Attachment

Attachment

1. Strong, long-lasting, close, emotional bond

   • causes distress on seperation

2. Important consequences for later healthy development

   • especially later relationships

3. Characterised by;

   • proximity seeking
   • Distress at seperation
   • Pleasure when united
   • Pleasure when united

4. How does attachment develop?

   • Emerson and Schaffer
     • 4 stages in attachment formation, occur gradually over these phases:
       • Asocial phase
         • pre-attachment
         • 0-2 months
         • Preference for humans over objects shown by preferential looking & social smiling
         • before 6 weeks infant - asocial
       • Indiscriminate attachment phase
         • 2 - 7 months
         • infants distinguish between people
         • allow strangers to handle them
       • Specific attachment phase
         • 7-9 months
         • specific attachments to certain people - show distress on separation from them
         • Avoidance/Fear of strangers may be shown
       • Multiple attachment phase
         • 9 months onwards
         • infant increasingly independent
         • form other bonds
           • despite stronger prior attachments