1. Attachment

2. Attachment What is attachment? –Attachment is the enduring social-emotional bond that exists between a child and a caregiver Is attachment important? –What purpose does it serve? Who is the caregiver? –Does it have to be mom? –Does it have to be female?

3. Is attachment important? What evolutionary role does it play? –Social contact allows for access to food and protection from potential predators Konrad Lorenz –Animals (particularly birds) will attach (imprint) themselves to the first thing they see. –They prefer a mother bird when given a choice –There is a critical period after which imprinting becomes permanent

5. Attachment Are Humans similar to birds. Do we imprint? –Humans cannot move at birth –Use crying, smiling etc, to promote social contact –At 2-4 months infants will show changes in skin temperature when the “attachment figure” leaves the room, a stranger is with them alone a stranger is with them alone But not when attachment figure is with the stranger

6. Harry & Margaret Harlow Interested in the question of whether attachment was more than just for nourishment Interested in the role of physical contact

7. The Strange Situation Mary Ainsworth (8 steps) Mother, Baby, Observer (30 secs) –M&B introduced to room, observer leaves Mother & Baby (3 minutes) –B explores room and plays with toys. M does not participate in B’s play Mother, Baby and Stranger (3 minutes) –Stranger enters. Is silent for 1 st minute –Stranger talks to mom for 2 nd minute –Stranger approaches baby in 3 rd minute. –Mom leaves at end of 3 rd minute

8. The Strange Situation Mary Ainsworth (8 steps) Stranger and Baby (3 minutes or less) –First Separation Episode (ends early if baby is too distressed) Mother and Baby (3 minutes or more) –M returns to comfort B. Longer than 3 minutes if B needs more comforting. At end, M leaves again saying “bye-bye” Baby Alone (3 minutes or less) –Second Separation Episode. Ends early if B is too distressed

9. Stranger and Baby (3 minutes or less) –Stranger comforts baby or watches baby play Mother and Baby (3 minutes) –Second Reunion. Mother enters and greets baby, picks baby up. Stranger leaves unobtrusively. The Strange Situation Mary Ainsworth (8 steps)

10. Ainsworth Classifications Group A: Insecure/Avoidant –Child avoids proximity to and interaction with mother during reunion episodes –No tendency to cling or to resist being released

11. Ainsworth Classifications Group B: Secure –Baby wants proximity to or contact with mother. –Seeks to maintain contact. –Can be comforted most effectively by the mother –Signals mother not to leave during separation episodes

12. Ainsworth Classifications Group C: Insecure/Resistant –Shows both contact and interaction-resistant behavior –Moderate to strong seeking of contact. May either be more angry or more passive than other babies –Angry resistant behavior towards mother

14. Relationship of early attachment to later life Secure individuals have more positive self- concepts More satisfied with job, income, but derive more pleasure from social interactions Insecure anxious show more jealousy, are more insecure, usually make less money, work more for approval Avoidant people fear intimacy and expect relationships to fail

15. Problems Assumes a single attachment figure. –Multiple attachments may mean better resiliency –Leads to mother blaming Temperament of the child may affect parenting style Classification may differ depending on culture