Attachment

1
Attachment

• The formation of a strong, reciprocal emotional
  bond between an infant and a primary caregiver

www.psychlotron.org.uk
2
Attachment

• Behaviours that indicate attachment (Maccoby,
  1980)
• Proximity seeking (especially when stressed)
• Separation distress pleasure when reunited
• General orientation towards specific individual

www.psychlotron.org.uk
3
Development of Attachments

• When do attachments form?
• How do they vary over time?
• Who does the child attach to?
• What influences choice of attachment figure?

www.psychlotron.org.uk
4
Development of Attachments

• Shaffer Emerson (1964)
• Longitudinal study in natural environment
• Observations diary records
• Measured attachment via (1) separation distress
  (2) stranger anxiety

www.psychlotron.org.uk
5
Development of Attachments

• When?
• First attachment usually formed by 8 months
• Stranger anxiety usually 1 month later
• Attachment strength peaks during first month

www.psychlotron.org.uk
6
Development of Attachment

• Who?
• 65 mother only
• 30 mother another (often father)
• 3 father only
• Responsiveness, play and social interaction
  matter most in attachment formation
• Not necessarily person who fed, changed, washed
  or spent most time with child

www.psychlotron.org.uk
7
Stages of Development

• 0-2 months pre attachment
• Preference for people over objects, but no
  discrimination between people
• 3-7 months indiscriminate attachment
• Apparent preference for familiar people (e.g.
  smiling more at some people)
• 7 months discriminate attachment
• True emotional attachment. Multiple attachments
  by about 9 months

www.psychlotron.org.uk
8
Comments Criticisms

• Infants may have stronger preferences than
  Shaffer and others allow for
• Infants show preference for mothers face within
  24 hrs of birth (Bushnell et al, 1989)
• Other evidence suggests recognition of mothers
  voice scent in neonates

www.psychlotron.org.uk
9
Comments Criticisms

• Attachment may correlate with development, not
  strictly age
• Ugandan children show stranger anxiety earlier,
  also begin crawling earlier (Ainsworth, 1967)
• Correlation between attachment and mobility makes
  evolutionary sense
• However, most evidence suggests that Shaffers
  work is very robust

www.psychlotron.org.uk