
Theories of Attachment

Bowlby and Ainsworth Findings

How attachment develops

Relationship between attachment and parenting behaviors

A strong emotional bond that forms between infant and caregiver in the second half of the child’s first year
The development of attachment relationships is a major achievement in the infant’s early social life
Develops out of interactions between infant and caregiver

Theories of Attachment
Psychoanalytic Theory

Infants become attached to their mother because they associate her with gratification of their instinctual drive to obtain pleasure through sucking and oral stimulation
Learning Theory

Drive-reduction learning theorists suggested that the mother becomes an attachment object because she is associated with the reduction of the baby’s primary drive of hunger

Theories of Attachment

Harlow’s Research
◦ Baby monkeys preferred to cling to the cloth “mother”— especially in moments of stress—even though it dispensed no food

Similar findings in human research
Thus, oral gratification and drive reduction are inadequate explanations for attachment

Theories of Attachment

Learning Theories
Operant Conditioning
◦ Attachment development based on visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation that infants receive from their caregivers
◦ Parents are the most reliable sources of this type of stimulation

Central point: attachment is not automatic; it develops over time as a result of satisfying
(i.e.,rewarding) interactions with responsive adults


Theories of Attachment
Cognitive Developmental Theory

Importance of object permanence - understanding that objects, including people, have a continuous existence apart from the baby’s own interactions with them

Cognitive shifts in expression of attachment
◦ Less need for physical proximity
◦ Understanding of need for and temporary nature of separations from familiar people

Theories of Attachment
Ethological Theory – Bowlby

Theory influenced by Lorenz’s demonstration of imprinting
◦ Birds and other infrahuman animals develop a preference for the person or object to which they are first exposed during a brief, critical period after birth

Focused on signaling behaviors in human infant attachment
◦ crying, smiling, vocalizing, sucking, clinging

Evolutionary biases make it likely child will use the parent as a secure base
◦ A safety zone that the infant can retreat to for comfort and reassurance when stressed or frightened while exploring the environment

Theories of Attachment
Ethological Theory – Bowlby

Three important features of theory
◦ Emphasis on the active role played by the infant’s early social signaling systems
◦ Stress on the development of mutual attachments
◦ Attachment is a dyadic relationship, not simply a behavior of either the infant or the parent

Proximity
Seeking
• Efforts to regain physical contact with figure
Contact
Maintenance
• Efforts to maintain self-initiated contact with figure
Avoidance
Resistance
• Any active avoidance of proximity to or interaction with figure
• Negative behavior (often accompanied by anger) in response to figure’s contact attempts

Bowlby’s
Attachment
Style
Proximity-
Seeking
Contact-
Maintaining
Resistance Avoidance
Low Low Secure High
2 Insecure Styles
Insecure/
Resistant
High
Insecure/
Avoidance
Low
High
High
Low
High
Low
Low
High
**New Slide

1 Mother, baby, and observer
2 Mother and baby
3 Stranger, mother, and baby
4 Stranger and baby
5 Mother and baby
6 Baby alone
7 Stranger and baby
8 Mother and baby
30 sec Observer introduces mother and baby to experimental room and then leaves. (Room contains appealing toys scattered about.)
3 min Mother sits quietly while baby explores; if necessary, play is stimulated after 2 minutes.
3 min An unfamiliar woman enters. First minute: stranger is silent. Second minute: stranger talks to mother. Third minute: stranger approaches baby. After 3 minutes, mother leaves unobtrusively.
≈3 min First separation episode. Stranger is responsive to baby.
≥3 min First reunion episode. Mother returns to room and greets and/or comforts baby and then tries to settle the baby again in play. Mother then leaves, saying “bye-bye.”
≤3 min Second separation episode.
≤3 min Continuation of second separation. Stranger enters and responds to baby’s behavior.
3 min Second reunion episode. Mother enters, greets, and then picks up baby. Meanwhile, stranger leaves unobtrusively.

Mother enters
Intro to lab
(30 sec)
Mother and child alone
Stranger enters
Mother leaves; child alone
Mother returns; stranger leaves
Stranger enters
Mother leaves
Clip
**New Slide

Proximity
Seeking
• Efforts to regain physical contact with figure
Contact
Maintenance
• Efforts to maintain self-initiated contact with figure
Avoidance
Resistance
• Any active avoidance of proximity to or interaction with figure
• Negative behavior (often accompanied by anger) in response to figure’s contact attempts
**New Slide


Strange Situation Example:
Securely Attached Baby

Attachment Type
Secure
(Type B)
Insecure-Avoidant
(Type A)
Insecure-Ambivalent
(Type C)
Description
Babies are able to explore novel environments, are minimally disturbed by brief separations from their mother, and are quickly comforted by her when she returns
Babies seem not to be bothered by their mother’s brief absences but specifically avoid her when she returns, sometimes becoming visibly upset
Babies tend to become very upset at the departure of their mother and exhibit inconsistent behavior on the mother’s return, sometimes seeking contact, sometimes pushing their mother away. (This is sometimes referred to as insecure-resistant or anxious-ambivalent
attachment.)
Insecure-Disorganized
(Type D; added later)
Babies seem disorganized and disoriented when reunited with their mother after a separation

Ambivalent
10%
Disorganize d
5%
Secure
65%
Avoidant
20%
Secure Avoidant Ambivalent Disorganized


Examples of Attachment
Classifications

Attachment to Father

What it Means to be Attached

By age 1: form first attachment

Seek contact and proximity with attachment figure

Separation distress or protest - An infant’s distress reaction to being separated from the attachment object, usually the mother
◦ 7-9 mos: distress emerges
◦ 15 mos: intensity of distress at highest.
◦ After 15 mos: distress decreases


Attached to Whom?
Mother is usually primary, but infant is capable of forming attachment to any familiar individual

Multiple attachments are common
◦ Father
◦ Grandparent
◦ Sibling

Number of attachments limited because requires frequent, close, oneto-one interaction


Attachment develops in phases
(Shaffer &
Emmerson, 1964)
◦ Asocial phase (0-6 weeks)
 Social (e.g., smiling face) and non-social (sticker) stimuli produces favorable reaction
◦ Phase of indiscriminate attachments (6 weeks – 6/7 months)
 Indiscriminate social responsiveness. Enjoy attention from anyone, but prefers regular caregiver


Attachment develops in phases
(Shaffer &
Emmerson, 1964)
◦ Specific attachment phase (7-9months)
 Protest when separated from a particular person, usually mother. Will follow mother closely. Wary of strangers.
◦ Phase of multiple attachments (approx. 18 months)
 Infants form attachment to other people beside primary attachment figure


What type of parenting behaviors might cause…
◦ A secure attachment?
◦ An ambivalent attachment?
◦ An avoidant attachment?
◦ A disorganized attachment?

Child Behavior

Babies are able to explore novel environments

Minimally disturbed by brief separations from their mother

Quickly comforted by her when she returns

Parenting


Behavior guided by
(don’t interrupt)


Parenting
Behavior Descriptions
Sensitivity Responding promptly and appropriately to the infant’s signals
Positive
Attitude
Expressing positive affect and affection for the infant
Synchrony Structuring smooth, reciprocal interactions with the infant (do not interrupt or interfere with babies activity)
Support Attending closely to and providing emotional support for the infants activities
Stimulation Frequently directing actions toward the infant
(do not ignore)


Child Behavior
Babies seem not to be bothered by their mother’s brief absences

Specifically AVOID her when she returns

Even though they sometimes becoming visibly upset 

Parenting
Intrusive and rejecting parenting (impatient)

Unresponsive to infant signals

Rarely have close bodily contact

Act angry & irritable

Child Behavior Parenting


Babies tend to become very upset at the departure of their mother

Unaffectionate and inconsistent parenting
Inconsistent behavior on the M’s return, sometimes seeking contact, sometimes

Sometimes respond to infants cues and sometimes not
(depending on parental mood) pushing their mother away

More often tend to be indifferent
*Also called insecure-ambivalent or anxious attachment

Child Behavior



Combination of resistant and avoidant patterns
Confused about whether to approach or avoid mother
When reunited with mother they may be fearful, freeze, may move close or move away
Parenting

Unaffectionate and inconsistent parenting

Sometimes induces fear or reassurance in infant


Typical rate of secure attachment for middle-class U.S. children is

◦ 65%
But, only 38% of infants with insensitive mothers show secure attachment

Replicated: Relationship b/w father’s sensitivity and infant attachment style
◦ Relationship is significant, but weaker
**New Slide


Key to attachment classification:
◦ Parental response when the attachment system is activated (during times of distress)
 Chest to chest contact
 Still Face Experiment
◦ Sensitivity and sweet parenting at other times less important for the attachment relationship