Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Chapter 14
Attachment and Social
Relationships
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Benefits of Social Relationships
• Learning
- Social skills/behavior
- Cognitive development (pretend play)
• Social support
- Buffers against stress
- Reduces all cause mortality/morbidity
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Attachment Theory (critical for relationships)
• Bowlby and Ainsworth
- Strong affectional tie
- To parent: 6 mo
- Proximity, preference, secure exploration
• Humans: Biologically predisposed
- Sensitive period & parent-child interaction key
- Internal working models -> later development
Secure = I am lovable, can trust others
Insecure = I am unlovable, others unreliable
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Childhood Peers
• Important for social development
- Perspective taking
- Negotiation skills
- Compromise and cooperation
• Chumships: Age 9-12
- Same sex peers
- Intimacy, trust, loyalty
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Specific Emotions in Infancy
• Biologically based
- At birth: Contentment, interest, distress
- 3 mo: Joy, surprise, disgust
- 4-5 mo: Anger, fear
- Cognitive development -> self-conscious emotions
- 18 mo: Embarrassment, empathy
- 2 yrs: Pride, shame, guilt
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Socialization of Emotions
• Modeling expressions
• Learning what is appropriate
- Reinforcement
- Imitation
• Emotion regulation
- At first dependent on caregivers
- Learn self-management
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Caregiver-Infant Relationships
• Early contact not crucial nor sufficient
• Reflexes endearing to parent,(e.g., smiling)
• Cooing and babbling
- Early conversations
• Synchronized routines
- Peek-A-Boo
- Sensitive responding
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Infant-Caregiver Relationships
• Undiscriminating social responsiveness
- At birth babies like all social stimuli
• Discriminating social responsiveness
- 2-3 months babies prefer familiar social stimuli
• Active proximity seeking
- 6-7 months babies seek attachment figure
• Goal directed partnership
- 3 years children understand parents goals/plans
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Attachment-Related Fears
• Separation anxiety: 6-8 mo
- Peaks at 14-18 mo
- Gradually wanes
• Stranger anxiety: 8-10 mo
- Declines during 2nd yr
• Secure base: Exploration
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Quality of Attachment
• Secure: active exploration, separation distress,
happy being reunited
- Caregiver provides contact comfort
• Resistant: clings, high separation distress, seeks
contact, resents being left
- Inconsistent care
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Quality of Attachment
• Avoidant: less constructive play, indifference
- Insensitive stimulation
- Rejection, impatient, resentful
- Intrusive
• Disorganized: no exploration, unpredictable
separation response, confused at reunion
- Abusive
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Infant Characteristics
• Must acquire person permanence
• Temperament
- Secure less likely with fearful, difficult infant
• Reaction to parenting style
• Goodness of fit between infant T &
caregiving style
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Context of Attachment
• Culture
- German > avoidant
- Japanese > resistant
• Individualistic vs. Collectivist
• Attachment deprivation > grief
• Romanian orphans
- Insecure, anxious
- Difficulty coping with stress
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Day Care
• Maternal employment
• Secure attachments
- Sensitive mothering at home
- High quality care
• Child characteristics
- Gender, temperament, age
• Parent’s attitude and behavior important
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Later Outcomes
• Securely attached child
- Cognitively and socially competent
- Expect positive reactions
• Insecurely attached child
- Withdrawn, dependent, fearful
- Less competent
• Patterns last through adolescence
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Peer Relations
• 18 mo: First peers
- Turn-taking
- Reciprocal play
• Age 2-12: Increasing time spent
- Same sex
- Similar age and play preferences
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Play Development
• Age 2-5: Social play
• By age 1-2: Pretend play
• By age 5-6: Rule-based games
• By age 11-12: Rule flexibility
• Play beneficial
- Cognitive development
- Social skills
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Peer Acceptance
• Sociometric techniques
- Popular (acceptance critical for social skills)
- Attractive, intelligent
- Socially competent
- Rejected
- Highly aggressive
- Socially sensitive, submissive
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
Adolescents
• Parents still important (NOT for social activities, tastes)
- Key for values, educational goals
- Close attachments w/ warm/authoritative parents more
academically/socially competent
• Friendships
- More intimacy & conformity
- Friends similar psychologically
• Cliques and crowds
- Boy-girl friendships, dates develop via crowd
socialization
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 14: Attachment and Social Relationships
The Adult
• Social networks shrink
- Quality > quantity
- Closer to family
• Romantic attachments
• Adult Friendships valued
- Network size not important
- Key to have one confidant
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