Attachment

Attachment

1. Development Of Attachment - 4 main attachment behaviours which indicate if an attachment has been made

   • Separation Anxiety
   • Stranger Anxiety
   • Joy on reunion
   • Exploration - Childs willingness to explore using caregiver as a secure base
   • Primary Attachment - person that a child has the closest bond to

2. Key Study - Schaffer and Emerson

   • Aim: investigation into separation protest in babies growing up to 1 yr old. Focusing: age at onset, intensity & objects of attachment
   • Method: sample of 60 infants from Glasgow - infants observed every 4 weeks until 1 years of age + again at 18 months. Attachment measured in terms of separation protest in everyday situations
   • Findings: First attachment made between 6-8 months - usually begins when they start to crawl.
     • Fear of strangers starts about 1 month after 1st attachment
     • Attachment behaviours most intense about 1 month after 1st attachment
     • Mothers who respond quickly to the needs and interact with them the most were more attached