Attachment

“The formation of a strong, reciprocal emotional bond between an infant and a primary caregiver”

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Attachment

• Behaviours that indicate attachment (Maccoby, 1980):• Proximity seeking (especially when stressed)• Separation distress & pleasure when reunited• General orientation towards specific individual

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Development of Attachments

• When do attachments form?• How do they vary over time?

• Who does the child attach to?• What influences choice of attachment figure?

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Development of Attachments

• Shaffer & Emerson (1964)• Longitudinal study in natural environment• Observations & diary records• Measured attachment via (1) separation

distress; (2) stranger anxiety

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Development of Attachments

• When?• First attachment usually formed by 8 months• Stranger anxiety usually 1 month later• Attachment strength peaks during first month

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Development of Attachment

• Who?• 65% mother only• 30% mother & another (often father)• 3% father only• Responsiveness, play and social interaction

matter most in attachment formation• Not necessarily person who fed, changed,

washed or spent most time with child

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Stages of Development

• 0-2 months – pre attachment • Preference for people over objects, but no

discrimination between people• 3-7 months – indiscriminate attachment

• Apparent preference for familiar people (e.g. smiling more at some people)

• 7 months – discriminate attachment • True emotional attachment. Multiple

attachments by about 9 months

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Comments & Criticisms

• Infants may have stronger preferences than Shaffer and others allow for:• Infants show preference for mothers face within

24 hrs of birth (Bushnell et al, 1989)• Other evidence suggests recognition of

mother’s voice & scent in neonates

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Comments & Criticisms

• Attachment may correlate with development, not strictly age• Ugandan children show stranger anxiety earlier,

also begin crawling earlier (Ainsworth, 1967)• Correlation between attachment and mobility

makes evolutionary sense

• However, most evidence suggests that Shaffer’s work is very robust

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