To whom are attachments made?

To whom are attachments made?

1. Previously believed to be only with mother, but evidence of multiple attachments

2. Qualities/characteristics of caregiver important in deciding to form attachment: e.g. people who are responsive, interactive, playful etc.

3. Shaffer and Emerson: Isn't always mother - Study of separation protest

   • 7 – 9 months: 29% infants more than 1 attachment figure – left the room
   • 18 months: 87% infants showed distress with more than one attachment figure
   • 33% infants had strongest attachment to someone other than mother – e.g. father, siblings, grandparents

4. Cross-cultural findings - not always mother

   • FOX (1977) - Israeli Kibbutzim, children where spending lots of time in nursery with nurse 1 – 2 year-old children strongly attached to both mother and nursery caregiver. Both able to provide infant with safe base and reassurance
   • Agricultural societies – mothers back to work in field and infant with family (grandparents, older siblings), therefore other people have care-giving roles, yet children still form attachments, attachment is not just with mothers, can attach with other people