1. Chapter 14 Attachment and Social Relationships

2. Attachment
Attachment is defined as “a close emotional bond between an infant and a caregiver”
Close relationships provide
Learning experiences
Social support

3. Attachment Theory
Bowlby: A strong affectional tie that binds a person to an intimate companion
Helps regulate distress by proximity seeking
By about 6-7 months
Ainsworth: special, irreplaceable people
Desire to maintain proximity
Derive a sense of security
Bowlby: normal environment important

4. Ethology Konrad Lorenz: Imprinting Critical period Irreversible
Humans: Attachment
Sensitive period
Predisposed

5. Major Studies on Attachment
Harry Harlow
Direct criticism of Freud
Wire monkey
Cloth monkey
Contact comfort is key

6. Mary Ainsworth “Strange Situation”
Separation anxiety: 6-8 mo
Peaks around mo
Gradually wanes
Stranger anxiety: 8-10 mo
Declines during 2nd yr

7. Ainsworth’s studies
4 different types of attachment
Secure attachment
Insecure avoidant attachment
Insecure resistant attachment
Insecure disorganized attachment

9. Caregiver provides “contact comfort”
Ainsworth: Strange Situation Test
Secure attachment: most
Insecure attachment categories
Inconsistent care > resistant
Insensitive stimulation > avoidant
Rejection, impatient, resentful
Intrusive
Abusive > disorganized/disoriented

10. Effects of Social Deprivation
Infants grieve when separated from caregiver
Recover when reunited or upon forming new attachments
A series of separations more harmful
Romanian orphans
Insecure, anxious
Difficulty coping with stress
Need sustained interaction with responsive caregivers – one or a few
Reactive Attachment Disorder

11. Later Outcomes
Securely attached child
Cognitively and socially competent
Expect positive reactions
Insecurely attached child
Withdrawn, dependent, fearful
Less competent
Patterns last through adolescence

12. Conclusions
Attachment to fathers, grandparents, etc.
Can compensate for poor attachment
Secure attachments may change
Stressful events: divorce, illness
Insecure attachments may change
Lifestyle improvements
Later relationships influenced by nature of early attachment

13. Childhood Peers
Important for social development
Piaget: equal power among peers
Requires cooperation, negotiation skills
Sullivan: Peers important after age 6
Changing interpersonal needs
Harris: Parental influence is overrated
Peers more important for development

14. Emotions in Infancy
Timing of emotions biologically programmed
Tied to cognitive maturation
Evolved to ensure that caregivers respond
Social referencing by months
monitor reactions in others to help define situation, regulate behavior and emotions
Modeling, imitation, reinforcement

15. Caregiver’s Attachment to Infant
Early contact not crucial nor sufficient
Neonatal reflexes endearing: e.g., smiling
Cooing and babbling: early conversations
Synchronized routines
Peek-A-Boo
Sensitive responding a must
Over-stimulation/under-stimulation

16. Infant’s Attachment to Caregiver
Social responsiveness
At birth: undiscriminating
2-6 mo: preferences develop
Proximity seeking
6 mo to 3 yr
Attachment figures
Mental representation abilities needed

17. Peer Relations
18 mo: first peers
Turn taking
Reciprocal play
Age 2-12: increasing time spent
Same sex peers
Similar age and play preferences

18. Play
Age 1-2: Pretend play
Age 2-5: Social play
Age 5-6: Rule-based games
By age 11-2: Rule flexibility
Play is beneficial
Cognitive development
Social skills

19. Peer Acceptance
Sociometric techniques
Most popular kids
Attractive, intelligent
Socially competent
Rejected kids
Highly aggressive
Socially isolated, overly sensitive, submissive

20. Adolescents
Parents still important
Boy-girl friendships and dates
Dating: Dunphy’s phases
Initiation; Status; Affection; Bonding
Friendships: More intimacy
Friends similar psychologically
Cliques and crowds
Increased conformity

21. The Adult
Social networks shrink
Closer to family
Romantic attachments
Adult friendships valued
Important to have one confidant