ATTACHMENT From Alan Sroufe University of Minnesota

Minnesota Longitudinal Study 180 Children born in poverty 180 Children born in poverty Assessment starting before birth Assessment starting before birth Age-by-Age measures from birth to adult Age-by-Age measures from birth to adult Focus on early relationships Focus on early relationships

The Attachment Relationship Between Infant and Caregiver Between Infant and Caregiver All Infants become attached All Infants become attached Differences in attachment quality Differences in attachment quality Patterning of care Patterning of care Organization of Attachment Behavior Organization of Attachment Behavior

Models Focus

Models LIMITS

Models Utility

Two Hypotheses Quality of attachment depends on earlier quality of care Quality of attachment depends on earlier quality of care Infant attachment is the foundation for personality development Infant attachment is the foundation for personality development

Attachment and Bonding Bonding refers to a mother’s initial reaction to her baby Bonding refers to a mother’s initial reaction to her baby Attachment refers to what happens over the long haul (first few years of life) Attachment refers to what happens over the long haul (first few years of life) A relationship A relationship

Early Development Newborns are not born blind Newborns are not born blind Recognition of general facial features Recognition of general facial features Some color vision & fairly good motion perception Some color vision & fairly good motion perception Sense of smell and taste well developed Sense of smell and taste well developed Perception more developed than cognition Perception more developed than cognition

Bowlby Definition (1950s) Enduring emotional bond Enduring emotional bond Effect on development Effect on development

Representational Model Unconscious structure create mental representations Unconscious structure create mental representations Sets the stage for future interactions Sets the stage for future interactions

MEASURING EARLY CARE Sensitivity to early Care Sensitivity to early Care Cooperative vs. Intrusive Care Cooperative vs. Intrusive Care Inconsistent care, rejection or emotional unavailability leads to anxious attachment Inconsistent care, rejection or emotional unavailability leads to anxious attachment

SECURE ATTACHMENT Effective use of caregiver as secure base Effective use of caregiver as secure base Clear preference for caregiver when distressed Clear preference for caregiver when distressed Active initiation of contact following brief separations Active initiation of contact following brief separations Ease of being comforted Ease of being comforted 65% are securely attached 65% are securely attached Advantages in early development Advantages in early development Do not perform better in cognitive tasks but they persist Do not perform better in cognitive tasks but they persist

RESISTANT (Anxious/Ambivalent) ATTACHMENT Poverty of exploration Poverty of exploration Wariness of separating Wariness of separating Difficulty separating Difficulty separating Difficulty being settled by caregiver Difficulty being settled by caregiver Visible Anger Visible Anger

RESISTANT (Anxious/Ambivalent) ATTACHMENT Infant irritability Infant irritability Low level of social support for mother Low level of social support for mother Instability in the family Instability in the family Boys are at greater risk Boys are at greater risk 2 or more increases likelihood 2 or more increases likelihood

AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT Little obvious preference for caregiver when stressed Little obvious preference for caregiver when stressed Little emotional sharing Little emotional sharing Active avoidance following brief separation Active avoidance following brief separation 35% in most samples 35% in most samples Does not request support – doubts it will be provided Does not request support – doubts it will be provided

DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENT Caregiver as source of threat Caregiver as source of threat Irresolvable paradox Irresolvable paradox Disorientation and incoherence Disorientation and incoherence Apprehension or confusion Apprehension or confusion

SPECIAL AREAS Babies develop clear, stable hierarchies of attachment figures Babies develop clear, stable hierarchies of attachment figures Mothers employed have securely attached babies Mothers employed have securely attached babies Part time working mother’s babies at no risk Part time working mother’s babies at no risk Avoidant attachment increases if child under 6 mo. and in day care >20hrs a wk Avoidant attachment increases if child under 6 mo. and in day care >20hrs a wk No info about attachment to caretakers No info about attachment to caretakers

DETERMINANTS OF ATTACHMENT PATTERNS Quality of care of primary caregiver Quality of care of primary caregiver Babies personality influence outcomes to a degree Babies personality influence outcomes to a degree Primary caregiver has long term influence Primary caregiver has long term influence No gender difference in attachment patterns No gender difference in attachment patterns

ATTACHEMENT IMPLICATIONS IN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS Secure adolescent – love experiences are positive Secure adolescent – love experiences are positive Anxious/avoidant adolescents and adults have difficulty building, enjoying & maintaining relationships Anxious/avoidant adolescents and adults have difficulty building, enjoying & maintaining relationships Anxious/ambivalent adolescents and adults have obsessional love relationships, extreme sexual attraction and are jealous Anxious/ambivalent adolescents and adults have obsessional love relationships, extreme sexual attraction and are jealous

How does attachment support development? As Motivational base As Motivational base As Attitudinal base As Attitudinal base Instrumental base Instrumental base Emotional base Emotional base Relational base Relational base

MOTIVATIONAL BASE Positive expectations concerning relationships Positive expectations concerning relationships Basic sense of connectedness Basic sense of connectedness Belief that relationships will be rewarding Belief that relationships will be rewarding

ATTITUDINAL BASE Belief that one may elicit responses from others Expectation of Mastery in the social world

INSTRUMENTAL BASE Object mastery through support for exploration Object mastery through support for exploration Capacity to enjoy play and discovery Capacity to enjoy play and discovery

EMOTIONAL BASE Modulated arousal Modulated arousal Self-regulation of emotion Self-regulation of emotion

RELATIONAL BASE Empathic responsiveness derived from empathic care Empathic responsiveness derived from empathic care Expectations concerning reciprocity Expectations concerning reciprocity

MAJOR OUTCOMES SELF-RELIANCE SELF-RELIANCE CURIOSITY CURIOSITY SELF-REGULATION SELF-REGULATION COMPETENCE with PEERS COMPETENCE with PEERS MENTAL HEALTH or PATHOLOGY MENTAL HEALTH or PATHOLOGY

Resistant Attachment and Later Psychopathology Anxiety Problems Anxiety Problems Depression Depression Interaction with infant temperament Interaction with infant temperament

Avoidant Attachment and Later Psychopathology Conduct Problems Conduct Problems Depression Depression

Disorganized Attachment and Later Psychopathology General Pathology General Pathology Dissociation Dissociation Conduct Problems Conduct Problems

DISORGANIZATION TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION Disorganized attachment + Trauma = Disorganized attachment + Trauma = Predicts Dissociation Dissociation predicts = Frightening Parent Behavior Dissociation predicts = Frightening Parent Behavior Frightening Parent Behavior = predicts Frightening Parent Behavior = predicts Disorganized Attachment