attachment

• What is attachment in the context of caregiver-infant interactions?

  A strong reciprocal emotional bond between an infant and a primary caregiver
• What does reciprocity refer to in caregiver-infant interactions?

  A two-way process where both the caregiver and infant contribute to the relationship
• How did Brazelton et al demonstrate the importance of reciprocity?

  They found that most mothers responded to their babies' signals, leading to the child's signals
• Why is reciprocity important for communication between caregiver and infant?

  It helps the parent detect responses and cues from the baby to meet their needs effectively
• What did Condron and Sander (1974) note about adult-infant interactions?

  Adults can synchronize their movements with the rhythm of an infant's cries
• What is interactional synchrony?

  When the caregiver and infant's actions and emotions become coordinated
• How does interactional synchrony affect communication as the child grows?

  It leads to better communication between the parent and child when the child is older
• What type of observations were used in many studies of caregiver-infant interactions?

  Controlled observations
• What advantage do controlled observations provide according to Brazelton et al?

  They ensure a high level of detail and accuracy in observations
• What is a limitation of observational research on very young children?

  Children have relatively little or no motor coordination
• What does behavioral understanding imply in the context of reciprocity and interactional synchrony?

  Just because an interaction appears reciprocal does not mean the child understands it
• What was the aim of Schaffer and Emerson's study (1964)?

  To identify stages of attachment between infants and parents
• How many babies participated in Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  60 babies
• What did Schaffer and Emerson find about sensitive responsiveness?

  Babies of more sensitive parents were more likely to form attachments
• What is a limitation of Schaffer and Emerson's study regarding population validity?

  All infants were from Glasgow and mostly from working-class families
• Why should caution be taken when generalizing Schaffer’s findings?

  Parenting techniques have changed significantly since the 1960s
• What is a limitation regarding the internal validity of Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  The accuracy of data collection may be compromised due to parents keeping diaries
• What biases might affect the diary reports of parents in Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  Social desirability bias and demand characteristics
• What did Guiton et al demonstrate about sexual imprinting?

  Sexual imprinting is not as permanent as Lorenz believed
• What did Harlow's research on monkeys reveal about attachment?

  Contact comfort was more important than food in attachment development
• What developmental issues were reported in Harlow's infant monkeys?

  They were socially maladjusted and aggressive towards their own children
• What practical value does Harlow's research provide?

  It highlights the importance of attachment in animal care and research
• What ethical issues were raised by Harlow's research?

  There were significant breaches of reliability and harm caused to the monkeys
• What does the Learning Theory of Attachment propose?

  Children are born as blank slates and learn to form attachments through experiences
• What is the concept of cupboard love in attachment theory?

  Attachment results from an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of primary drive reduction
• How does classical conditioning relate to attachment formation?

  The baby forms an association between the mother and the pleasure of being fed
• What happens to the mother in the process of classical conditioning regarding attachment?

  The mother becomes a conditioned stimulus that causes pleasure for the child
• What is operant conditioning in the context of attachment?

  The child’s actions, like crying, trigger a response from the caregiver, reinforcing the behavior
• What is the primary reinforcer in the context of operant conditioning for attachment?

  Food is the primary reinforcer
• What is the secondary reinforcer in the context of operant conditioning for attachment?

  The mother is the secondary reinforcer
• What contradictory evidence exists against the Learning Theory of Attachment?

  Harlow's study showed that contact comfort was more important than food
• What is emphasized in the formation of attachments according to the study material?

  The importance of interactional synchrony and reciprocity
• What is the role of the primary caregiver in the development of secure attachments?

  The primary caregiver must spend time with the infant to develop secure attachments
• What does 'innate' mean?

  Natural, from birth
• What does the evidence from Harlow suggest about unconditional attachment?

  There is no unconditional, unlearned attachment, or it has very little influence
• What is a stimulus in the context of attachment?

  An event that causes a response
• What is a response in the context of attachment?

  The action that happens as a result of a stimulus
• What did Harlow's study demonstrate about attachment?

  Contact comfort was more important than food in attachment development
• What are the key concepts of interactional synchrony and reciprocity in attachment formation?

  • Interactional synchrony: mutual responsiveness between caregiver and infant
  • Reciprocity: back-and-forth interactions that strengthen attachment
• Why is the focus on unconditional stimuli and mutual interactions considered limited?

  It does not account for all aspects of attachment formation