Attachment

• What is an attachment 


  It is a particular type of emotional bond between the child and the principle caregiver, characteristics by reciprocal ( mutal) affection, frequent interaction, a desire proximity and selectivity.
• Function of attachment

  • From an early age babies have meaningful social interaction with their carers.
  • it is believed that these interactions have important function for the child’s social development
• Study which is related to the function of attachment

  Mascot in 1980 identified the four characteristics of attachment seeking proximity, distress on separation, joy on reunion and orientation of behaviour
• Caregiver infant interaction

  • Key interaction between caregivers and infant is non-verbal communication
  • babies are born with primitive reflexes such as sucking and grasping
  • babies produce social releasers such as smiling to elect a response from the caregiver
• Reciprocity 


  It is how too people interact for example mother infant interaction is reciprocal as the infant and mother respond to each others signal to elicit a response from each other.
• Examples of reciprocity

  Babies have alert phases and signal that they are ready for an interaction
• Studies of reciprocity

  • Feldman And Eidelman 2007 - mothers typically pick up on and respond to alertness
• Reciprocity Feldman 2007

  From above 3 months interactions tends to be more frequent and involve close attention to each others verbal and facial expression
• Bradenton et al 1975


  Described interaction as a chance because each partner resoonds to the others moves