ATTACHMENT part 1

ATTACHMENT part 1

1. RECIPROCITY

   • when each person responds to the other + elicits a response from them
     • trad. view = baby takes passive role, receiving care
       • hwvr, baby takes active role because both baby + mother can initiate interactions
   • INTERACTIONAL SYNCHRONY
     • mum + infant reflect actions + emotions of the other
       • = coordinated/synchronised
     • MELTZOFF + MOORE
       • 1977
       • observed IS in children (2 w/o), found association btwn expressive/facial gesture the mother had and the response they got
     • ISABELLA ET AL
       • 1989
       • assessed degree of synch. + quality of attach. btwn 30 mothers/infants + found high lvls of synch. were associated w better quality mother-infant attachments
   • mother + infant interaction = reciprocal
     • babies have 'alert phases' ---> mothers pick up on alertness abt 2/3 times
       • this interaction is more + more frequent at 3 months old
         • involves close attention + facial expressions
           • key element = RECIPROCITY
       • FELDMAN + EIDELMAN
         • 2007

2. ATTACHMENT FIGURES

   • PARENT-INFANT ATTACHMENT
     • SCHAFFER + EMERSON
       • 1964
       • at around 7 m/o babies become attached to the mother first
         • a few weeks later, they form secondary attachment with father
           • 75% infants
             • had attachment with father at 18 m/o
   • THE ROLE OF THE FATHER
     • GROSSMAN
       • longitudinal study, looked at both parents + relationships to qulty of children's attachments into their teens
         • father attachment = less important
       • 2002
   • FATHER AS PRIMARY CARERS
     • fathers w main caregiver role take on typical maternal traits
     • FIELD
       • 1978
       • fathers can be the more nuturing attachment figure

3. STAGES OF ATTCHMENT

   • SCHAFFER + EMERSON
     • 1964
   • investigate formation of early attachments
     • particularly age they develop emotional intensity + who with
   • 60 babies - 31 m, 29 f
     • all from Glasgow, WC fam
     • visited every month for 1st year + again at 18 m/o. Mothers asked ?'s abt kind of protest babies showed in everyday separations
       • designed to measure babies attachment
       • also assessed stranger anxiety
       • 25+32 w/o = 50% showed separation anxiety towards particular adult
   • 1) asocial stage
     • 2) indiscriminate attachment
       • 3) specific attachment
         • 4) multiple attachments

4. ANIMAL STUDIES

   • LORENZ
     • 1952
     • done on geese
       • attachment btwn infant animals + mother
       • imprinting
   • HARLOW
     • 1958
     • done on rhesus monkeys
       • importance of contact comfort
       • maternally deprived as adults
       • critical period of normal development