Attachment - AQA Psychology in 22 MINS!

Summary

This video script offers a concise summary of attachment theories in psychology, highlighting the importance of caregiver-infant interactions and their impact on emotional bonds. It covers key concepts like interactional synchrony, sensitive responsiveness, and the stages of attachment as described by Schaffer. The script also discusses the implications of these theories for child development, the role of fathers, and the influence of early attachment on adult relationships. Additionally, it mentions the limitations and cultural variations in attachment research, urging viewers to explore the topic further through the provided resources.

Takeaways

• 🧑‍👧 Infants and caregivers form deep emotional bonds through mutual interaction, which includes reciprocity and interactional synchrony.
• 🤔 The quality of caregiver-infant interaction influences the strength of attachment, with sensitive responsiveness being a key factor.
• 👶 Schaffer's stages of attachment outline the progression from asocial to multiple attachments, with separation and stranger anxiety emerging at specific stages.
• 👨‍👦 Fathers play a significant role in infant development, with their interactional style and sensitivity being similar to mothers' when they become primary caregivers.
• 🦆 Lorenz's imprinting studies in geese suggest a critical period for attachment, highlighting the biological basis of attachment behaviors.
• 🐒 Harlow's research with surrogate mothers in monkeys indicates that physical contact and comfort are more important for attachment than food provision.
• 👶‍🍼 Ainsworth's Strange Situation identified three types of infant attachment: secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant, based on the mother's sensitive responsiveness.
• 🌐 Cross-cultural studies show variations in attachment styles, with secure attachment being the most common, but cultural differences influencing the prevalence of insecure types.
• 🧬 Kagan's temperament hypothesis suggests that inherited temperament affects infant and adult relationships, with high reactivity leading to anxious adults.
• 👩‍⚕️ Institutional care, as seen in the Romanian orphan studies, can have severe negative impacts on children's development, emphasizing the importance of early attachment.
• 🔄 Bowlby's internal working model theory posits that early attachment experiences form a blueprint for future relationships, affecting social and emotional outcomes in adulthood.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the 'psych boost app' mentioned in the video script?

The 'psych boost app' is designed to test knowledge of all topics in AEV psychology using flashcards. It is available on IOS and Android and can be used for all of paper one for free.

What does the term 'interactional synchrony' refer to in the context of infant-caregiver relationships?

Interactional synchrony refers to a simultaneous interaction between the infant and caregiver where they appear to be acting rhythmically with matching, coordinated behavior and matching emotional states.

What is the significance of the 'Meltzoff and Moore' experiment mentioned in the script?

The 'Meltzoff and Moore' experiment demonstrated that infants as young as 12 to 21 days old have the ability to observe and reciprocate facial gestures through imitation, indicating early social cognitive abilities.

What is 'sensitive responsiveness' in the context of caregiver-infant interactions?

Sensitive responsiveness refers to the adult caregiver's ability to correctly interpret the meaning of the infant's communication and being motivated to respond appropriately.

What are the implications of using multiple observers blind to the experiment's aims in infant-caregiver interaction studies?

Using multiple observers blind to the experiment's aims helps to provide interrater reliability, ensuring that the findings are not influenced by the expectations or biases of a single observer.

What did Schaffer's stages of attachment identify in infant development?

Schaffer's stages of attachment identify four stages: 1) Asocial (0-6 weeks) where babies display innate behaviors without preference for any individual; 2) Indiscriminate attachment (6 weeks to 7 months) where infants begin to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar individuals; 3) Specific attachment (7-9 months) where a strong attachment to a primary caregiver forms, and separation anxiety and stranger anxiety develop; 4) Multiple attachment (9-10 months and beyond) where infants form attachments with other regular caregivers.

What role does the father play in infant attachment according to the script?

Fathers play an important role in infant attachment. Research suggests that at 18 months, 75% of infants have formed an attachment with their father, indicating that fathers can be significant figures in their infants' lives and contribute to their socialization.

How does the script describe the influence of animal studies on attachment theories?

The script describes Lorenz's imprinting studies with geese and Harlow's work with surrogate mothers in monkeys, which suggest that attachment behaviors have biological and evolutionary bases. However, it also notes that generalizing animal behavior to human psychology can be problematic due to differences in biology and social/cultural experiences.

What is the 'critical period' in the context of Bowlby's theory of attachment?

In Bowlby's theory, the 'critical period' refers to the first 30 months after birth, during which a strong monotropic attachment must form. According to Bowlby, a lack of attachment during this period can result in permanent negative social, intellectual, and emotional consequences for the infant.

What are the potential cultural variations in attachment styles as discussed in the script?

The script discusses cultural variations in attachment styles, noting that secure attachment is the most common type globally but there are differences. For example, avoidant attachment is more common in individualistic Western cultures, while resistant attachment is more common in collectivist cultures. These variations may be influenced by cultural practices and values related to child-rearing.