Understanding Parent-Infant Attachment Bonds: Formation and Study

2. 48.1 – Describe how parent-infant attachment bonds form. Attachment: a strong bond between the primary caregiver(s) and the baby. • Separation Anxiety: the fear of strangers that infants commonly display, beginning by about 8 months of age. • Demonstrated by a child’s “closeness-seeking” and distress upon separation • Develops within the first six months of life • Attachment through contact • Humans form a bond with those who care for them in infancy; based upon interaction with caregiver • Harry Harlow • Role of physical contact, or “contact comfort” in attachment

3. 48.1 – Describe how parent-infant attachment bonds form.

4. 48.1 – Describe how parent-infant attachment bonds form. • Attachment throughout familiarity • Occurs in many species of animals during a critical period • Konrad Lorenz • Imprinting • The tendency to follow the first moving object seen as the basis for attachment

5. 48.1 – Describe how parent-infant attachment bonds form.

6. 48.2 – Describe how psychologists study attachment differences, and discuss their findings about the effect of temperament and parenting Temperament: a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity. • The behavioral and emotional characteristics that are fairly well-established at birth • Alexander Thomas & Stella Chess (1986) • “Easy” Babies • Regular, good-natured, easy to care for, adaptable • “Difficult” Babies • Irregular, moody & loud, react negatively to new situations • “Slow-to-Warm-Up” Babies • Quieter, slow to respond to new situations

7. 48.2 – Describe how psychologists study attachment differences, and discuss their findings about the effect of temperament and parenting Mary Ainsworth • The “Stranger Situation” • Identified 4 distinct styles of attachment • Secure • Avoidant • Ambivalent • Disorganized-Disoriented

8. 48.2 – Describe how psychologists study attachment differences, and discuss their findings about the effect of temperament and parenting Mary Ainsworth – Secure Attachment • Characteristics • Very willing to explore • Frequently “touched base” • Wary of strangers, but calm as long as the mother was nearby • When the mother left, the infant was noticeably upset; however, he or she was easily soothed upon her return • *** Generally corresponds to secure attachment in adulthood ***

9. 48.2 – Describe how psychologists study attachment differences, and discuss their findings about the effect of temperament and parenting Mary Ainsworth – Insecure Attachment • Characteristics • Only somewhat willing to explore • Did not “touch base” • Did not look at strangers • Reacted very little to mother’s absence or to her return • **Generally corresponds to dismissive attachment in adulthood

10. 48.2 – Describe how psychologists study attachment differences, and discuss their findings about the effect of temperament and parenting Mary Ainsworth – Ambivalent Attachment • Characteristics • Unwilling to explore; clingy • Very upset by strangers regardless of mother’s presence • Very upset by mother’s departure; not easily soothed • Mixed reaction to mother’s return • ***Generally corresponds to preoccupied attachment in adulthood ***

11. 48.2 – Describe how psychologists study attachment differences, and discuss their findings about the effect of temperament and parenting Mary Ainsworth – Disorganized Attachment • Characteristics • Subsequent studies by Mary Main & Erik Hesse (1990) • Sometimes referred to asDisorganized-Disoriented Attachment • Generally fearful with dazed and depressed expression • Unable to decide how they should react to their mother’s return; little to no eye contact

12. 48.3 – Discuss how childhood neglect, abuse, or family disruption affect children’s attachments. Deprivation of Attachment • Impact of denying monkeys physical comfort from their mother? • Cases of “Genie” and “Victor” • Daycare?

13. 48.4 – Discuss the effect of day care on children. Day Care and Attachment (Does day care affect attachment”?) • High-quality day care programs do not appear to disrupt children’s attachments to their parents. Research shows that day care quality matters, and that family poverty often consigns children to lower-quality care. Children need a consistent, warm relationship with people whom they can learn to trust.

14. 48.5 – Trace the onset and development of children’s self-concept. Self-Concept: all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, “Who Am I?” • Self-esteem • Just as infants can achieve attachment, children must achieve a positive self concept; develops gradually in the first year • “Mirror Test” - By 18 months, children know THEY are the image in the mirror (self-awareness) • Children with a positive self-concept are more confident, assertive, optimistic and socialable…how is this achieved?

15. 48.6 – Describe three parenting styles, and explain how children’s traits relate to them. Diana Baumrind’s - Parenting Styles • Authoritarian • Demanding; not responsive • Impose rules and expect obedience • Permissive • Not demanding, but responsive • Use little punishment • Authoritative • Demanding and responsive • Exert control by establishing/enforcing rules, but they also explain the reasons for the rules