Attachment

• What are the two key concepts of caregiver-infant interactions?

  Reciprocity and interactional synchrony
• What is reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions?

  Turn-taking interactions between caregiver and infant
• What is interactional synchrony?

  Mirroring movements and gestures during interaction
• What is the definition of attachment?

  Emotional bond between infant and caregiver
• What characterizes an attachment?

  Mutual affection, frequent interaction, desire for proximity
• Who conducted the key study on interactional synchrony?

  Meltzoff and Moore
• What was the aim of Meltzoff and Moore's study?

  To examine interactional synchrony in infants
• What method did Meltzoff and Moore use in their study?

  Controlled observation
• What did Meltzoff and Moore find in their study?

  Infants' behavior was associated with adult models
• What is a limitation of Meltzoff and Moore's research?

  Questionable reliability of testing infants
• What does reciprocity involve in caregiver-infant interactions?

  Sequential turn-taking between caregiver and infant
• What is the frequency of caregiver responses during infant alert phases?

  About two out of three times
• What is a strength of controlled observations in caregiver-infant research?

  They produce reliable data in standardized settings
• What is a weakness regarding demand characteristics in caregiver-infant studies?

  Caregivers may alter behavior to appear desirable
• What is the significance of using very young infants in research?

  Increases internal validity by reducing demand characteristics
• What did Schaffer and Emerson aim to investigate?

  The formation of early attachments in infants
• What method did Schaffer and Emerson use in their study?

  Longitudinal study
• What was a key finding of Schaffer and Emerson's study?

  Attachments form in clear stages
• What is a limitation of Schaffer and Emerson's study regarding population validity?

  Sample was limited to working-class families in Glasgow
• What is the asocial stage of attachment?

  Infants show no recognition of humans vs. objects
• What characterizes the indiscriminate attachment stage?

  Preference for human company without specific attachments
• What is the specific attachment stage characterized by?

  Preference for a single attachment figure
• What happens in the multiple attachments stage?

  Attachments develop with others beyond the primary caregiver
• What is a criticism of Schaffer and Emerson's stages of attachment?

  Stages may not apply universally across cultures
• What is the concept of sensitive responsiveness in attachment formation?

  Responding accurately to the baby's signals
• What is a limitation of measuring the asocial stage of attachment?

  Judgments of behavior are often guesses
• What is the role of the father in attachment according to Schaffer and Emerson?

  Fathers can be primary attachment figures
• What is Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?

  Separation from the mother negatively affects development
• What are the effects of institutionalization as seen in Romanian orphan studies?

  Negative impacts on emotional and social development
• How does early attachment influence later relationships?

  Shapes expectations and interactions in adulthood
• What is an internal working model in attachment theory?

  Mental representation of relationships based on early experiences
• What are the stages of attachment identified by Schaffer?

  1. Asocial stage (birth to 2 months)

  • No recognition of humans vs. objects

  1. Indiscriminate attachment (2 to 6 months)

  • Preference for human company, no specific attachments

  1. Specific attachment (7 to 12 months)

  • Preference for a single attachment figure

  1. Multiple attachments (1 year onwards)

  • Attachments develop with others beyond the primary caregiver
• What are the key concepts of attachment theory?

  • Attachment: emotional bond between infant and caregiver
  • Interactional Synchrony: mirroring movements and gestures
  • Reciprocity: turn-taking interactions
  • Internal Working Model: mental representation of relationships
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of caregiver-infant interaction research?

  Strengths:

  • Reliable data from controlled observations
  • High internal validity with young infants

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Demand characteristics affecting caregiver behavior
  • Difficulty measuring asocial stage accurately
• What are the implications of Schaffer and Emerson's findings on attachment?

  • Attachments form in stages
  • Quality of care influences attachment
  • Multiple attachments can develop
• What are the effects of maternal deprivation according to Bowlby?

  • Negative impact on emotional and social development
  • Can lead to long-term psychological issues
• What are the effects of institutionalization as shown in Romanian orphan studies?

  • Delayed emotional and social development
  • Increased risk of attachment disorders
• How does early attachment influence adult relationships?

  • Shapes expectations in relationships
  • Affects ability to form secure attachments
• What is a cultural bias in attachment theory?

  It reflects individualistic culture attachments only
• What did Sagi et al (1994) find about attachment formation?

  Infants can form multiple attachments first