AttachmentAttachment

AttachmentAttachment

What is attachment?What is attachment?– Attachment is the enduring social-emotional Attachment is the enduring social-emotional

bond that exists between a child and a bond that exists between a child and a caregivercaregiver

Is attachment important? Is attachment important? – What purpose does it serve?What purpose does it serve?

Who is the caregiver?Who is the caregiver?– Does it have to be mom?Does it have to be mom?– Does it have to be female?Does it have to be female?

Is attachment important?Is attachment important?

What evolutionary role does it play?What evolutionary role does it play?– Social contact allows for access to food and Social contact allows for access to food and

protection from potential predatorsprotection from potential predators

Konrad LorenzKonrad Lorenz– Animals (particularly birds) will attach (imprint) Animals (particularly birds) will attach (imprint)

themselves to the first thing they see. themselves to the first thing they see. – They prefer a mother bird when given a They prefer a mother bird when given a

choicechoice– There is a critical period after which imprinting There is a critical period after which imprinting

becomes permanentbecomes permanent

AttachmentAttachment

Are Humans similar to birds. Do we Are Humans similar to birds. Do we imprint?imprint?– Humans cannot move at birthHumans cannot move at birth– Use crying, smiling etc, to promote social Use crying, smiling etc, to promote social

contactcontact– At 2-4 months infants will show changes in At 2-4 months infants will show changes in

skin temperature when skin temperature when the “attachment figure” leaves the room, the “attachment figure” leaves the room, a stranger is with them alonea stranger is with them aloneBut not when attachment figure is with the strangerBut not when attachment figure is with the stranger

Harry & Margaret HarlowHarry & Margaret Harlow

Interested in the question of whether Interested in the question of whether attachment was more than just for attachment was more than just for nourishmentnourishment

Interested in the role of physical contactInterested in the role of physical contact

The Strange SituationThe Strange SituationMary AinsworthMary Ainsworth

(8 steps)(8 steps)Mother, Baby, Observer (30 secs)Mother, Baby, Observer (30 secs)– M&B introduced to room, observer leavesM&B introduced to room, observer leaves

Mother & Baby (3 minutes)Mother & Baby (3 minutes)– B explores room and plays with toys. M does not B explores room and plays with toys. M does not

participate in B’s playparticipate in B’s play

Mother, Baby and Stranger (3 minutes) Mother, Baby and Stranger (3 minutes) – Stranger enters. Is silent for 1Stranger enters. Is silent for 1stst minute minute– Stranger talks to mom for 2Stranger talks to mom for 2ndnd minute minute– Stranger approaches baby in 3Stranger approaches baby in 3rdrd minute. minute.– Mom leaves at end of 3Mom leaves at end of 3rdrd minute minute

The Strange SituationThe Strange SituationMary AinsworthMary Ainsworth

(8 steps)(8 steps)Stranger and Baby (3 minutes or less)Stranger and Baby (3 minutes or less)– First Separation Episode (ends early if baby is too First Separation Episode (ends early if baby is too

distressed)distressed)

Mother and Baby (3 minutes or more)Mother and Baby (3 minutes or more)– M returns to comfort B. Longer than 3 minutes if B M returns to comfort B. Longer than 3 minutes if B

needs more comforting. At end, M leaves again needs more comforting. At end, M leaves again saying “bye-bye”saying “bye-bye”

Baby Alone (3 minutes or less)Baby Alone (3 minutes or less)– Second Separation Episode. Ends early if B is too Second Separation Episode. Ends early if B is too

distresseddistressed

Stranger and Baby (3 minutes or less)Stranger and Baby (3 minutes or less)– Stranger comforts baby or watches baby playStranger comforts baby or watches baby play

Mother and Baby (3 minutes)Mother and Baby (3 minutes)– Second Reunion. Mother enters and greets Second Reunion. Mother enters and greets

baby, picks baby up. Stranger leaves baby, picks baby up. Stranger leaves unobtrusively.unobtrusively.

The Strange SituationThe Strange SituationMary AinsworthMary Ainsworth

(8 steps)(8 steps)

Ainsworth ClassificationsAinsworth Classifications

Group A: Insecure/AvoidantGroup A: Insecure/Avoidant– Child avoids proximity to and interaction with Child avoids proximity to and interaction with

mother during reunion episodesmother during reunion episodes– No tendency to cling or to resist being No tendency to cling or to resist being

releasedreleased

Ainsworth ClassificationsAinsworth Classifications

Group B: SecureGroup B: Secure– Baby wants proximity to or contact with Baby wants proximity to or contact with

mother. mother. – Seeks to maintain contact.Seeks to maintain contact.– Can be comforted most effectively by the Can be comforted most effectively by the

mothermother– Signals mother not to leave during separation Signals mother not to leave during separation

episodesepisodes

Ainsworth ClassificationsAinsworth Classifications

Group C: Insecure/ResistantGroup C: Insecure/Resistant– Shows both contact and interaction-resistant Shows both contact and interaction-resistant

behaviorbehavior– Moderate to strong seeking of contact. May Moderate to strong seeking of contact. May

either be more angry or more passive than either be more angry or more passive than other babiesother babies

– Angry resistant behavior towards motherAngry resistant behavior towards mother

Relationship of early attachment to Relationship of early attachment to later lifelater life

Secure individuals have more positive self-Secure individuals have more positive self-conceptsconceptsMore satisfied with job, income, but derive More satisfied with job, income, but derive more pleasure from social interactionsmore pleasure from social interactionsInsecure anxious show more jealousy, are Insecure anxious show more jealousy, are more insecure, usually make less money, more insecure, usually make less money, work more for approvalwork more for approvalAvoidant people fear intimacy and expect Avoidant people fear intimacy and expect relationships to failrelationships to fail

ProblemsProblems

Assumes a single attachment figure. Assumes a single attachment figure. – Multiple attachments may mean better Multiple attachments may mean better

resiliencyresiliency– Leads to mother blamingLeads to mother blaming

Temperament of the child may affect Temperament of the child may affect parenting styleparenting style

Classification may differ depending on Classification may differ depending on cultureculture