Attachment

• What is imprinting?


  A behavioural trait in animals where they develop an extremely close bond with the first animal it meets
• What was Lorenz’s procedure?

  1. Took large clutch of goose eggs and kept them until ready to hatch
  2. Half the goose eggs places under the mother goose
  3. Half the goose eggs placed beside Lorenz
  4. When geese hatched Lorenz imitated the mothers quacking sound- young geese regarded Lorenz as the mother and followed him
  5. Other half followed the mother they were placed with (imprinting)
• What is the critical period (Lorenz)?

  The time where a given behaviour is susceptible to. For example imprinting. In Lorenz study it was 4-25 hours after hatching
• What is the utilitarian arguement?

  Maximizing overall happiness or well-being. Doing whatever produces the greatest net balance of pleasure over pain. Supports view on animal welfare being equal to human welfare
• What are the advantages of Lorenz’s study?

  1. It is applicable to the theory of attachment being innate according to evolutionary and adaptive pressures
  2. High internal validity
  3. Longevity of goslings bond with Lorenz suggests early attachment experiences predict future bonds
• What are the disadvantages of Lorenz’s study?

  1. Lacks generalisability as only geese are studied (not humans)
  2. Unethical- animals have the right not to be studied. Links to utilitarian argument
  3. Field experiment- extraneous variables
  4. Findings cannot be precisely extrapolated and applied to humans as humans are more complex
• What are the advantages of animal studies ?

  1. No demand characteristics
  2. Seen as more ethical than using humans
  3. Results can be applicable as there is a biological similarity between animals and humans
  4. More practical in seeing long term effects over generations as they have shorter lifespans and breed more
• what are the disadvantages of animal studies?

  1. Ethical concerns- psychological distress, physical pain, inability to debrief or consent
  2. Lacks generalisability- cant always be extrapolated. Animals are not genetically identical to humans Unable to collect self report data such as questionnaires
• How do we know when an attachment is formed based on infant behaviours?

  Attachment is formed when infants display behaviors such as seeking proximity to a specific caregiver, showing distress when separated, and seeking comfort from the caregiver. Stranger danger can also become apparent
• What is the difference between interactional synchrony and reciprocity ?

  Interactional synchrony refers to the mirroring of behaviors and emotions between a caregiver and an infant, while reciprocity refers to the back-and-forth exchange of similar actions and responses between two individuals.
• Why are caregiver-infant interactions important?

  Short term it helps survival as humans are altricial (born at an early stage of development) so rely on this attachment for survival. Long term it Helps emotional relationships in the further by acting as a template
• What is the first stage of attachment In Emerson and Schaffer?

  Asocial stage from birth to 8 weeks. In this stage behaviour is indiscriminate between human and inanimate objects. The baby starts to recognise and form bond with carers. Some preference is shown for familiar adults as they calm easier
• What is the second stage of attachment in Emerson and Shaffer?


  Indiscriminate stage from 2-7 months. In this stage they display more observable behaviour. They accept comfort from anyone and don’t tend to show stranger anxiety. Only preference shown is towards humans and inanimate objects
• What is the third stage of attachment In Emerson and Schaffer?

  Specific stage from 7 months. In this stage they start to display stranger anxiety. They become anxious when separated from one particular caregiver (usually the biological mother in 65% of cases). Primary attachment figure is formed to the caregiver who responds to them most accurately
• What is sensitive responsiveness?


  Where the infants primary attachment will form with who responds to their signals accurately
• According to Schaffer and Emerson how is the primary attachment formed?

  Through sensitive responsiveness, the caregiver who responds most accurately to the infant
• What is the fourth stage of attachment in Emerson and Schaffer?


  Multiple attachments stage from 7 months to 8 months (sometimes up to 12). This is where they display secondary attachment with adults who they spend a lot of time with. This can vary within cultures eg fathers, grandparents, aunts
• Why might Emerson’s and Schaffer's study produce different results if repeated today?

  Today more mothers are working and there is an increase in single fathers than in 1964 (temporal validity). Therefore today the role of the father may have changed because the father is considered more as a caregiver and responds to the baby’s signals
• When do infants develop a preference for a single attachment?

  Around 7 months and above
• How would Schaffer and Emerson judge whether an infant was unhappy?

  They would observe for behavioural change like distress by getting the primary caregiver to leave the room while researchers stayed to observe
• What methodology did Schaffer and Emerson use?

  1. Longitudinal study
  2. Observational study
  3. Self report techniques such as a diary
• What is the definition of attachment?

  A close reciprocal emotional bond between individuals in which each individual sees the other as essential for their emotional security
• What is reciprocity?

  When an infant responds to the actions of the other person with similar actions in the form of turn taking. The action elicits a response from the other
• What is interactional synchrony?

  When the caregiver and infant mirror the actions (body language, facial expressions and behaviours) of eachother. The child can do this at the same time to be synchronised
• What role does the father typically play in attachment?

  Tends to use play rather than nurturing to form attachment (playmate role). According to Schaffer and Emerson they are typically the secondary attachment. Gross man’s study states the quality of the fathers play affects attachment in adolescence
• What is secure attachment?

  This is the most common type of attachment, labelled type B in Ainsworths study. This is where the child displays separation anxiety when the carer leaves the room but reunion is very easy and they can be easily soothed upon return. They are able to play independently but use the carer as a safe base to explore.
• How many children on average have a secure attachment type?

  65% to 75%
• What is insecure-resistant attachment type?

  Where the infant displays high separation anxiety, becoming very distressed. Upon reunion the infant is not calmed easily and switches between seeking and rejecting social interaction. These children don’t often explore new environments, staying close to the caregiver
• What is insecure-avoidant attachment?

  Where the child shows no separation anxiety or distress When the cadet leaves the room. No stranger anxiety is shown when a stranger enters the room. Upon return they actively avoid social interaction with the carer, being unbothered. They are very independent in play, and explore far from the carer
• What is the least common attachment type?

  Insecure-resistant.

  3% of infants
• What are the 2 learning theories of attachment?

  1. Classical conditioning
  2. Operant conditioning