4203- developmental psychology
Attachment: later development and childcare
Internal working model of attachment –
Early attachment experiences= IWM of attachment
- Set of expectations about the availability and support of attachment
figures
An internal representation based on cognitive representations of trust, support
and recollection of experiences instead of physical proximity
Guide for future, close and social relationships
Evidence of IWM
- 12 – 16-month-olds either securely or insecurely attached
- Securely attached – looked at video of unresponsive caregiver
- insecurely attached – no difference in looking time
Separation anxiety test – Main et al, 1985- Adult attachment interview
Shown pictures and asked to respond to pictures showing separation experiences
Secure- acknowledge anxiety but can provide a coherent account and describe
effective coping responses
Insecure- deny anxiety or suggest inappropriate coping responses
Stability of attachment-
Attachment type is frequent but not consistent- relationships between
classifications between strange situation and AAI
Inconsistencies often explicable in terms of reported changes in life (Booth- La
Force and Roisman, 2014)
- Secure-> insecure = loss of parent
- Insecure -> secure = improved financial or employment circumstance
Transmission across generations-
- Meta – analysis concordance rates (Van Ijzendoorn, 1995)
- Adult classified on AAI as secure = more likely to have securely attached
child
- Maternal sensitivity proposed as mechanism- role of life factors
acknowledged
Cultural variations in attachment-
- More avoidant than resistant in German sample
- More resistant than avoidant in Japanese sample
- Likely reflect differences in child- rearing practices
, Dogon infants-
Child rearing practices-
- Polygamous living together
- Breastfeeding on demand- quick response to infant distress- constant
proximity to mother or caregiver
Assessed attachment at 10-12 months in 3 situations
- During handover to nurse in a weigh session, strange situation and
observation in home environment
Measured attachment behaviours-
- Classification from strange situation and a rating of their security on a 9-
point scale, maternal sensitivity, frightened or frightening behaviours by
the mother (5 -point scale)
Cultural variations-
Distribution of attachment types-
- B= 67%, A=0%, C=8%, D=25%
- Broadly like western samples other than 0% for type A
Maternal sensitivity hypothesis-
- Mothers who are appropriately sensitive to their child’s needs are more
likely to have securely attached infants
- Only a weak correlation, similar magnitude to that found in meta-analysis
from western samples
Sources of variation in attachment
Factors that affect attachment security –
- Early availability of a consistent caregiver
- Quality of caregiving
- Child characteristics
- Family context
- Parents IWM of attachment
Early availability of consistent caregiver-
- Research on children in institutions
- Children show reduced rates of secure attachment
- High risk for emotional and social difficulties
- Recurring 6-month adoption watershed for cognitive and social- emotional
development
- Consistent with early attachment theory
Attachment: later development and childcare
Internal working model of attachment –
Early attachment experiences= IWM of attachment
- Set of expectations about the availability and support of attachment
figures
An internal representation based on cognitive representations of trust, support
and recollection of experiences instead of physical proximity
Guide for future, close and social relationships
Evidence of IWM
- 12 – 16-month-olds either securely or insecurely attached
- Securely attached – looked at video of unresponsive caregiver
- insecurely attached – no difference in looking time
Separation anxiety test – Main et al, 1985- Adult attachment interview
Shown pictures and asked to respond to pictures showing separation experiences
Secure- acknowledge anxiety but can provide a coherent account and describe
effective coping responses
Insecure- deny anxiety or suggest inappropriate coping responses
Stability of attachment-
Attachment type is frequent but not consistent- relationships between
classifications between strange situation and AAI
Inconsistencies often explicable in terms of reported changes in life (Booth- La
Force and Roisman, 2014)
- Secure-> insecure = loss of parent
- Insecure -> secure = improved financial or employment circumstance
Transmission across generations-
- Meta – analysis concordance rates (Van Ijzendoorn, 1995)
- Adult classified on AAI as secure = more likely to have securely attached
child
- Maternal sensitivity proposed as mechanism- role of life factors
acknowledged
Cultural variations in attachment-
- More avoidant than resistant in German sample
- More resistant than avoidant in Japanese sample
- Likely reflect differences in child- rearing practices
, Dogon infants-
Child rearing practices-
- Polygamous living together
- Breastfeeding on demand- quick response to infant distress- constant
proximity to mother or caregiver
Assessed attachment at 10-12 months in 3 situations
- During handover to nurse in a weigh session, strange situation and
observation in home environment
Measured attachment behaviours-
- Classification from strange situation and a rating of their security on a 9-
point scale, maternal sensitivity, frightened or frightening behaviours by
the mother (5 -point scale)
Cultural variations-
Distribution of attachment types-
- B= 67%, A=0%, C=8%, D=25%
- Broadly like western samples other than 0% for type A
Maternal sensitivity hypothesis-
- Mothers who are appropriately sensitive to their child’s needs are more
likely to have securely attached infants
- Only a weak correlation, similar magnitude to that found in meta-analysis
from western samples
Sources of variation in attachment
Factors that affect attachment security –
- Early availability of a consistent caregiver
- Quality of caregiving
- Child characteristics
- Family context
- Parents IWM of attachment
Early availability of consistent caregiver-
- Research on children in institutions
- Children show reduced rates of secure attachment
- High risk for emotional and social difficulties
- Recurring 6-month adoption watershed for cognitive and social- emotional
development
- Consistent with early attachment theory
