Transcript Attachment
Attachment Relationships Outline Theories of Attachment Bowlby and Ainsworth Findings How attachment develops Relationship between attachment and parenting behaviors Attachment Relationship A strong emotional bond that forms between infant and caregiver in the second half of the child’s first year The development of attachment relationships is a major achievement in the infant’s early social life Develops out of interactions between infant and caregiver Theories of Attachment Psychoanalytic Theory Infants become attached to their mother because they associate her with gratification of their instinctual drive to obtain pleasure through sucking and oral stimulation Learning Theory Drive-reduction learning theorists suggested that the mother becomes an attachment object because she is associated with the reduction of the baby’s primary drive of hunger Theories of Attachment Harlow’s Research ◦ Baby monkeys preferred to cling to the cloth “mother”— especially in moments of stress—even though it dispensed no food Similar findings in human research Thus, oral gratification and drive reduction are inadequate explanations for attachment Theories of Attachment Learning Theories Operant Conditioning ◦ Attachment development based on visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation that infants receive from their caregivers ◦ Parents are the most reliable sources of this type of stimulation Central point: attachment is not automatic; it develops over time as a result of satisfying (i.e.,rewarding) interactions with responsive adults Theories of Attachment Cognitive Developmental Theory Importance of ability to differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar others Importance of object permanence - understanding that objects, including people, have a continuous existence apart from the baby’s own interactions with them Cognitive shifts in expression of attachment ◦ Less need for physical proximity ◦ Understanding of need for and temporary nature of separations from familiar people Theories of Attachment Ethological Theory – Bowlby Theory influenced by Lorenz’s demonstration of imprinting ◦ Birds and other infrahuman animals develop a preference for the person or object to which they are first exposed during a brief, critical period after birth Focused on signaling behaviors in human infant attachment ◦ crying, smiling, vocalizing, sucking, clinging Evolutionary biases make it likely child will use the parent as a secure base ◦ A safety zone that the infant can retreat to for comfort and reassurance when stressed or frightened while exploring the environment Theories of Attachment Ethological Theory – Bowlby Three important features of theory ◦ Emphasis on the active role played by the infant’s early social signaling systems ◦ Stress on the development of mutual attachments ◦ Attachment is a dyadic relationship, not simply a behavior of either the infant or the parent Infant Attachment Behaviors Proximity Seeking Contact Maintenance • Efforts to regain physical contact with figure • Efforts to maintain self-initiated contact with figure Avoidance • Any active avoidance of proximity to or interaction with figure Resistance • Negative behavior (often accompanied by anger) in response to figure’s contact attempts Bowlby’s Attachment Style ProximitySeeking ContactMaintaining Resistance Avoidance Secure High High Low Low 2 Insecure Styles Insecure/ Resistant High High High Low Insecure/ Avoidance Low Low Low High **New Slide 1 Mother, baby, and observer 30 sec Observer introduces mother and baby to experimental room and then leaves. (Room contains appealing toys scattered about.) 2 Mother and baby 3 min Mother sits quietly while baby explores; if necessary, play is stimulated after 2 minutes. 3 Stranger, mother, and baby 3 min An unfamiliar woman enters. First minute: stranger is silent. Second minute: stranger talks to mother. Third minute: stranger approaches baby. After 3 minutes, mother leaves unobtrusively. 4 Stranger and baby ≈3 min First separation episode. Stranger is responsive to baby. 5 Mother and baby ≥3 min First reunion episode. Mother returns to room and greets and/or comforts baby and then tries to settle the baby again in play. Mother then leaves, saying “bye-bye.” 6 Baby alone ≤3 min Second separation episode. 7 Stranger and baby ≤3 min Continuation of second separation. Stranger enters and responds to baby’s behavior. 8 Mother and baby 3 min Second reunion episode. Mother enters, greets, and then picks up baby. Meanwhile, stranger leaves unobtrusively. Intro to lab (30 sec) Mother enters Stranger enters Mother leaves; child alone Mother and child alone Strange Situation Mother returns; stranger leaves Stranger enters Mother leaves Clip **New Slide Behavioral Responses during Reunion Proximity Seeking Contact Maintenance • Efforts to regain physical contact with figure • Efforts to maintain self-initiated contact with figure Avoidance • Any active avoidance of proximity to or interaction with figure Resistance • Negative behavior (often accompanied by anger) in response to figure’s contact attempts **New Slide Strange Situation: Secure Strange Situation Example: Securely Attached Baby Ainsworth’s Classifications Attachment Type Description Secure (Type B) Babies are able to explore novel environments, are minimally disturbed by brief separations from their mother, and are quickly comforted by her when she returns Insecure-Avoidant (Type A) Babies seem not to be bothered by their mother’s brief absences but specifically avoid her when she returns, sometimes becoming visibly upset Insecure-Ambivalent (Type C) Babies tend to become very upset at the departure of their mother and exhibit inconsistent behavior on the mother’s return, sometimes seeking contact, sometimes pushing their mother away. (This is sometimes referred to as insecure-resistant or anxious-ambivalent attachment.) Insecure-Disorganized (Type D; added later) Babies seem disorganized and disoriented when reunited with their mother after a separation Attachment Classifications Ambivalent 10% Disorganize d 5% Secure 65% Avoidant 20% Secure Avoidant Ambivalent Disorganized Insecurely Attached Infants Examples of Attachment Classifications Attachment to Father How Attachment Develops What it Means to be Attached By age 1: form first attachment Seek contact and proximity with attachment figure Separation distress or protest - An infant’s distress reaction to being separated from the attachment object, usually the mother ◦ 7-9 mos: distress emerges ◦ 15 mos: intensity of distress at highest. ◦ After 15 mos: distress decreases How Attachment Develops Attached to Whom? Mother is usually primary, but infant is capable of forming attachment to any familiar individual Multiple attachments are common ◦ Father ◦ Grandparent ◦ Sibling Number of attachments limited because requires frequent, close, oneto-one interaction How Do Infants Become Attached? Attachment develops in phases (Shaffer & Emmerson, 1964) ◦ Asocial phase (0-6 weeks) Social (e.g., smiling face) and non-social (sticker) stimuli produces favorable reaction ◦ Phase of indiscriminate attachments (6 weeks – 6/7 months) Indiscriminate social responsiveness. Enjoy attention from anyone, but prefers regular caregiver How Do Infants Become Attached? Attachment develops in phases (Shaffer & Emmerson, 1964) ◦ Specific attachment phase (7-9months) Protest when separated from a particular person, usually mother. Will follow mother closely. Wary of strangers. ◦ Phase of multiple attachments (approx. 18 months) Infants form attachment to other people beside primary attachment figure Consider this… What type of parenting behaviors might cause… ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ A secure attachment? An ambivalent attachment? An avoidant attachment? A disorganized attachment? Child Behavior Babies are able to explore novel environments Minimally disturbed by brief separations from their mother Quickly comforted by her when she returns Parenting Sensitive and responsive Behavior guided by baby’s cues (don’t interrupt) Accepting of baby and minimal frustration Physically and psychologically available Parenting that is correlated with Secure Attachment (SPSS-S) Parenting Behavior Descriptions Sensitivity Responding promptly and appropriately to the infant’s signals Positive Attitude Synchrony Expressing positive affect and affection for the infant Support Attending closely to and providing emotional support for the infants activities Stimulation Frequently directing actions toward the infant (do not ignore) Structuring smooth, reciprocal interactions with the infant (do not interrupt or interfere with babies activity) Child Behavior Babies seem not to be bothered by their mother’s brief absences Specifically AVOID her when she returns Even though they sometimes becoming visibly upset Parenting Intrusive and rejecting parenting (impatient) Unresponsive to infant signals Rarely have close bodily contact Act angry & irritable Child Behavior Babies tend to become very upset at the departure of their mother Parenting Unaffectionate and inconsistent parenting Sometimes respond to infants cues and sometimes not (depending on parental mood) Inconsistent behavior on the M’s return, sometimes seeking contact, sometimes More often tend to be pushing their mother indifferent away *Also called insecure-ambivalent or anxious attachment Child Behavior Combination of resistant and avoidant patterns Confused about whether to approach or avoid mother When reunited with mother they may be fearful, freeze, may move close or move away Parenting Unaffectionate and inconsistent parenting Sometimes induces fear or reassurance in infant A couple notes on parental sensitivity… Typical rate of secure attachment for middle-class U.S. children is ◦ 65% But, only 38% of infants with insensitive mothers show secure attachment Replicated: Relationship b/w father’s sensitivity and infant attachment style ◦ Relationship is significant, but weaker **New Slide Sweet Nothings vs. Secure Base Provision Key to attachment classification: ◦ Parental response when the attachment system is activated (during times of distress) Chest to chest contact Still Face Experiment ◦ Sensitivity and sweet parenting at other times less important for the attachment relationship