Caregiver-infant interactions in humans: reciprocity and interactional synchrony. Stages of attachment identified by Schaffer. Multiple attachments and the role of the father.
Animal studies of attachment: Lorenz and Harlow.
Explanations of attachment: learning theory and Bowlby’s monotropic th...
Caregiver-infant interaction
https://quizlet.com/_afjfz0?x=1qqt&i=266uf0
Research for caregiver-infant interaction
- Meltzoff and Moore (1977) conducted a study where they observed interactional
synchrony in infants as young as 2 weeks old. Adults would display 3 facial
expressions (or gestures) and the infants' reactions were filmed and judged to
see if they matched that of the adults. There was a correlation between adult
behaviour and infant response.
- Isabella et al (1989) observed 30 mums and babies together and assessed the
degree of synchrony, they also assessed the quality of mother-baby
attachment. they found that higher levels of synchrony were associated with
better quality mother-baby attachments. Believed that IS is important for
attachments.
Strengths
- Filmed in a lab (Inter-rater reliability)
- Babies don't know their being observed (won't change their behaviour)
Weaknesses
- Hard to interpret baby's behaviour (smile = gas , hand movement = twitch)
- Observing behaviour does not tell us its developmental importance
Schaffers stages of attachment
https://quizlet.com/_afjmve?x=1qqt&i=266uf0
Key study- Schaffer & Emerson (1964)
- Aim: to investigate the formation of early attachments, and at what age they
develop.
- Method: 60 babies from working class families in glasgow. Mother visited at
home every month for the first year then at 18 months. Asked questions about
separation anxiety, and stranger anxiety.
- Findings: between 25-32 weeks 50% of babies showed signs of separation
anxiety towards mum . Attachment tended to be with pps most interactive and
sensitive to the babies signals and facial expressions (reciprocity). May not pps
who spends the most time with kid.
Stage 1- Asocial stage
- Behaviour between non-human objects and humans is similar. Some preference
for familiar adults (mother finds it easier to calm them)
- The baby forms bonds with certain people
Stage 2-Indiscriminate attachment
- From 2-7 months babies display more social behaviour. They show preference
for people rather than inanimate objects. They recognise/prefer familiar adults.
Babies accept cuddles and comfort from any adult (don’t show separation
anxiety/stranger anxiety)
Stage 3- specific attachment
- From around 7 months the majority of babies show stranger/separation
anxiety. The baby has formed a specific attachment. This adult is said to be the
primary attachment figure. This isn’t necessarily who the baby spends the most
time with but who responds to the baby's signals with the most skill.
, Stage 4- multiple attachments
- Shortly after babies show attachment to one adult they form attachment with
multiple adults (familiar ones, secondary attachments). 29% of the children had
secondary attachments within a month of forming a primary attachment. By the
age of 1 year the majority of infants had developed multiple attachments.
Strengths
- Done by parents in their home = behaviour was > natural, good external validity.
- The study was a longitudinal study allowing the children to be followed up over
time and observed regularly.
- The study had good internal validity and did not have confounding variables
(that may have been present if a cross sectional design was used instead).
- Used a large sample of 60 babies and in depth detailed information on each
infant
Weaknesses
- Cannot generalise = from the same area , same social class and was done in
1964
- Cannot generalise from culture to culture
- Mums were observers, biassed
Role of the father
https://quizlet.com/_ag5g73?x=1jqt&i=266uf0
Schaffer and Emerson found that the majority of babies attached to the mum first.
After a few weeks secondary attachments form to the dad also. Infants protested when
the dad walked away = attachment formed. In 3% of cases dad was the 1st solo object
of attachment. 75% of babies formed an attachment with dad by the age of 18 months
Grossman (2002) longitudinal study
- Looked at mum + dad behaviour/relationship of quality of kids attachment into
their teens
- Quality was affected by relationship with mum to dad
- Dads relationship was less important
However
- Quality of dads play with babies was related to the quality of attachment
- This suggest dad had a different role from mum
- A role more todo with play + stimulation, less to do with emotional
development
Fathers as primary attachment figure (Caregivers)
Tiffany field (1978)
- Filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interaction with primary caregiver
mothers, secondary (eg. dad + primary eg. dad)
- Primary (eg. dad) like mum spent more time smiling, imitating + holding infants
than secondary dads
- Primary dad takes on the role of ‘mum’
- Responsiveness not gender
- Dad can be the primary caregiver
Strength
- Used to offer advice to parents
- Mum’s don't have to feel pressure to stay at home as they know dads can do the
job
- Gay parents know their child will be ok without a mum
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