Bowlby, Harlow, Ainsworth Theory Attachmentmsroisum.weebly.com/uploads/5/8/8/2/58825005/attachment___pare… · Attachment Theory There is a deep emotional tie, almost a physical

Bowlby, Harlow, Ainsworth

Attachment Theory

Prenatal Stress Vocab Scramble

Due this Friday

Also Friday: Unit 9 Vocab quiz

Group Discussion

● Do your parents use the same parenting style for all of the children in your household? Discuss.

● What factors may influence the type of parenting style used by your parents? Be prepared to give examples.

Attachment Theory● There is a deep emotional tie, almost a

physical connection with a loved one● This is vital throughout life● John Bowlby, Harry Harlow, Mary Ainsworth

Powerful Contact Comfort Several Attachment

Survival Impulse Monkeys Styles Existed

Theories of Attachment

● Psychoanalytical Theory● Freudian● Oral, Breast Feeding

● Behavioral/Learning Theory● Infants become attached to people who feed and

meet their needs● The primary caregiver becomes the source of

reinforcement – the infant will do whatever necessary to get the caregiver’s attention (cry, smile, babble)

Harlow’s Monkey StudyHow important is feeding?

• Harlow researched this question in 1959 (clip)• Critical Question: Would the monkeys become

attached to the wire “mother” who feeds them or the soft, cloth mother?

Monkey Study

Experimental DesignResults?

● Harlow raised baby monkeys with 2 artificial wire frame figures make to resemble mother monkeys.

● One mother figure was fitted with a bottle the infant could eat from, and the other was wrapped in a soft material.

● Harlow found that infant monkeys when frightened preferred the soft mother figure even over the figure that they fed from.

● When the infants were surprised or stressed, they fled to the soft mother for comfort and protection.

● Harlow’s studies demonstrated the importance of physical comfort in the formation of attachment with parents.

● As Harlow’s infant monkey’s developed, he noticed that the monkey’s raised by the wire frame mothers became more stressed and frightened than monkeys raised with real mothers when put into new situations.

● The deprivation of an attachment with a real mother had long-term effects on these monkey’s behaviors.

Monkey Study

How does this apply to human babies?

We may shiver through Harlow's results, but still we make use of them

→ Babies who are deprived of physical touch and emotional attachment were much more likely to suffer physical, social, emotional, and intellectual difficulties

→ Orphanages

Mary Ainsworth

● Mary Ainsworth researched the ideas of attachment by placing human infants into novel situations.

● Strange Situation: Ainsworth observed the reactions of babies when their parents left for a short time and then returned

Mary Ainsworth: Strange Situation

● Infants with secure attachments (about 60 percent of the participants) ● confidently explore the novel environment

while the parents are present● distressed when parent leaves● seek contact with parent upon returning

Mary Ainsworth: Strange Situation

● The other infants expressed insecure attachments● Avoidant / Ambivalent attachment● Less likely to explore novel environment● Cries loudly when mother leaves or seems

indifferent to departure or when she returns● Harlow’s Monkeys were terrified when

artificial mothers were removed from environment

Attachment and Relationships

● Early attachments form the foundation of our adult relationships

● Secure Attachments● Trust, confidence, self reliance

● Insecure Attachments● Jealousy, promiscuity, relationship

insecurity

Critical Period for Attachment

● Imprinting (clip): A process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period early in life (Konrad Lorenz)

● Optimal shortly after birth when an organism’s exposure to certain stimuli produces proper development

● Attachment: Mere-exposure/familiarity

Parental Patterns

● Daumrind’s three main parenting styles● Authoritarian parenting● Permissive parenting● Authoritative parenting

Parenting Style Quiz

● Authoritarian● 2,3,7,9,12,16,18, 25, 26, 29

● Permissive● 1,6,10,13,14,17,19, 21,24,28

● Authoritative● 4, 5, 8, 11, 15, 20, 22, 23, 27, 30

Authoritarian Parenting

● Style of parenting marked by imposing rules and expecting obedience

● Low in warmth● Discipline is strict and sometimes

physical.● Communication high from parent to

child and low from child to parent● Maturity expectations are high.

Permissive Parenting

● Style of parenting marked by submitting to children’s desires, making few demands, and using little punishment

● High in warmth but rarely discipline● Communication is low from parent to

child but high from child to parent.● Expectations of maturity are low.

Authoritative Parenting

● Style of parenting marked by making demands on the child, being responsive, setting and enforcing rules, and discussing the reason behind the rules

● High in warmth with moderate discipline

● High in communication and negotiating● Maturity expectations are moderate

Parenting Styles

Discussion--scramble!

Consider authoritative, permissive, and authoritarian parenting styles. ● Describe the style of parenting that is most

pervasive in your household.● Is the same style used with siblings of

different ages or sexes? ● Do all parents (guardians, step parents,

etc.) use the same parenting techniques? ● What type of parenting style would YOU

use if you had children? Why?