case studies

Question 1

Harry Harlow (1937)

Answer 1

• proposed that infants become attached to people who provide them with oral satisfaction or nourishment
• for most infants that means their mothers because they are the ones most likely to feed the child
• focused on attachment in rhesus monkey
• he separated infant monkeys from their mothers at birth in order to raise them in germ-free environments
• the monkeys grew up to be healthy but were unable to get along with other monkeys
• Harlow found out that when he places the monkeys in individual cages that contained a blanket the monkeys became attached to the blanket and got upset if it was taken away
• from the observations, Harlow conducted studies to find if food or close comfort were most important in the formation of attachments
• he removed the monkeys from their mothers at birth, and for 6 months placed them with surrogate mothers

there were two conditions
- one condition was that the monkeys were raised by surrogate mothers that were made from wire and had a baby bottle attached to them

• the other condition also included a surrogate mother but these were made from soft cloth and did not include a feed bottle

results:
- the infant monkeys that spent the most time with their surrogate mothers were those with the cloth surrogate mother even though the other one provided food

he also discover that when he frightened the monkeys the ones raised with the cloth surrogate mother would run and hold on to it for security, while those raised with the wire surrogate mother did not seek comfort at all

harlow also stated that the cloth surrogate mother was a secure base for the monkeys as they could move away and explore

when the cloth surrogate mother was able to rock, feed and provide warmth to the infant monkey, the attachments became stronger

conclusion: that feeding and nourishment do not create attachment: contact comfort is more important

Question 2

Mary Ainsworth (1978)

Answer 2

studies the differences in the quality of attachment

episode 1: the researchers direct the mother and children into the room where there are toys and leave them there

episode 2: mother sits while the baby explores and plays freely

episode 3: strangers enter the room and sit silently for one minute. stranger talks to the mother for one minute, the stranger interacts and plays with the baby for the third minute

episode 4: first separation: mother leaves the room discreetly and the stranger responds to any of the baby’s needs For instance if the baby cries the stranger tries to comfort them

episode 5: first reunion: stranger leaves the room and the mother returns to greet and comfort the child, then tries to interest them in playing with the toys.

episode 6: second separation: mother leaves the room and the baby remains alone

episode 7: stranger returns, and if the infant becomes distressed tries to comfort them

episode 8: Second reunion: mother returns, greets the baby and picks it up. The stranger leaves the room discreetly

Question 3

Mary Ainsworth’s different classes of attachment

Answer 3

Type A: insecure-avoidant attachment:
-infants rarely get upset at any stage. they show no distress when their caregiver leaves the room and can ignore or avoid them when they return. they don’t feel distressed when alone but the caregiver and the stranger can comfort them
(20-25% of children are type A)

Type B: Secure attachment
infants will play when their caregiver is present trusting that the caregiver will be there if they need them. these infants are very attached and can become distressed if their caregivers leave. a stranger can comfort the infant but they will be treated differently. When the caregiver returns, these infants will seek immediate contact and are delighted when they are reunited. In this instance, infants are distressed by the absence of the caregiver, not by being alone.
(65% of children are type B)
Type C: insecure resistant attachment
These infants are more clingy, cry more and do not explore or play as much as type A and B. They become distressed when their caregiver leaves and resist any comfort from the stranger. These infants seek contact with the caregiver when reunited, but will not display joy during this time. Instead they will continue to be distressed, they cry and will not play, These infants appear anxious and negative
(10% of children are type C)