Emotional tie with another person Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Attachment Emotional tie with another person Formed shortly after birth (critical period) For infants: Attachment - #1 social achievement Most important attachment - caregiver Two parts: 1) Contact 2) Familiarity

Before assimilation & accommodation develop Separation anxiety Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Attachment - terms Stranger anxiety Before assimilation & accommodation develop Separation anxiety After object permanence develops Sensorimotor

Harry Harlow: babies form attachments to fulfill comfort, safety needs Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Contact Old theory: babies form attachments to fulfill nourishment, safety needs Harry Harlow: babies form attachments to fulfill comfort, safety needs Contact more important that food, etc.

Wire mother provides nourishment, cloth one doesn’t. Which “mother” does the monkey choose? The cloth mother Comfort, contact more important than nourishment

How do we know who is familiar (safe)? Imprinting Humans don’t imprint Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Familiarity Familiar is safe How do we know who is familiar (safe)? Imprinting Humans don’t imprint Attachment – long, complex process

Types of parenting affect how attachments are formed Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Forming attachments Mary Ainsworth Types of parenting affect how attachments are formed Responsive parenting More time spent with child – more child becomes familiar with caregiver Non-responsive parenting Less time spent with child – less child is familiar with caregiver Handout On handout

Strange situation design Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Forming attachments Strange situation design Child in strange situation, usually a doctor’s office waiting room. Mother present Other children often present Toys present After a short period of time, the mother gets up to leave Comes back a short while later. Handout link

Secure Attachment – 70% of the time Plays comfortably with other Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Forming attachments Three general responses/types Secure Attachment – 70% of the time Plays comfortably with other Explores new environment Not clingy to mother Cry when parent leaves room Run to them when they return Handout

Forming attachments Infancy & Childhood: Social development Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Forming attachments Three general responses/types 2) Insecure attachment: Resistant Attachment - 10% of the time Does not play/play comfortably Does not explorer new environment Clingy to parent instead of playing/exploring Protests loudly when parent leaves Resist contact with parent at reunion Acts angry toward parent Handout

Forming attachments Infancy & Childhood: Social development Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Forming attachments Three general responses/types 3) Insecure attachment - Detached/Avoidant Attachment - 20% of the time Does not play/play comfortably Does not explorer new environment Indifferent towards parent Doesn’t play or explore Doesn’t care if parent leaves the room Doesn’t try to seek contact upon return Treats strangers same as parent Handout

Effects of early attachments: terms Erik Erikson Social competence Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Effects of early attachments: terms Erik Erikson Social competence More nurture than nature Gained through Secure Attachment Basic trust Sense world is safe & predictable People are trustworthy Formed during early childhood

Effects of early attachments Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Effects of early attachments Type of attachment seems to influence later life, especially relationships. Early childhood treatment by parents only one indicator.

Effects of early attachments Developmental psychology: Infancy & Childhood Infancy & Childhood: Social development Effects of early attachments Type of attachment seems to influence later life, especially relationships: If we had Secure Attachment… Healthier relationships Basic trust Social competence If we had Insecure Attachment… Opposite is true