDURE:
- used 16 rhesus monkeys
- had two model mothers
- one condition with milk dispensed by plain wired mother and no milk dispensed from clothed mother
- one condition with milk dispensed by clothed mother and not by wired one
- time spent with each was recorded
- scare monkey with loud noise to see which mother they would go to
FINDINGS:
- monkey cuddled with clothed mother more than wired one regardless of who dispensed milk
- showed contact comfort was more
Important to monkeys than food when it comes to attachment behaviour
What was the conclusion of Harlow’s study on the monkeys ? (Animal studies on attachment)
- followed deprived monkeys who had no mother to see if early maternal deprivation had permanent effects
- monkey who reared of only wired mother were most dysfunctional
- monkey who reared of cloth mother had diarrhoea and signs of stress
- those reared of cloth mother couldn’t develop normal social behaviour (more aggressive, less sociable, breed less)
There’s critical periods for attachment formation within 90 days it needs to form after this negative effects could happen
What are strengths to animal studies on attachment ?
Has practical application: Research helped social workers and clinical psychologists understand lack of bonding could risk child development so therefore intervention can be taken place
Research by Peter Seebach supports idea of imprinting relating to humans.
Suggests computer users exhibit ‘baby duck syndrome’ which is attachment to first computer and typically ppl reject to switch therefore there’s some generalisability
What are the limitations for animal studies on attachment ?
Lack generalisability due to research only being on animals
Ethical issues: monkeys studied experienced irreversible psychological damage
