Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Attachment and Social Relationships
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Attachment
• The case of “Baby Jessica”
– Children are resilient
– Negative early experiences rarely ruin
them for life
• Close relationships provide
– Learning experiences
– Social support (social convoy)
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Attachment Theory
• Bowlby: A strong affectional tie that binds a
person to an intimate companion
• Helps regulate distress by proximity seeking
– By about 6-7 months
• Ainsworth: special, irreplaceable people
– Desire to maintain proximity
– Derive a sense of security
• Bowlby: normal environment important
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Ethology
• Konrad Lorenz: Imprinting
– Critical period
– Irreversible
• Humans: Attachment
– Sensitive period
– Predisposed
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Figure 14.2
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Childhood Peers
• Important for social development
• Piaget: equal power among peers
– Requires cooperation, negotiation skills
• Sullivan: Peers important after age 6
– Changing interpersonal needs
• Harris: Parental influence is overrated
– Peers more important for development
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Emotions in Infancy
• Timing of emotions biologically programmed
– Tied to cognitive maturation
– Evolved to ensure that caregivers respond
• Social referencing by 10-12 months
– monitor reactions in others to help define
situation, regulate behavior and emotions
– Modeling, imitation, reinforcement
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Figure 14.1
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Caregiver’s Attachment to Infant
• Early contact not crucial nor sufficient
• Neonatal reflexes endearing: e.g., smiling
• Cooing and babbling: early conversations
• Synchronized routines
– Peek-A-Boo
– Sensitive responding a must
– Over-stimulation/under-stimulation
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Infant’s Attachment to Caregiver
• Social responsiveness
– At birth: undiscriminating
– 2-6 mo: preferences develop
• Proximity seeking
– 6 mo to 3 yr
– Attachment figures
– Mental representation abilities needed
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Attachment-Related Fears
• Separation anxiety: 6-8 mo
– Peaks around 14-18 mo
– Gradually wanes
• Stranger anxiety: 8-10 mo
– Declines during 2nd yr
• Ainsworth: secure base for exploration
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Quality of Attachment
• Caregiver provides “contact comfort”
• Ainsworth: Strange Situation Test
– Secure attachment: most
– Insecure attachment categories
• Inconsistent care > resistant
• Insensitive stimulation > avoidant
–Rejection, impatient, resentful
–Intrusive
• Abusive > disorganized/disoriented
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Infant Characteristics
• Must acquire person permanence
• Temperament a factor
• Reaction to parenting style
– *Goodness of fit
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Context of Attachment
• Culture
– Individualistic: encourage independence
• e.g., Japan
• resistant
– Collectivist: encourage group conformity
• e.g., Western
• avoidant
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Effects of Social Deprivation
• Infants grieve when separated from caregiver
•
•
•
– Recover when reunited or upon forming
new attachments
A series of separations more harmful
Romanian orphans
– Insecure, anxious
– Difficulty coping with stress
Need sustained interaction with responsive
caregivers – one or a few
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Later Outcomes
• Securely attached child
– Cognitively and socially competent
– Expect positive reactions
• Insecurely attached child
– Withdrawn, dependent, fearful
– Less competent
• Patterns last through adolescence
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Conclusions
• Attachment to fathers, grandparents, etc.
– Can compensate for poor attachment
• Secure attachments may change
– Stressful events: divorce, illness
• Insecure attachments may change
– Lifestyle improvements
• Later relationships influenced by nature of
early attachment
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Peer Relations
• 18 mo: first peers
– Turn taking
– Reciprocal play
• Age 2-12: increasing time spent
– Same sex peers
– Similar age and play preferences
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Play
• Age 1-2: Pretend play
• Age 2-5: Social play
• Age 5-6: Rule-based games
• By age 11-2: Rule flexibility
• Play is beneficial
– Cognitive development
– Social skills
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Peer Acceptance
• Sociometric techniques
– Most popular kids
• Attractive, intelligent
• Socially competent
– Rejected kids
• Highly aggressive
• Socially isolated, overly sensitive,
submissive
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Adolescents
• Parents still important
• Boy-girl friendships and dates
– Dating: Dunphy’s phases
• Initiation; Status; Affection; Bonding
• Friendships: More intimacy
• Friends similar psychologically
• Cliques and crowds
• Increased conformity
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
Figure 14.6
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14
The Adult
• Social networks shrink
• Closer to family
• Romantic attachments
• Adult friendships valued
• Important to have one confidant
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 14