Attachment Content
Attachment is a two-way enduring relationship between an infant and their caregiver
Caregiver-Infant Interaction
RECIPROCITY:
❥ When an action from one elicits a response in the other
INTERACTIONAL SYNCHRONY:
❥ Infant and caregiver re ect the actions & emotions of each other by doing the same
thing at the same time
MOTHERESE:
❥ A high-pitched way of speaking to infants
SENSITIVE RESPONSIVENESS:
❥ The caregiver responds appropriately to signals from the infant
Stages of Attachment
- Created by Scha er and Emerson
ASOCIAL:
❥ 0-3 months
❥ Infant recognises & forms bonds with carer
❥ There is some preference in adults but not strongly
❥ Behave the same to humans and inanimate objects
INDISCRIMINATE:
❥ 2-7 months
❥ No separation or stranger anxiety and can be comforted by any adult
❥ Can clearly distinguish between people and objects
DISCRIMINATE:
❥ 7 months
❥ Stranger and separation anxiety
❥ Forms a primary attachment
MULTIPLE ATTACHMENTS:
❥ 9 months
❥ Forms secondary attachments (some attachments stronger than others)
Role of the Father
❥ Within psychology there are disagreements on the role of the father
❥ A historical view is that the father has an economic role as the mother is biologically
suited to nurture
❥ Some argue that the father is a provider & does not form an attachment with the child
❥ Oestrogen in mother underlies caring behaviour and father is a playmate
ff fl
Attachment is a two-way enduring relationship between an infant and their caregiver
Caregiver-Infant Interaction
RECIPROCITY:
❥ When an action from one elicits a response in the other
INTERACTIONAL SYNCHRONY:
❥ Infant and caregiver re ect the actions & emotions of each other by doing the same
thing at the same time
MOTHERESE:
❥ A high-pitched way of speaking to infants
SENSITIVE RESPONSIVENESS:
❥ The caregiver responds appropriately to signals from the infant
Stages of Attachment
- Created by Scha er and Emerson
ASOCIAL:
❥ 0-3 months
❥ Infant recognises & forms bonds with carer
❥ There is some preference in adults but not strongly
❥ Behave the same to humans and inanimate objects
INDISCRIMINATE:
❥ 2-7 months
❥ No separation or stranger anxiety and can be comforted by any adult
❥ Can clearly distinguish between people and objects
DISCRIMINATE:
❥ 7 months
❥ Stranger and separation anxiety
❥ Forms a primary attachment
MULTIPLE ATTACHMENTS:
❥ 9 months
❥ Forms secondary attachments (some attachments stronger than others)
Role of the Father
❥ Within psychology there are disagreements on the role of the father
❥ A historical view is that the father has an economic role as the mother is biologically
suited to nurture
❥ Some argue that the father is a provider & does not form an attachment with the child
❥ Oestrogen in mother underlies caring behaviour and father is a playmate
ff fl
