Attachment

• Define Attachment

  A close two-way emotional bond between 2 individuals.
• What are the 2 examples of caregiver-infant interactions?

  • Reciprocity
  • Interactional Synchrony
• Define Reciprocity

  Each person responds to each other's signals, and each elicits a response from the other

  From around 3 months, there is close attention between the mother and infant.

  More reciprocity = Deeper attachment
• Define Interactional synchrony

  Caregiver and infant mirror what the other is doing in terms of their facial expressions and body movements.

  STUDIES: Meltzoff and Moore- adults displaying facial expressions and gestures to children

  Isabella et al. - observed 30 mothers and infants together and assessed their degree of synchrony.
• Outline Meltzoff and Moore's study on interactional synchrony

  Observed the beginnings of interactional synchrony in infants as young as 2 weeks old. An adult displayed one of 3 facial expressions or one of 3 distinctive gestures. E.g., lip/ tongue protrusion, mouth opening/closing, and finger waving. The child's response was filmed and identified by independent observers. An association was found between the expression or gesture the adult had displayed and the actions of the babies.
• Outline Isabella et al.'s study on interactional synchrony

  Observed 30 mothers and infants together and assessed the degree of synchrony. The researchers also assessed the quality of mother-infant attachment. They found that high levels of synchrony were associated with better quality mother-infant attachment.
• Evaluate caregiver-infant interactions

  STRENGTH- research support - e.g. Isabella et al. research. shows interactional synchrony is an important factor in development as it is linked with better quality attachments.

  STRENGTH- controlled observations used- filmed from multiple angles nad analysed later by multiple researchers which increases the inter-rater reliability. Also, high ecological validity, as these are usually done in homes.

  WEAKNESS- difficult to draw conclusions from observations- similar patterns of interactions, but interactions include changes in hand movements and expressions. Don't know if these are conscious or deliberate, therefore cannot make specific conclusions about the ending and or purpose of such interactions.
• Outline parent-infant attachment

  Traditionally this is thought of in terms of mother-infant attachment. Schaffer and Emerson found majority of babies attached to mothers first (around 7 months) and then shortly after, formed secondary attachments with other family members, including the father. 75% formed with father by age of 18 months.
• Outline the role of the father

  Grossman et al. longitudinal study- Quality of infant attachment with mothers related to children's attachments in adolescence, suggesting father was less important. However, the father's role is different, it's to do more with play and stimulation, and less with nurturing.
• Outline fathers as primary carers

  Field study- filmed 4 month old babies and interaction with primary caregiver mothers and fathers and secondary caregiver fathers . Primary caregivers fathers spent more time smiling, imitating and holding infants than secondary caregiver fathers (adopting behaviours associated with mothers).

  Seems fathers can be the more nurturing attachment figure. The key to the attachment relationship is the level of responsiveness not the gender of the parent.
• Evaluate attachment figures/the role of the father

  WEAKNESS: inconsistent findings on fathers- confusing as different researchers investigate different things. E.g. fathers as secondary or primary attachment figures view fathers differently

  WEAKNESS: if fathers have distinct role why aren't children without fathers different- Grossman found fathers role is important to child's development. Other studies found that children's development is not different without father/same-sex families (father not important).

  WEAKNESS: fathers not generally primary attachments- maybe because of traditional gender roles (women more nurturing), and therefore fathers don't feel the need to act like that. OR, women are biologically pre-disposed to being the primary attachment figure e.g. oestrogen create higher levels of nurturing. Problem: women not wanting to go back to work, as they feel guilty.
• Outline Schaffer and Emerson's research (KEY STUDY)

  A: to investigate the age of attachment formation and who attachments are formed with.

  M: Observed 60 Glaswegian babies for 18 months, mostly from skilled working class families. Mothers/babies were visited once a month for 1 year and then again at 18 months. Researchers asked the parents to observe their children in different circumstances, keeping a diary of their observations and report back to the researchers, looking for separation/stranger anxiety.

  F: Between 25 and 32 weeks, about 50% showed signs of separation anxiety towards an adult, usually mother (specific attachment). Attachment tended to be to the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and facial expressions. By age of 40 weeks, 80% had a specific attachment and almost 30% displayed multiple attachments.
• Evaluate Schaffer and Emerson's research (KEY STUDY)

  STRENGTH: longitudinal study- long period of development observed, giving deeper insight into development of attachment. More depth and detail increases validity. Furthermore, uses qualitative data which gives more detail.

  STRENGTH: high ecological validity- naturalistic observation, e.g. parents observed and took notes on infants responses to separation, strangers etc.. Researchers weren't present at the time, so infants behaviour would be more natural. However, low internal validity, because of bias in diary entry from parents

  WEAKNESS: ungeneralisable- small sample of Glaswegian babies, mostly from middle class. Study ethnocentric so cannot generalise to other ethnicities and only used 1 social class so cannot be generalised to other social classes. E.g. middle class can afford nanny, so attachment may happen with nanny instead.
• Give the stages of attachment

  STAGE 1: Asocial stage (first few weeks)

  • little observable social behaviour
  • shows preference for company of familiar people

  STAGE 2: indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)

  • More observable attachment behaviour, accept cuddles from any adult
  • No separation/stranger anxiety

  STAGE 3: Specific attachments (around 7 months)

  • stranger anxiety and separation anxiety in regard to 1 particular adult (primary attachment figure)

  STAGE 4: Multiple attachments (8 months-1 year)

  • Attachment behaviour directed towards more than 1 adult (secondary attachments)
  • By age of 1 year, majority of babies had developed multiple attachments.