Psychology: Development of Attachments

What is an attachment?

-Attachment is a stong, emotional reciprocal bond between 2 people.
--->the basis of emotional development

What were Maccobys 4 characteristics?

1)Seeking proximity
2)Upset upon separation
3)Happiness upon reunion
4)General behaviour toward caregiver

What was SCHAFFER and EMERSONS study?

Aim: They wanted to perform a study into the developments of attachments
--> Age children were
-->Who these attachments were to
-->How strong these attachments were

Procedure:
- Studied 60 infants from working class GLASGOW
- Every 4 weeks until aged one
-->MEASURES USED:
1)Separation anxiety: distress shown when child is separated from caregiver
2)Stranger anxiety: distress shown when child is in the presence of a stranger

Findings:
1)HALF of children showed SPECIFIC ATTACHMENTS between 6-8 MONTHS. FOLLOWED by STRANGER ANXIETY around a month after
2)NOT LONG after one attchment was made did the others follow, BY 18 MONTHS infant had more than one attachment
3)STRENGHT OF ATTACHMENT was strongest a MONTH after attachment behaviour was seen
--->INTENSLY ATTACHED CHILDREN: had highly responsive caregivers
--->WEAKLY ATTACHED CHILDREN: had unresponsive caregivers
4)In 39% of cases the individual that fed, bathed the infant was not their primary attchment

JOHN BOWLBY: 4 PHASE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATTACHMENTS

AGE: 0-2 MONTHS: PRE-ATTACHMENTS:
-->Infants show similar response to ANIMATE/INANIMATE OBJECTS. Towards end of stage the infant prefers social stimuli
AGE: 2-6 MONTHS: ATTACHMENT IN THE MAKING:
-->Infants become MORE SOCIABLE, prefer HUMAN COMPANY.
AGE: AROUND 6 MONTHS: SPECIFIC ATTACHMENTS:
-->Infants show specific type of protest when with a particular individual. STRANGER ANXIETY BEGINS around this time.
AGE: 2 YEARS: GOAL CORRECTED PARTNERSHIPS:
-->Relationship becomes more TWO SIDED. Those in relationship can ADJUST their behaviour to the NEEDS OF THE OTHER.

The evaluation of Bowlby?

- In this day and age Bowlbys theory may not be as accurate, some children are MORE SOCIABLE AT AN EARLIER AGE
-Appearance of SEPARATION ANXIETY: children lose interest in things that disappear until they form object permanence

What is so significant about physical development?

-Shorty after primary attachment is formed the DEVELOPMENT OF MOBILITY follows.
-AINSWORTH: Ugandan babies showed STRANGER ANXIETY at 6 MONTHS and their MOBILITY WAS ADVANCED.

What conclusion can be made?
-There is evidence to SUPPORT BOWLBY: certain attachment types OCCUR AROUND 6 MONTHS (attchment were STRANGER ANXIETY IS EXPERIENCED)
-There is evidence AGAINST BOWLBY: infants are more sociable nowadays than previously.