WHAT IS SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT IN INFANCY?

Social development is learning
primary drives
– secondary drives
– reinforcement
–
Psy 311: Attachment
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WHAT IS SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT IN INFANCY
(CONT)?


Social development is instinct
* bonding
Social development is interaction
* attachment
Psy 311: Attachment
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WHAT DO BABIES COME
WITH?

REFLEXES
– crying, clinging, grasping, rooting
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Film Clip: Reflexes
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WHAT DO BABIES COME
WITH (Cont)?

SOCIABILITY
– interest in people, gazing, ability to be
comforted.

BABYNESS
– size, facial features, movements, smell
& feel.
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WHAT DO CAREGIVERS
COME WITH?



Interest in interactions
Responsiveness to infants cries,
looks, sounds
Protectiveness
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FUNCTIONS OF
ATTACHMENT

BABY BEHAVIOR
– cling, grasp, huddle
– cry
– call, look for, crawl to, hide behind
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FUNCTIONS OF
ATTACHMENT (Cont)

PARENT RESPONSE
– hold in return
– come
– comfort and repair or protect
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WHAT’S THE POINT OF
ATTACHMENT?

IN TIMES OF DANGER:
KEEP CHILD SAFE
– keep child close to caregiver
– bring caregiver
– get to caregiver
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WHAT’S THE POINT OF
ATTACHMENT (Cont)?

IN REGULAR TIMES:
CHILD FEELS SAFE
– allow exploration
– allow play
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DEFINITION OF ATTACHMENT
Strong affectionate bond
that binds a person to a
specific intimate companion
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DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE
OF ATTACHMENT

1. Undiscriminating social responsiveness
– (birth - 3 months)

2. Discriminating social responsiveness
– (3 - 6 months)

3. Active proximity seeking/true
attachment
– (7months - 3 years)
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HOW CAN ATTACHMENT BE
ASSESSED?
METHODS: The “Strange
Situation” Paradigm.
Psy 311: Attachment
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Film Clip: The Strange Situation
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FOUR ATTACHMENT
CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA




1.
2.
3.
4.
Exploration
Reaction to stranger
Separation from caregiver
Reunion with caregiver
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FOUR TYPES OF
ATTACHMENT:
SECURE:
1 TYPE
 INSECURE: 2 TYPES
 NEW TYPE

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1. SECURE ATTACHMENT
EXPLORATION: high
 STRANGER: generally outgoing
 SEPARATION: distress
 REUNION: joy

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PARENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCING ATTACHMENT
SECURE:
RESPONSIVE TO
INFANTS NEEDS &
SIGNALS
 Theme: Trust building

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2. INSECURE-AVOIDANT
ATTACHMENT
EXPLORATION: high, unfocused
 STRANGER: indifferent
 SEPARATION: low distress
 REUNION: ignore, avoid

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PARENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCING ATTACHMENT
IMPATIENT,
UNRESPONSIVE,
REJECTING
 Theme: Indifference

INSECURE
AVOIDANT
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3. INSECURE-RESISTANT
ATTACHMENT
EXPLORATION: low
 STRANGER: fearful, even
when caregiver is present
 SEPARATION: hi distress
 REUNION: ambivalent,
wants contact but is angry

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PARENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCING ATTACHMENT
INCONSISTENT,
OVERALL MORE
UNRESPONSIVE
THAN
RESPONSIVE TO
INFANT
 Theme: Lack of trust

INSECURE
RESISTANT
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4. INSECURE-DISORGANIZED
ATTACHMENT
EXPLORATION: chaotic
 STRANGER: uncertain, fearful
 SEPARATION: variable
 REUNION: distress

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PARENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCING ATTACHMENT
INSECURE
ABUSIVE,
DISORGANIZED UNPREDICTABLE
 (no coping strategy)

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Review: Kinds of Attachment

SECURE: joy on reunion
– Caregiver: Responsive

AVOIDANT (insecure): indifference
– Caregiver: Rejecting

RESISTANT (insecure): ambivalence
– Caregiver: Unpredictable

DISORGANIZED (insecure): distress
– Caregiver: Abusive
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QUESTIONS ABOUT
ATTACHEMENT





1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Occurs at birth?
To more than 1 person?
After 6 months?
Can attachments change?
Long-term effects?
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LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF
ATTACHMENT
RELATIONSHIPS WITH...
 Peers
 Teachers
 Romantic partners
 Own children
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HEALTHY INTERNAL
WORKING MODEL




Trusting
Lovability
Openness
Expressiveness
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MECHANISMS OF EFFECTS

INTERNAL WORKING MODELS
– 1. Insecure-Resistant: CLINGY,
DEMANDING
– 2. Insecure-Avoidant: DISTANT, COLD

CREATE RESPONSES IN OTHERS
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ARE EFFECTS OF ATTACHMENT
IRREVERSIBLE?


NO!
Accept, understand, integrate, and go
on!
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