attachment Flashcards
(55 cards)
what is attachment
a strong reciprocal bond between an infant and a primary caregiver
What is meant by reciprocity+ in terms of attachment?
When 2 ppl interact they tend to mirror what the other is doing their facial and body movements.
Mother-infant interaction is reciprocal - both infant and mother respond to each other’s signals and each elicits a response from the other.
importance of reciprocity
its important in teaching the child to communicate and it allows for the parents to better care for the child as they can detect certain cues from the baby and respond to their needs sooner and more effectively.
They must both be able to contribute to the relationship and generate a response, such as when a parent smiles at child, child smiles back. importance of reciprocity was demonstrated by Brazleton et al, who found that children as young as 2 weeks old can attempt to copy their caregiver, who in turn responds to the child’s signals two-thirds of the time (Feldman).
What is meant by interactional synchrony+ in terms of attachment?
where the actions of one partner elicit a response w a similar action from the other partner.Mother and infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other and so this is a co-ordinated (synchronised) way.
Describe ways in which psychologists have investigated the caregiver-infant interactions. Refer to a specific study.
Meltzof and Moore (1977) observed interactional synchrony in infants. An adult displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions or gestured and the child’s response was filmed. An association was found between adult and child behaviour suggesting behaviours innate than learned.
Condon and Sander (1974) found that infants can move their bodies in time with the rhythm, pitch, and tone of adult speech, showing early signs of interactional synchrony — where the infant’s actions mirror the timing of the adult’s voice.
Similarly, Brazelton et al. demonstrated that infants as young as a few weeks old can imitate facial expressions and hand gestures of adults. This shows a form of synchronised interaction that supports bonding.it showed
Reciprocity too= turn-taking responses (like conversational back-and-forth) so shows both — the dance metaphor fits synchrony, but the turn-taking nature of interaction also demonstrates reciprocity.
These studies suggest that interactional synchrony plays a crucial role in developing communication and emotional understanding between the infant and caregiver, which supports healthy attachment later on.
Tronick et al. for reciprocity- (1979) found that when mothers who had been engaged in dialogue with their babies were asked to stop moving and remain static, the babies would become puzzled and distressed when their smiles were unable to provoke a reciprocal response. This highlights how babies engage and anticipate reciprocal responses to their own behaviour.
pros and cons of the ways in which psychologists have investigated the caregiver-infant interactions. Refer to a specific study.
Condon & Sander (1974) analysed infant video recordings to find they did co-ordinate behaviour in sequence with adults speech almost like a convo and taking turns. supports the idea of IS having validity as Isabella et al (1989) also found that infants with secure attachments also demonstrated such behaviour in their first year.
Many studies were controlled obsv.brazelton even filmed interactions from diff angles which ensures detail n accuracy and allows valid conc to be drawn as inter rate reliability can be set,indep observers can watch tapes and compare findings.
also mothers could be placed in same rooms with their kids instantly so they can begin to form attachment bonds unlike previous practice where they were kept separate
IS does not have cross-cultural support which weakens the idea that it is innate and necessary for attachment as it is not universal. Le Vine et al (1994) found that Kenyan mothers had LIL interactions with their infants yet a high proportion of them were still classed as securely attached.
Deyong et al (1991) observed infants when they interacted with 2 objects. One simulated tongue movements while the other simulated the opening and closing of the mouth. They found infants within the median age of 5 to 12 weeks made little interactional synchrony or response to the objects. This suggests infants do display specific social responses to human interactions as reciprocity and interactional synchrony suggests as they do not simply imitate everything.
Meltzoff & Moore’s study also lacks reliability as successive attempts to replicate the findings have failed. For example, Koepke et al (1983) was unable to recreate the same findings although one weakness claimed by Meltzoff and Moore was their study lacked control and thus had validity.
testing infant behaviour is difficult as facial expressions are almost continuously changing. Behaviours observed in the MnM study may lack validity as expressions involving sticking tongue out, yawning, smiling, and movements of hands always occur in young babies. so incredibly difficult to distinguish between gen behaviour and actual interactional synchrony. such theories may lack internal validity due to not necessarily measuring interactional synchrony. bremner drew this distinction between behavioural responses and behavioural understanding.
Schaffers study procedure
used 60 babies from Glasgow from same estate
-they analysed interactions between I+C
-interviewed carers
-mother had to keep diary to track infants behaviour based on
>seperation anxiety-distress when carer leaves
>stranger anxiety-distress as response of stranger arrival
>social referencing-how often infant looks at carer to check how they should respond to smn new.
-longitudinal study-18m
-visited infants on a monthly basis and once again at end of 18m period
findings of Schaffer n Emersons study
found babies w more sensitive forgiveness were more likely to form attachment.
found sensitive responsiveness more important than time spent w baby so infants formed att w those who spent less time w them but more sensitive to their needs.
those who responded quickly to needs had more intense att.weak interactions=weak attachments
stages of attachment by SCHAFFER
Stage 1: Indiscriminate attachments: birth - 2-month stage, infants respond similarly to all objects whether animate or not. Towards the end of stage, they begin to show a preference for social stimuli, such as a smiling face, and display more content when w ppl. during this stage that reciprocity and IS play a role in establishing the infant’s early relationships.
Stage 2: Attachment begins: occurs between 2 months -6 months with babies becoming more sociable and able to distinguish ppl with a preference for their company over inanimate objects. don’t yet display stranger anxiety allowing themselves to be comforted by anyone and enjoy the company of most people at this stage.
Stage 3: discriminate attachment: from 7 months with babies beginning to display separation anxiety from main attachment figure through protesting when separated. also begin to show stranger anxiety and sense of relief n joy when reunited with primary caregiver showing a specific attachment towards them. attachment bond not always w the person who spends the most time w them but rather w the person who is most sensitive to the child’s needs with the quality of the relationship more important than the quantity and time spent.
Stage 4: Multiple attachments: around 10 months onwards infant displays multiple attachments after the first attachment has formed with their primary caregiver. Schaffer and Emerson found that 29% form secondary attachments within one month of forming their first attachment. by
at six months they w form multiple attachments to many people within their social circles such as siblings, the other parent, grandparents and even nursery minders. 78% have multiple at 6m and by one year nearly all do
weaknesses of Schaffers n Emersons stages of attachment
Point: The study lacks population validity.
Evidence: only look at working class families in Glasgow in 1964 Also, the sample size was small (only 60 families), which weakens the strength of the conclusions we can draw.
Explanation: This means findings cannot be applied to other groups and are a limited explanation of att dev.
Link: , Schaffer’s stages of attachment lack both population and temporal validity, especially since parenting styles have changed a lot since the 1950s, partly due to Bowlby’s work. So, we must be careful when generalising these results.
Carpenter (1975) found even at 2 weeks old, babies prefer their mother’s face + voice together, and got stressed with unfamiliar voices. challenges Schaffer’s idea that babies treat all people the same in the first stage.The model may be biased toward Western, individualist cultures. Sagi et al. found that Israeli infants were more attached to mothers than those raised communally, showing attachment stages may not apply universally—lowering external validity.
Point: study may lack internal validity.
Evidence: It used a self-report method – parents kept daily diaries.
Explanation: the data might not be accurate. Parents could have been too busy to write full details or may have altered their reports to seem more socially acceptable. For example, they might have said their baby responded to them sooner than it really did, or left out any bad experiences or said what they thought researchers wanted to hear (demand characteristics), lowering validity.
Link: So, we should be cautious when trusting the conclusions from this study.
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Point: The asocial stage is hard to study objectively.
Evidence: Babies under 6 weeks have limited motor skills, so it’s hard to know if behaviours like separation anxiety are intentional.
Explanation: Bremner said babies might act like they have a bond, but that doesn’t mean they truly understand or feel it.
Link: So, we can’t assume cause and effect from these early behaviours.
strengths of Schaffers and persons stages of attachment
High Ecological Validity- study was carried out in ppts’ own homes during everyday activities. This means the behaviour of infants and mothers was natural, so the findings likely reflect real-life attachment development.
Longitudinal Design- studied the same babies over time (first year of life). This is better than a cross-sectional design because it tracks real development and removes individual differences between babies.
Practical Applications- stages help us understand how attachment forms over time, which can guide parents, caregivers, and early years professionals in supporting emotional development in infants.
Early Challenge to Bowlby’s Monotropy Theory-
The findings showed that many babies formed multiple attachments not just one main. This gave important evidence that attachments can be more flexible and aren’t always just to mother.
However the 4 stage model was based on research which has mundane realism as it was conducted under everyday conditions with respective carers and therefore conclusions could be argued to have high validity.
role of father traditionally and why they like dat thoooo
traditionally fathers were less likely to be primary attachment figs and play secondary attachment figs due to Schaffer n Emerson.
One reason is due to them playing trad roles as bread earner while mums stay home who est closer bonds. However, Lamb (1997) reported there was lil connection between the amount of time spent with the child and attachment suggesting quality of interaction itself more crucial. Gender stereotypes affect the role of the father as it is seen as feminine to be sensitive to the needs of children and encourages masculine behaviour.
he’s less psychologically equipped to form close bonds, unlike mother. may be due to them lacking emotional sensitivity required which Bowlby argued was more important than amount of time spent with the child. Females produce oestrogen which promotes caring behaviour and sensitivity while males do not so explains role of the father being secondary.
modern understanding of fathers role in attachment
the father’s role often seen more as a playmate encouraging physical activity,n facing challenging situations white et al supported this showing fathers place cognitive demands on kids.lower sensitivity can b positive as it encourages this type of behaviour n dev while the mother’s role is seen as nurturing and emotionally developing them in a more holistic way.
Research found More secure attachments were apparent in fathers who are more sensitive to needs of the child highlighting sensitivity as key in influencing the father role. The type of attachment fathers had with own parents influences attachment w children. The intimacy between the father and mother another mitigating factor as well as the level of support he gives in co-parenting, all affecting attachment with the child.
Paquette (2004) argued fathers have a unique “activation” role in attachment. they engage in more rough and stimulating play, which helps children learn risk-taking, boundaries, and independence. contrasts with the mother’s role, which is usually more focused on emotional comfort and security.
Varissimo (2011) found that quality of relationship between father and toddler significantly correlated with the no of friends they had at preschool and this more important than the attachment between mother and child. This suggests fathers role may help develop social skills through playmate role
pros of the role of the father
Lamb (1987) found children preferred interacting with fathers only when in a positive state themselves and wanting to be stimulated. Mothers were sought primarily for comfort when distressed supporting the idea of fathers being playmates while mothers were nurturers.
Research has found that children who have secure attachments with fathers develop better relationships with peers and less problematic behaviours through better managing their own emotions. Children who grow up without father figures have been found to do less academically well with higher levels of risk taking behaviour and aggression. This is especially true in boys and illustrates the positive role fathers play on the development of children.
cons of role of the father
One weakness of research into the father’s role is that it often focuses on single mothers from low-income backgrounds. Poor outcomes like aggression or low academic achievement may be due to socioeconomic status rather than the absence of a father. Also, most studies are correlational, so we cannot establish cause and effect between the father’s involvement and child behaviour. Other factors, like bullying due to not having a father figure, could influence development.
Hardy (1999) found fathers were less able than mothers to detect low levels of emotional distress, supporting the idea that they are less suited as primary attachment figures. However, Lamb (1987) found that when fathers became main caregivers, they developed similar sensitivity levels, suggesting responsiveness is learned, not biological.
Research also shows fathers can form secure attachments. Belsky et al. (2009) found that higher marital intimacy was linked w more secure father–infant interactions. supports the idea that the father–mother relationship affects the father’s bond with the child. However, as this is correlational, we can’t be sure whether intimacy leads to better father–child bonds, or vice versa.
There is still debate about how important the father is as a primary attachment figure. For instance, MacCallum and Golombok found that children raised in single-parent or same-sex families develop just as well as those with heterosexual parents. If fathers were essential for attachment, these results would be unexpected, suggesting the father’s role is unclear.
this is socially sensitive as poor child outcomes are often blamed on parents. This can pressure single parents to delay returning to work to ensure their child forms a secure attachment.
animal studies of attachment
what’s ethology
Harlow and Lorenz
the study of animal behaviour
Lorenz study of attachment
Took a clutch of gosling eggs and divided them into two groups. One group was left with their natural mother while the other eggs were placed in an incubator. When the incubator eggs hatched the first living thing they saw was Lorenzo and they soon started following him.
he demonstrated the concept of imprinting through when Lorenz marked and mixed his hatched goslings with the natural mother’s goslings. Those familiar with Lorenz still followed him with no recognition for their biological mother and separated themselves towards Lorenz.
This process of imprinting was found to only occur if the animal was exposed to a moving object during a critical period within the first two days and was irreversible once established. If an animal is not exposed to a moving object during this “critical period” it would not imprint itself. Lorenz also found that birds who imprinted on to humans would then later in life once matured only attempt to mate with humans. Therefore imprinting has an impact on mate preferences too, also known as sexual imprinting.
what’s imprinting
where animals will attach to the first moving object or person they see.It must occur during a critical period (usually within the first two days after birth) and is irreversible once established.
what were the findings of Lorenz’s procedure
process of imprinting was found to only occur if animal was exposed to a moving object during a critical period within the first two days and was irreversible once established.
If an animal is not exposed to a moving object during this “critical period” it would not imprint itself.
sexual imprinting is also a similar concept he found where animals w attach to and display sexual behaviours towards the first moving object or animal they seee directly after birth.lorenzi reported of a case of a peacock who was born surrounded by turtles and so only desired to mate w turtles later in life. so it has an impact on mate preferences too.
strengths of Lorenz research
other research has shown imprinting irreversible -supports the biological explanations of attachment.shows how animals are biologically programmed to form a special relationship in the same way attachment could be explained to occur with a primary caregiver and infant. eg peacock n nidifugous birds
Numerous studies have replicated his work and found similar findings = gd reliability. eg Guiton (1966) showed leghorn chicks would become attached to yellow rubber gloves when used to feed them. highlights imprinting is designed to occur with not only living objects but any objects that are moving within the time critical period of 2 days. Chicks later tried to mate with gloves, supporting Lorenz’s claim that imprinting influences later sexual behavior.
Understanding imprinting in birds has led to practical real-world applications. eg, imprinting migratory birds to microlight aircraft to teach them migratory flight paths has been used successfully to reintroduce birds to areas where they have become extinct.
Imprinting occurs during a critical period, similar to Bowlby’s idea of a critical period in human infants.This similarity supports the external validity and generalisation of imprinting studies and suggests they can help us understand human attachment and the importance of early development.
since imprinting affects later sexual behaviour, it supports Bowlby’s internal working model, which claims early attachments shape future relationships. Overall, imprinting provides strong evidence for attachment in humans being shaped by early childhood experience and providing a template for later relationships.
weaknesses of Lorenz research nigh
other evidence suggests imprinting may not be irreversible or even biological and simply a learned response. Guiton (1966) later found chickens who had imprinted themselves to yellow rubber gloves trying to mate with them would later begin mating with other chickens if they spent enough time with them.
suggests imprinting may have a learned element too and it may not be completely biological in nature.
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Harlows procedure
conducted research to show attachment is not necessarily a learned process due to feeding bonds.
Rhesus monkeys were separated from their mothers and raised in isolation cages and exposed to two mother figures. One was a wire mother while the other a cloth covered mother for comfort.
For 4 monkeys the milk bottle was on the cloth-covered mother and on the plain wire’mother’ for the other 4 monkeys.
Measurements were observations on the amount of time monkeys spent with each mother as well as their responses when frightened for eg by a mechanical bear.
findings of Harlows procure
harlow’s study showed that baby monkeys preferred the cloth mother over the wire mother, regardless of who fed them. When frightened, they clung to the cloth mother for comfort, showing that attachment is based on contact comfort, not just feeding.
In another variation, monkeys placed in a room with toys stayed fearful with only the wire mother but explored when the cloth mother was present, using her as a safe base—similar to Bowlby’s ideas about human attachment.
As adults, monkeys raised without a real mother showed abnormal behaviour, such as fear of others, poor social skills, and unusual sexual behaviour.
Harlow found there was a critical period for recovery- Harlow found a critical period for recovery—motherless monkeys could recover if they spent time with peers before 3 months old. After 6 months with only a wire mother, the damage appeared permanent, showing the long-term impact of early attachment experiences. .
strengths and weaknesses of Harlows procedure
- it was based on monkeys and their attachment behaviour - may not be representative of human behaviour - being diff species and humans being have greater awareness in their decisions. findings lack external validity and generalisation to human population, also internal validity as it demonstrates attachment behaviour in monkeys.since monkeys share about 94% of our DNA, the findings could still have some relevance to humans.
+ research support for Harlows findings from Schaffer & Emerson’s study into attachment in humans. found infants weren’t attached to those that fed them instead to those more sensitive to their needs. This has links to the cloth mother as this appeared to provide contact comfort and thus sensitivity to the monkey’s needs during times of distress.
Harlows research raises ethical concerns - inhumane treatment of the rhesus monkeys many of which died. The monkeys were separated from their mothers, exposed to fear, and experienced emotional harm through fear tactics to observe their behaviour.Many showed long-term effects like struggling with social relationships.study so morally unethical that the American animal liberation movement was born raising q abt limits of animal research.
research was a gateway to better understand attachment behaviour in humans that’s ethically impossible w humans. monkeys offer a simpler behavioural model making observations easier. The findings have led to improvements in childcare and animal care by showing the adverse long-term impact of poor early attachments. Many believe the study’s real-world benefits outweigh its ethical costs.
