Section 1 – What is attachment
1) Definition of attachment
A special reciprocal bond between 2 people that doesn't deteriorate over time.
2) Caregiver interaction
Attachments in children:
● Reciprocal - 2 people share it
● Proximity - desire to be near person attached to
● Selective - prefer certain individuals over others
● Provide comfort and security - import when child is upset, ill or tired
● Separation protest
● Enduring (lifetime)
Reciprocity - mimic or copy behaviours
Infant reciprocity - infant copies caregiver
Caregiver reciprocity - caregiver copies infant
International synchrony - mother + infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other
and do this in a coordinated way.
3) Study into reciprocity and interactional synchrony
Isabella et al 1989
↳ observed 30 mother w/ infants + found high levels of synchrony were associated w/ better
mother-child attachments.
weakness
N - questionable reliability of testing children
E - infants move mouths + wave arms constantly - intentional?
C - cannot be certain infants engaging in interactional synchrony or reciprocity - behaviour
random?
weakness
N - observer bias
E - researchers consciously/unconsciously interpret behaviours to support findings
C - address problem - use more than one observer otherwise results lack internal validity.
4) Stages of attachment (Schaffer & Emerson 1964)
, Interviews about separation and stranger anxiety - once a month for a year.
Asocial Stage
0-6 weeks
Interacts w/ anyone but isn't interested in forming attachments
Indiscriminate Attachment
6 weeks - 6 months
More sociable + forming stronger attachments but no attachment is stronger than others
Don’t experience stranger anxiety
Specific Attachment
7 months+
Form attachment w/ one specific person, usually primary caregiver
Experience separation anxiety + stranger anxiety
Multiple Attachments
10 months+
Form multiple attachments beyond primary caregivers, eg siblings/grandparents.
G - Glasgow, 1974 ,60 babies, rundown area
↳ culture bias, historical validity, small sample size.
R - 4-week observations
↳ observer bias, and different observers - subjective - low internal validity
A - Helped in adopting early and how to care for children in early childhood.
↳high in internal validity in this respect but...
V - low external validity
↳ study was not like real life
E - deception - not told aim
Privacy - strangers in home looking at how babies are treated - socially sensitive.
5) Role of the father
1) Definition of attachment
A special reciprocal bond between 2 people that doesn't deteriorate over time.
2) Caregiver interaction
Attachments in children:
● Reciprocal - 2 people share it
● Proximity - desire to be near person attached to
● Selective - prefer certain individuals over others
● Provide comfort and security - import when child is upset, ill or tired
● Separation protest
● Enduring (lifetime)
Reciprocity - mimic or copy behaviours
Infant reciprocity - infant copies caregiver
Caregiver reciprocity - caregiver copies infant
International synchrony - mother + infant reflect both the actions and emotions of the other
and do this in a coordinated way.
3) Study into reciprocity and interactional synchrony
Isabella et al 1989
↳ observed 30 mother w/ infants + found high levels of synchrony were associated w/ better
mother-child attachments.
weakness
N - questionable reliability of testing children
E - infants move mouths + wave arms constantly - intentional?
C - cannot be certain infants engaging in interactional synchrony or reciprocity - behaviour
random?
weakness
N - observer bias
E - researchers consciously/unconsciously interpret behaviours to support findings
C - address problem - use more than one observer otherwise results lack internal validity.
4) Stages of attachment (Schaffer & Emerson 1964)
, Interviews about separation and stranger anxiety - once a month for a year.
Asocial Stage
0-6 weeks
Interacts w/ anyone but isn't interested in forming attachments
Indiscriminate Attachment
6 weeks - 6 months
More sociable + forming stronger attachments but no attachment is stronger than others
Don’t experience stranger anxiety
Specific Attachment
7 months+
Form attachment w/ one specific person, usually primary caregiver
Experience separation anxiety + stranger anxiety
Multiple Attachments
10 months+
Form multiple attachments beyond primary caregivers, eg siblings/grandparents.
G - Glasgow, 1974 ,60 babies, rundown area
↳ culture bias, historical validity, small sample size.
R - 4-week observations
↳ observer bias, and different observers - subjective - low internal validity
A - Helped in adopting early and how to care for children in early childhood.
↳high in internal validity in this respect but...
V - low external validity
↳ study was not like real life
E - deception - not told aim
Privacy - strangers in home looking at how babies are treated - socially sensitive.
5) Role of the father
