Development of Attachments!

Development of Attachments!

1. STAGE 1: INDISCRIMINATE ATTACHMENT (0-2 months) - infants show similar responses to inanimate and animate objects. Towards the end of this period, infants show a preference for SOCIAL STIMULUS e.g. a smiling face and are more content around people. RECIPROCITY AND INTERACTIONAL SYNCHRONY help to establish relationships.

2. STAGE 2: BEGINNING OF ATTACHMENT (2-4 months)- Infants tend to become more sociable. Can distinguish between strangers and familiar people. Still remain easily comforted by anyone and are yet to show STRANGER ANXIETY. Infants are shown to enjoy the company of other humans more than inanimate objects.

3. STAGE 3: DISCRIMINATE ATTACHMENT (4-7 months)- Infants begin to show distinctive protests when a particular person put them down (SEPARATION ANXIETY). Also, they show especial joy on reunion and are most comforted by this person. They are said to have formed a specific attachment to one person (their PRIMARY ATTACHMENT FIGURE). Around this time, STRANGER ANXIETY is also displayed.

   • SCHAFFER & EMERSON: Observed that Primary Attachment was not just formed with person who spent the most time with the child. Quality not Quantity... Those who reacted quickly and sensitively to their childs needs were those who formed the attachment. 65% PA= Mother, 30%= Joint attachment with Mother & Father and 3% PA= Father.

4. STAGE 4: MULTIPLE ATTACHMENTS (7 months onwards)- Very soon after the main attachment is formed, a wider circle of MULTIPLE attachments is developed.

   • SCHAFFER & EMERSON: Within one month of becoming first attached, 29% of infants have MULTIPLE attachments (SECONDARY ATTACHMENTS). Infants also displayed separation anxiety in these relationships. Within SIX MONTHS= 78%. By the age of one, majority of infants have developed multiple attachments (1/3 had formed 5 or more)

5. EVALUATION!

   • [X] UNRELIABLE DATA- Schaffer & Emersons data relied on Mothers reporting findings. Some mothers may been discouraged to report true findings as they worried about how the researcher my judge them. This creates SYSTEMATIC BIAS which will reduce the validity of the data.
   • [X] BIASED SAMPLE- Results may only be typical for a small group of people. Study used Working class people so the results may only apply to that Social Group. You could also argue that it is a study of its time. Over the years, due to factors such as increased divorce rates, there are a higher number of Fathers acting as the Main Carer (quadrupled number of stay at home dates in the last 25 years). THEREFORE.. can we apply the findings to all groups of people in todays society?
   • [X] ARE MULTIPLE ATTACHMENTS EQUIVALENT- Some psychologists argue that the Primary attachment has some kind of significance over an others. BOWLBY'S view was that an infant forms ONE special attachment with the PRIMARY CAREGIVER (MONOTROPY)
   • [+] IMPORTANCE OF SECONDARY ATTACHMENTS- The importance of Secondary attachments have been recognised as they can offer specific types of care (ROLE OF THE FATHER) and siblings help to emphasis the importance of learning to negotiate with peers. RUTTER (1995) argued that all attachment figures are of equal importance.
   • [X] THE MODEL DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CULTURAL DIFFERENCE- Psychologists have identified there are two types of Cultures: Individualists and Collectivists. SAGI ET AL (1994) compared Primary Attachments with Mothers in infants raised in communal environments (Israeli- Collectivist) with infants raised in a family based environment. Children in Israel were looked after by a Metapelet including at night time. Closeness of attachment with mothers was almost twice as common in the family based scenario. THEREFORE... this suggests that the model is only applicable to Individualistic cultures such as the UK and US.

6. Multiple attachment - more than 1 attachment figure

7. Primary attachment figure - person with closest bond to child with intense relationship. Usually mother

8. Separation anxiety - Distress of infant when separated from caregiver

9. Stranger anxiety - distress of infant when approached by someone new to them