Attachment Theory PPT

CONCEPT OF ATTACHMENT

John Bowlby is associated with developing the concept of Attachment in Great Britain. In American Universities, developmental psychology departments studied attachment - They looked at the quality and strength of the parent-child bond; analyzed the ways it forms & develops; how it can be damaged & repaired; & the long-term impact of separations; losses; wounds; and deprivations. Viewed as central in & to human life.

Four attachment groups were developed

A *fourth one was added later. 1.Secure attachment 2.Anxious-resistant insecure attachment 3.Anxious-avoidant insecure attachment 4.*Disorganized/disoriented attachment

Harlow's Research conclusion

A baby's attachment to his/her mother is due in part to "contact comfort", or the pleasant tactile sensation that is provided by a soft, cuddly parent (Harlow & Harlow, 1969).

Attachment Theory

Began in the middle of the 1950's (20th century) with the work of John Bowlby (1907 - 1990), a British psychoanalyst, and this approach was further developed by Mary Ainsworth (1913-1999), an American psychologist. Originally, attachment theory was not developed as a theory of psychopathology or of clinical intervention. Has become relevant in several ways for clinicians as it has been applied to individuals who experience difficulties in interpersonal relationships throughout their lifespan

Separation Anxiety

Begins about 6 to 8 months, peaks in intensity at 14 months, then gradually declines. Refers to severe distress that occurs when a child is separated from his or her primary caregiver.

Basic Attachment Concepts

Believe there is an absolute, primary need for attachment and the harm that can occur if that need is not met. Several theorists explored this through direct observation of infants and children such as Mary Ainsworth; David Levy; & Loretta Bender.

First Relationships

Debated & controversial regarding the long term impact of first relationships. There has been a struggle to understand the pa-ch bond; as we believe it holds clues to how we've become who we are.

Strange Situation Procedure

Developed by Mary Ainsworth, this procedure is designed to observe the attachment relationships between a caregiver and their child. The child is observed playing for 20 minutes while caregivers and strangers enter and leave the room, recreating the flow of the familiar and unfamiliar presence in most children's lives. The situation varies in stressfulness and the child's responses are observed. The child experiences the following situations:

Infant's Signs of Attachment

First few months of life, infants emit attachment behaviors indiscriminately By 6 or 7 months of life, these behaviors become increasingly directed toward the primary caregiver(s). Signs of attachment include: a.Social referencing b.Separation c.Stranger Anxiety

Learning Theory's View of Attachment

Harlow's research study with Rhesus monkeys. Found that infant rhesus monkeys were raised with surrogate mothers ( a wire-mesh mother & a terrycloth mother). Regardless of which mother provided food, the infants became 'attached' to the terrycloth mother. They spent a great deal of time clinging to the cloth mother & ran to it when they were afraid.

Patterns of Attachment

Mary Ainsworth(1978) devised the strange situation to assess the nature and consequences of attachment. The Strange Situation involves several phases during which the mother leaves her infant alone in a room with a stranger and then returns. Research using this technique identified: • 4 distinct patterns of attachment

Mary Ainsworth

Mary was born into a close-knit family in Ohio, 1913. She was the eldest of 3 daughters who's family believed in higher education. Influenced by William McDougall's book, character and the Conduct of Life inspired her interest in psychology. She entered college at 16 yrs of age. By the age of three, she developed a close relationship with her father whose duty was to tuck her in at night and would sing to her. While on the other hand, she did not have a warm relationship with her mother .

Social Referencing

Occurs approximately by 6 months of age Involves looking to a caregiver to determine how to respond in new and/or ambiguous situations. Ex: Studies have found that a one-year olds willingness to cross a 'visual cliff' depends on his/her mother's facial expression (i.e., looks happy vs. looks angry or afraid & is then less likely to cross the visual cliff).

Stranger Anxiety

Occurs between approximately 8 to 10 months Infants becomes very anxious and fearful in the presence of a stranger, especially when a caregiver is not nearby or when the caregiver does not respond to the stranger. Continues to about 2 years old and then diminishes.

Ethological theory's view of Attachment

Proposes that humans & other organisms have a biological tendency to form attachments because they help guarantee an infant's survival. Originated from studies with animals. For example, Lorenz ('65), found that there is a 'critical period' for 'imprinting'. Lorenz (1965) found this 'critical period' in geese during their first two or three days after birth.

Different theoretical views of Attachment.

Psychoanalytic theory describes the attachment of an infant to his/her mother as the consequence of oral gratification. Learning Theory regards it more generally as the result of reinforcement (i.e., infants develop attachments to people who provide them with food, affection, and other pleasurable experiences).

Attachment

Refers to the strong emotional bond that develops between an infant and his or her primary caregiver(s)

Infants

They are programmed to: 1.Cry 2.Smile 3.Vocalize In order to get a caregiver's: attention, protection, love Adults are programmed to respond to those behaviors.

John Bowlby

•Concluded attachment is primary & biological, and there is an absolute need for human contact and interactions that are necessary for the survival of the species. •Bowlby believed that the mother or primary caregiver is important from the very beginning in an absolute, built-in, biological way that is part of the "archaic heritage" of the race. •He argued that children can suffer true mourning due to loss of the caregiver; rather than feeling frustration because their wishes were not gratified. Applied the notion of critical periods to human attachment & proposed that exposure of an infant to his/her mother during this period results in a bond between them.