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

Attachment Relationships

Theories of Attachment

Bowlby and Ainsworth Findings

How attachment develops

Relationship between attachment and parenting behaviors

Outline

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

Attachment Relationship

Theories of AttachmentPsychoanalytic 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 AttachmentLearning TheoriesOperant 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 AttachmentCognitive 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 AttachmentEthological 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 – BowlbyThree 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

•Efforts to regain physical contact with figure

Proximity Seeking

•Efforts to maintain self-initiated contact with figure

Contact Maintenance

•Any active avoidance of proximity to or interaction with figure

Avoidance

•Negative behavior (often accompanied by anger) in response to figure’s contact attempts

Resistance

Infant Attachment Behaviors

Bowlby’s Attachment

Style

Proximity-

Seeking

Contact-Maintainin

g

Resistance

Avoidance

Secure High High Low Low

2 Insecure Styles

Insecure/Resistant High High High Low

Insecure/Avoidance Low Low Low High

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Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Procedure (SSP)

1 Mother, baby, and observer

30 sec Observer introduces mother and baby to experimental room and then leaves. (Room contains appealing toys scattered about.)

2 Mother and baby 3 min Mother sits quietly while baby explores; if necessary, play is stimulated after 2 minutes.

3 Stranger, mother, and baby

3 min An unfamiliar woman enters. First minute: stranger is silent. Second minute: stranger talks to mother. Third minute: stranger approaches baby. After 3 minutes, mother leaves unobtrusively.

4 Stranger and baby ≈3 min First separation episode. Stranger is responsive to baby.

5 Mother and baby ≥3 min First reunion episode. Mother returns to room and greets and/or comforts baby and then tries to settle the baby again in play. Mother then leaves, saying “bye-bye.”

6 Baby alone ≤3 min Second separation episode.

7 Stranger and baby ≤3 min Continuation of second separation. Stranger enters and responds to baby’s behavior.

8 Mother and baby 3 min Second reunion episode. Mother enters, greets, and then picks up baby. Meanwhile, stranger leaves unobtrusively.

Intro to lab (30 sec)

Mother and child alone

Stranger enters

Mother leaves

Mother returns; stranger leaves

Mother leaves; child

alone

Stranger enters

Mother enters

Strange Situation

Clip**New Slide

•Efforts to regain physical contact with figure

Proximity Seeking

•Efforts to maintain self-initiated contact with figure

Contact Maintenance

•Any active avoidance of proximity to or interaction with figure

Avoidance

•Negative behavior (often accompanied by anger) in response to figure’s contact attempts

Resistance

Behavioral Responses during Reunion

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Strange Situation Example: Securely Attached Baby

Strange Situation: Secure

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

Ainsworth’s Classifications

Secure65%

Avoidant20%

Ambivalent10%

Disorganized5%

Secure Avoidant Ambivalent Disorganized

Attachment Classifications

Examples of Attachment Classifications

Attachment to Father

Insecurely Attached Infants

How Attachment DevelopsWhat it Means to be AttachedBy 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 DevelopsAttached 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

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

How Do Infants Become Attached?

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

Consider this…

Sensitive and responsive

Behavior guided by baby’s cues (don’t interrupt)

Accepting of baby and minimal frustration

Physically and psychologically available

Parenting Babies are able to

explore novel environments

Minimally disturbed by brief separations from their mother

Quickly comforted by her when she returns

Child Behavior

Secure Attachment

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)

Parenting that is correlated with Secure Attachment (SPSS-S)

Intrusive and rejecting parenting (impatient)

Unresponsive to infant signals

Rarely have close bodily contact

Act angry & irritable

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

Child Behavior

Insecure-Avoidant Attachment

Unaffectionate and inconsistent parenting

Sometimes respond to infants cues and sometimes not (depending on parental mood)

More often tend to be indifferent

ParentingBabies 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

Child Behavior

Insecure-AmbivalentAttachment*

*Also called insecure-ambivalent or anxious attachment

Unaffectionate and inconsistent parenting

Sometimes induces fear or reassurance in infant

ParentingCombination 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

Child Behavior

Disorganized Attachment

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

A couple notes on parental sensitivity…

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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

Sweet Nothings vs. Secure Base Provision