Attachment
I. What are emotional attachments
II. Theories of attachment
A.Behaviorist approach
1.Dependency and drive reduction model
2.Operant conditioning model
3.Problems with the models
B.Psychoanalytic approach
1.Freud’s theory
2.Erikson’s theory
C.Cognitive-developmental approach
D.Ethological approach
1.Background of the theory
2.The developmental course of attachment
a. The “preattachment phase”
b. The “attachment in the making phase”
c. The phase of “clearcut attachment”
d. The formation of a reciprocal relationship
III.Measurement of attachment
A.The “strange situation”
B.Patterns of attachment
1.Secure
2.Insecure – avoidant
3.Insecure – resistant/ambivalent
4.Insecure - disorganized
IV.Factors affecting attachment
A.Maternal deprivation and institutionalization
B.Quality of care-giving
C.Infant characteristics
Behaviorist Approach to Attachment
The importance of feeding and drive reduction
• Elicits positive responses
• Mothers provide infants with additional
comforts, such as warmth, vocalizations
• All occur in single setting
• Mom becomes source of reinforcement
The Effects of Blanket
Attachment on Play
Blanket Attached
Mean Duration of Play
Blanket Non-Attached
Mother
Blanket
Toy
No Object
Experimental Condition
Behaviorist Approach to Attachment
The importance of feeding and drive reduction
• Elicits positive responses
• Mothers provide infants with additional
comforts, such as warmth, vocalizations
• All occur in single setting
• Mom becomes source of reinforcement
Operant Conditioning model
• Infants look, smile, and seek proximity
because mom reciprocates with smiles, hugs
• The greater number of behaviors that get
reinforced by particular person, the more one
is attached to that person
Psychoanalytic Approach to
Attachment
Freudian approach
• Similar to drive reduction
• Become attached to person who satisfies
basic biological drives (typically Mom)
• Relationship with Mom then prototype for
romantic relationships throughout life
Erikson’s approach
• 1st developmental stage: birth – 1 yr: Trust
vs. mistrust
• Children become attached to people who
minister to needs
• Importance of mother’s overall
responsiveness
Cognitive-Developmental
Approach to Attachment
Little to say about which people to whom one
becomes attached
• Suggests that attachment depends, in part,
on level of cognitive development
• Must be able to discriminate familiar
persons from strangers
• Must recognize that familiar persons have
permanence – object permanence abilities,
as discussed earlier
• Thus, timing of attachment related to
timing of development of cognitive ability
Ethological Approach to Attachment
Central feature of theory
• Babies born with in-born set of behaviors
• Behaviors elicit parent care, thus increase
change of survival
The developmental course of attachment
• The preattachment phase
• Behavior a matter of genetically determined
reflexive responses with survival value
• Promote physical contact
• Attachment in the making
• Orient and respond with preference towards
mom
• No specific attachment yet
• The phase of clearcut attachment
• Shows separation anxiety
• Mom as a “safe haven”
• Formation of a reciprocal relationship
• Decrease in separation anxiety
The Strange Situation Procedure
Episode
Persons Present
Duration
Description of Activity
1
Mother, baby and
observer
30 sec
Observer introduces mother and
baby to experimental room, then
leaves
2
Mother and baby
3 min
Mother is nonparticipant while baby
explores. If necessary, play is
stimulated after 2 min.
3
Stranger, mother
and baby
3 min
Stranger enters, Min. 1: stranger
silent; Min. 2: stranger talks with
mother; Min 3: stranger approaches
baby. After 3 min., mother leaves
4
Stranger and baby
3 min or
less
First separation episode. Stranger’s
behavior is geared to that of baby
5
Mother and baby
3 min or
more
First reunion episode. Mother greets
and comforts baby, then tries to
settle baby into play. Mother then
leaves, waves bye-bye
6
Baby alone
3 min or
less
Second separation episode
7
Stranger & baby
3 min or
less
Continuation of second separation.
Stranger enters and gears behavior
to that of baby
8
Mother and baby
3 min
Second reunion episode. Mother
enters, greets baby. Stranger leaves
Patterns of Attachment
Insecure – Avoidant
• Little distress at separation
• Avoids mother during reunion
• About 20% of North-American infants
Securely Attached
Distressed during separation
• Seeks out mother during reunion
• About 65% of North-American infants
Insecure – Ambivalent/Resistance
• Distressed throughout, and during separation
• Reunion a mixture of relief and anger
• About 10% of North-American infants
Insecure – Ambivalent/Resistance
• Combination of avoidant and
ambivalent/resistant
• Confusion over whether to approach or avoid
• During reunion may act dazed or freeze
• About 5 - 10% of North-American infants