Attachment Relationships

Outline Theories of Attachment Bowlby and Ainsworth Findings How attachment develops Relationship between attachment and parenting behaviors

Attachment Relationship A strong emotional bond that forms between infant and caregiver in the second half of the child’s first year The development of attachment relationships is a major achievement in the infant’s early social life Develops out of interactions between infant and caregiver

Theories of Attachment Psychoanalytic Theory Infants become attached to their mother because they associate her with gratification of their instinctual drive to obtain pleasure through sucking and oral stimulation Learning Theory Drive-reduction learning theorists suggested that the mother becomes an attachment object because she is associated with the reduction of the baby’s primary drive of hunger

Theories of Attachment Harlow’s Research Baby monkeys preferred to cling to the cloth “mother”— especially in moments of stress—even though it dispensed no food Similar findings in human research Thus, oral gratification and drive reduction are inadequate explanations for attachment

Theories of Attachment Learning Theories Operant Conditioning Attachment development based on visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation that infants receive from their caregivers Parents are the most reliable sources of this type of stimulation Central point: attachment is not automatic; it develops over time as a result of satisfying (i.e.,rewarding) interactions with responsive adults

Theories of Attachment Cognitive Developmental Theory Importance of ability to differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar others Importance of object permanence - understanding that objects, including people, have a continuous existence apart from the baby’s own interactions with them Cognitive shifts in expression of attachment Less need for physical proximity Understanding of need for and temporary nature of separations from familiar people

Theories of Attachment Ethological Theory – Bowlby Theory influenced by Lorenz’s demonstration of imprinting Birds and other infrahuman animals develop a preference for the person or object to which they are first exposed during a brief, critical period after birth Focused on signaling behaviors in human infant attachment crying, smiling, vocalizing, sucking, clinging Evolutionary biases make it likely child will use the parent as a secure base A safety zone that the infant can retreat to for comfort and reassurance when stressed or frightened while exploring the environment

Theories of Attachment Ethological Theory – Bowlby Three important features of theory Emphasis on the active role played by the infant’s early social signaling systems Stress on the development of mutual attachments Attachment is a dyadic relationship, not simply a behavior of either the infant or the parent

Infant Attachment Behaviors Proximity Seeking Efforts to regain physical contact with figure Contact Maintenance Efforts to maintain self-initiated contact with figure Avoidance Any active avoidance of proximity to or interaction with figure Resistance Negative behavior (often accompanied by anger) in response to figure’s contact attempts

Secure High Low Insecure/ Resistant 2 Insecure Styles Bowlby’s Attachment Style Proximity-Seeking Contact-Maintaining Resistance Avoidance Secure High Low 2 Insecure Styles Insecure/ Resistant **New Slide

Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Procedure (SSP)

Strange Situation Intro to lab (30 sec) Mother and child alone Stranger enters Mother leaves Mother returns; stranger leaves Mother leaves; child alone Mother enters Strange Situation Clip **New Slide

Behavioral Responses during Reunion Proximity Seeking Efforts to regain physical contact with figure Contact Maintenance Efforts to maintain self-initiated contact with figure Avoidance Any active avoidance of proximity to or interaction with figure Resistance Negative behavior (often accompanied by anger) in response to figure’s contact attempts **New Slide

Strange Situation: Secure Strange Situation Example: Securely Attached Baby

Ainsworth’s Classifications Attachment Type Description Secure (Type B) Babies are able to explore novel environments, are minimally disturbed by brief separations from their mother, and are quickly comforted by her when she returns Insecure-Avoidant (Type A) Babies seem not to be bothered by their mother’s brief absences but specifically avoid her when she returns, sometimes becoming visibly upset Insecure-Ambivalent (Type C) Babies tend to become very upset at the departure of their mother and exhibit inconsistent behavior on the mother’s return, sometimes seeking contact, sometimes pushing their mother away. (This is sometimes referred to as insecure-resistant or anxious-ambivalent attachment.) Insecure-Disorganized (Type D; added later) Babies seem disorganized and disoriented when reunited with their mother after a separation

Attachment Classifications

Insecurely Attached Infants Examples of Attachment Classifications Attachment to Father

How Attachment Develops What it Means to be Attached By age 1: form first attachment Seek contact and proximity with attachment figure Separation distress or protest - An infant’s distress reaction to being separated from the attachment object, usually the mother 7-9 mos: distress emerges 15 mos: intensity of distress at highest. After 15 mos: distress decreases

How Attachment Develops Attached to Whom? Mother is usually primary, but infant is capable of forming attachment to any familiar individual Multiple attachments are common Father Grandparent Sibling Number of attachments limited because requires frequent, close, one- to-one interaction

How Do Infants Become Attached? Attachment develops in phases (Shaffer & Emmerson, 1964) Asocial phase (0-6 weeks) Social (e.g., smiling face) and non-social (sticker) stimuli produces favorable reaction Phase of indiscriminate attachments (6 weeks – 6/7 months) Indiscriminate social responsiveness. Enjoy attention from anyone, but prefers regular caregiver

How Do Infants Become Attached? Attachment develops in phases (Shaffer & Emmerson, 1964) Specific attachment phase (7-9months) Protest when separated from a particular person, usually mother. Will follow mother closely. Wary of strangers. Phase of multiple attachments (approx. 18 months) Infants form attachment to other people beside primary attachment figure

Consider this… What type of parenting behaviors might cause… A secure attachment? An ambivalent attachment? An avoidant attachment? A disorganized attachment?

Secure Attachment Child Behavior Parenting Babies are able to explore novel environments Minimally disturbed by brief separations from their mother Quickly comforted by her when she returns Sensitive and responsive Behavior guided by baby’s cues (don’t interrupt) Accepting of baby and minimal frustration Physically and psychologically available

Parenting that is correlated with Secure Attachment (SPSS-S) Parenting Behavior Descriptions Sensitivity Responding promptly and appropriately to the infant’s signals Positive Attitude Expressing positive affect and affection for the infant Synchrony Structuring smooth, reciprocal interactions with the infant (do not interrupt or interfere with babies activity) Support Attending closely to and providing emotional support for the infants activities Stimulation Frequently directing actions toward the infant (do not ignore)

Insecure-Avoidant Attachment Child Behavior Parenting Babies seem not to be bothered by their mother’s brief absences Specifically AVOID her when she returns Even though they sometimes becoming visibly upset Intrusive and rejecting parenting (impatient) Unresponsive to infant signals Rarely have close bodily contact Act angry & irritable

Insecure-Ambivalent Attachment* Child Behavior Parenting Babies tend to become very upset at the departure of their mother Inconsistent behavior on the M’s return, sometimes seeking contact, sometimes pushing their mother away Often can’t be soothed up mothers return Unaffectionate and inconsistent parenting Sometimes respond to infants cues and sometimes not (depending on parental mood) More often tend to be indifferent *Also called insecure-ambivalent or anxious attachment

Disorganized Attachment Child Behavior Parenting Combination of resistant and avoidant patterns Confused about whether to approach or avoid mother When reunited with mother they may be fearful, freeze, may move close or move away Unaffectionate and inconsistent parenting Sometimes induces fear or reassurance in infant

A couple notes on parental sensitivity… Typical rate of secure attachment for middle-class U.S. children is 65% But, only 38% of infants with insensitive mothers show secure attachment Replicated: Relationship b/w father’s sensitivity and infant attachment style Relationship is significant, but weaker **New Slide

Sweet Nothings vs. Secure Base Provision Key to attachment classification: Parental response when the attachment system is activated (during times of distress) Chest to chest contact Still Face Experiment Sensitivity and sweet parenting at other times less important for the attachment relationship