Attachment Theory Definition of Attachment An enduring emotional

Attachment Theory

Definition of Attachment An enduring emotional tie to a special person, characterized by a tendency to seek and maintain closeness, especially during times of stress.

Roots of Attachment Theory • John Bowlby applied ethology to infants • Influenced by Konrad Lorenz • Infant’s innate behaviors are evolved responses which promote survival

Importance of Attachment • Implications for infant's sense of security • Affects internal working model • Freud, Erikson, Behaviorists described its impact on development

Bowlby’s Four Stages of Attachment Preattachment phase • Birth - 6 weeks • Baby’s innate signals attract caregiver • Caregivers remain close by when the baby responds positively

Attachment in the Making • 6 wks to 6 -8 months • Develops a sense of trust that caregiver will respond when signaled • Infants respond more positively to familiar caregiver • Babies don't protest when separated from parent

Clear-cut Attachment • 6 -8 months to 18 -24 months • Babies display separation anxiety • Babies protest when parent leaves

Formation of Reciprocal Relationship • 18 mo - 2 yrs • Toddlers increase their understanding of symbols and language improves • Toddlers understand that parents will return

Factors which Affect Attachment • Opportunity for attachment • Quality of caregiving • respond promptly and consistently • interactional synchrony – the sensitively tuned “emotional dance” • Infant characteristics • infant's temperament, special needs, prematurity, or illnesses

More Factors which Affect Attachment • Family circumstances • Stress can undermine attachment • Parents’ internal working models • Parents’ own attachment experiences • Parents’ ability to accept their past

Measuring the Quality of Attachment • Mary Ainsworth researched • Designed the “strange situation” • A lab experiment with 8 different episodes of separation and reunion • Attached infant will: • Use mother as a secure base • Be soothed by the mother during the reunion

Secure attachment • Uses caregiver as a secure base • May show distress at separation, but the baby can be soothed at reunion • 60 -65% of North American children

Insecure-Avoidant Attachment • Unresponsive to parent when she is present • Not distressed by parting • Avoids or slow to greet parent on return • 20% of North American children

Insecure-Resistant Attachment • Infants remain close to parents and not eager to explore • Distressed by separation • During reunion, infants are both clingy and resistant • 12% of North American children

Disorganized/Disoriented Attachment • No coherent strategy for handling separations or reunions • Baby looks dazed and confused • 5 -10% of North American children