Attachment

•    Purpose of attachment:

–  Provide infant with secure base with which to explore the world

–  Keep infant and caregiver close to each other (maintaining proximity), motivated by emotional bond

–  Provide example of social interaction on which child can base cognitive models

•    Stages of attachment:

–  0-6 weeks: asocial (crying and smiling signals not directed at any person in particular)

–  6 wks-7 mos: indistriminate attachment (attention from anyone--acquaintance or stranger) [Lillian at 2.5 month surgery]

–  7-11 mos: specific attachments (usually to mother). Also show stranger anxiety, or wariness towards unknown people (even grandparents)

•    Measuring attachment

–  Strange Situation

•   1: Mother & infant

•   2: Free exploration

•   3: Stranger enters

•   4: Mother leaves stranger and baby together

•   5: Mother returns to settle baby and stranger leaves

•   6: Baby left alone in room

•   7: Stranger returns

•   8: Mother returns and stranger leaves again

•   [Movies]

–  Categories of attachment

•   Secure (Type B)

–  Episode 2: play happily with toys

–  Episode 3 & 4: little distress at being left with stranger

–  Episode 6: distress when mother leaves infant alone

–  Episode 7: quichly calm down

•   Avoidant (Type A)

–  2: Indifferent play with toys, little contact with mother

–  4 & 6: Not particularly distressed

–  5 & 8: Avoid contact with mother

•   Resistant (Type C)

–  2: Upset, reject toys

–  4 & 6: Considerable distress

–  5 & 8: Seek and reject comfort from mother

•   Disorganized (Type D)

–  No coherent strategy for separation or reunion (e.g. distress at mother’s absence but avoidance upon return)

–  What do these measures predict?

•   Type B children generally superior in negotiating physical environment

•   Type B children later (8-9 months later) more likely to have reached developmental milestones (Bayley Scale) and have more focussed toy play

•   Not clear what effect is in later childhood

•    Antecedents of attachment

–  Contact (form is not all that important, barring abusive behavior)

–  Sensitivity

–  Types of parenting related to styles of attachment

•   Secure: much contact, sensitivity in responding

•   Avoidant: Little contact (infant predicts that caregiver will not be around to offer comfort)

•   Resistant: Lots of contact, but not too sensitive (infant knows that caregiver is available, but contact with caregiver does not provide comfort)

•   Disorganized: inconsistent attention and demands; mothers tend to have own problems--e.g. caregivers of disorganized children more likely to go into hysterics at misbehavior

–  Cultural factors and values

•   Does avoidant response in Strange Situation mean that child has not formed bond with caregiver, or that child is capable of some autonomy?

•   Israeli kibbutz children more often classified as avoidant, but have numerous caregivers