Why is Attachment a really important topic for early infant development?
Because it’s characterizing the emotional bonds that form between infants and their caregivers
True or False: Attachment refers to bonds that are both healthy and unhealthy
True
In infancy, who does the infant form main/central attachments with during the second half of the first year?
The adult caregiver(s) that are most central to the infants’ daily life. These are often the parents, grandparents, daycare providers, ect.
Attachment is ___
reciprocal
What are the 4 functions of Attachment?
- Helps maintain an infant’s sense of security about the world
- Regulate infant’s affect and arousal
- Builds a foundation of communication & expression of feelings between the parent and child
- Provide a base for the baby’s exploration
Will a baby with Secure or Insecure Attachment be more reluctant to explore?
Insecure
What is the Internal Working Model?
The Internal Working Model is the lens through which we view relationships, what do you expect from others, and what are your beliefs about what you deserve from relationships.
Expectation system for reliability, consistency, warmth, and effectiveness of caregiver responses
How does an infant form an Internal Working Model?
As a result of forming attachment bonds
What are the 4 phases of developing Attachment?
Phase 1: “The Asocial Phase” (birth to 6 weeks)
Phase 2: “Indiscriminate Attachment” (6w to 7 months)
Phase 3: “Specific Attachment” (7 to 9 months)
Phase 4: “Multiple Attachments” (9+ months)
What occurs during Phase 1: “The Asocial Phase” (birth to 6 weeks) of developing attachment?
- “Pre-attachment.” Indiscriminate social (and non-social) responsiveness
- A point in their life where they don’t yet have strong attachments to the caregivers in their lives
- They do recognize their caregivers, but are happy to have their needs met by anyone
During Phase 1: “The Asocial Phase” (birth to 6 weeks), do babies have a preference for social interactions or interactions with their caregiver?
Babies don’t have a strong preference for social interactions specifically, or interactions with their caregivers in particular
What occurs during Phase 2: “Indiscriminate Attachment” (6w to 7 months) of developing attachment?
- Show recognition of familiar people, but no clear emotional preference.
- Begin to show a preference for social interactions over other stimuli, but not with a clear emotional preference for specific caregivers.
- Will show increased recognition of familiar people, but they will be happy to interact with strangers, and are not so fussed about being separated from parents, and social interaction is pleasant for them
What occurs during Phase 3: “Specific Attachment” (7 to 9 months) of developing attachment?
- Attachment to a central figure. Separation anxiety;
- You start to see signs of attachment forming with a primary caregiver, typically, whoever is most involved in their day to day care
- You see evidence of this attachment showing up in their behaviour, particular in how they respond to engaging with the caregiver vs. others, including strangers
At what phase during the development of Attachment do you see stranger anxiety emerge?
Phase 3: “Specific Attachment” (7 to 9 months)
What can affect an infants level of stranger anxiety?
What culture they grew up in. Some cultures take a village approach to raising a child whilst others value the infant staying with mum at all times
What occurs during Phase 4: “Multiple Attachments” (9+ months) of developing attachment?
- Form attachments with other people in their lives.
- Attachments become increasingly reciprocal as child learns to understand caregivers’ needs.
- Develop multiple attachments
How is Attachment measured in children 1-2 years old?
Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Procedure
What does the Strange Situation procedure test?
- Infants reaction to separation from parent
- Infants reaction to reunion with parent
- Infants reaction to interaction with stranger
- Infants level of comfortability in exploring their environment
What are the 4 types of Attachment Bonds?
Secure, Resistant, Avoidant, & Disorganized
How does a Securely Attached child react when the parent leaves the room?
Child tends to be distressed when parent leaves (may or may not cry, but unhappy)
How does a Securely Attached child react when the parent re-enters the room?
Child is happy; easily soothed by the parent
How does a Securely Attached child react when in the presence of a stranger?
Tolerates stranger (especially if parent is present), but prefers interactions with parent
How does a Securely Attached child feel about exploration?
Actively explores the environment in parent’s presence—secure base
How does an Ambivalently/Resistantly Attached child react when the parent leaves the room?
Usually quite distressed; may also be wary of parent pre-separation
