What is attachment | - Proximity seeking
- Separation anxiety
- secure base behaviour |
The different theories of attachment | Behaviourist theory - classical conditioning such as associating something they wants with person who often gives it such as the mum they make attachments and maintain it through operant conditioning
Biological theory - pre programmed to have attachment with others as it helps them survive |
Evolutionary theories | Lorens ( GEESE) SUGGESTED Imprinting does not appear to be active immediately after hatching, although there seems to be a critical period during which imprinting can occur (different for different species).
Harlow - monkey breast feed cloth or no cloth - Comfort and security are more important than just food in the formation of attachment. |
The impact of not forming attachments types | Deprivation: Refers to a bond that was formed but then broken through some kind of separation (e.g. temporary hospitalisation, death of the mother, etc.)
Privation: Occurs when the baby does not form a bond with a caregiver at all (e.g. neglected children, orphans, etc.) |
Things they were observing in Ainsworth and Bell | 1. Proximity and contact-seeking: (e.g. approaching, reaching).
2. Contact-maintaining behaviours: (e.g. clinging, embracing, resisting release).
3. Avoidance of proximity and contact: (e.g. ignoring adult, moving away).
4. Resistance to comfort and contact: (e.g. pushing away, angry screaming).
5. Search behaviour: (e.g. following mother to the door, looking at empty chair). |
Results of Ainsworth and Bell | Babies explore more when mum present
babies find it most distressing when mum not there
babies search more when left alone |
Evaluation of Ainsworth and Bell | Suports both nature ( exsists when mother is not present ) and nurture ( the situation such as stranger influences bhv)
Supports psych as science - standardised procedure - replicate ,quan data from coding scheme
Validity - lacks eco v as not an everyday task to leave child with stranger and low p validity - American families
Ethics - infants |
Attachment application | Providing high quality daycare enough staff to child ratio all have a key person to provide enough care . staff qualified in child developments staff training |