Psychology 1230: Psychology of AdolescenceSupplementary ReferencesImprinting in the Big CityOverview of Attachment LectureBackgroundA typical attachment relationship in the Dept. of Psychology!ConceptionThe TheoryMeasuring Attachment: 1Measuring Attachment: 2Attachment Categories: (1)How do attachment relationships form?Attachment Security during Adolescence (1)Attachment Security during Adolescence (2)Slide 15Why Should We Care About Attachment Relationships?Why might early attachment relationship forecast latter relationships?Four Perspectives on Attachment-based RelationshipsGetting Help with Defective Attachment RelationshipsSlide 20Concerns with Attachment TheorySummary of Attachment Lecture1Psychology 1230: Psychology of AdolescenceDon HartmannFall 2005Lecture 16: Attachment2Supplementary Referenceshttp://www.psychology.sunysb.edu/ewaters/552/default.htm (Everett Waters--an expert in the field--class on attachment theory)Bowlby, J.2 (1980). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. New York: Basic Books.Shaffer, D. R. (2000). Social & personality development (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth (pp. 147-151).3Imprinting in the Big City4Overview of Attachment LectureBackground: The constructHow conceived? Bowlby’s contributionsHow measured? E.g., Ainworth's Strange Situation TestFactors affecting the quality of attachment for parents & babiesImplications of Attachment in adolescence and in later lifeIntersects with text, pp. 311-313 & 327-328Next: Lect. #17: Autonomy5BackgroundAttachment to primary socializer widely conceived as important to infant's development“...adult affective relationships, adjustment with peers, and a variety of other attributes of the older child and adult can be traced back to the behavior of the infant with its mother...” (MacDonald, p. 117.).6A typical attachment relationship in the Dept. of Psychology!7ConceptionHow conceived? As a behavioral system ‑‑ with a set of interchangeable, functionally equivalent behaviorsInfant displays responses that bring it closer to caregiver Greater proximity seeking to caregiver than others. Stable proximity seeking across time.8The TheoryMany behaviors of the mother are intrinsically rewarding to the infant; likewise for the baby.Similarly, absence from the mother is intrinsically fear‑producing. Attachment theory is really a theory about relationships!9Measuring Attachment: 1Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Test For many years, the method of assessing attachment relationships. Lab-based method based on a standard method of caregiver interacting with infant. Infant, attachment figure (e.g., mom), and stranger involved in a series of interactions—infant with mom and stranger, infant alone with stranger, etc.Coded by trained (certified) observers. Code categories include infant proximity and contact seeking; distance interactions; use of mother as secure base; distress upon separation; search behavior during separation; quality of child's greeting upon mom's return; avoidance or resistance to interaction with mom; willingness to be comforted10Measuring Attachment: 2 Attachment Q‑sort: Appropriate for somewhat older children. Mom or someone else familiar with the child sorts a large set of behavioral descriptor related to attachment to determine how typical they are of the child. The Adult Attachment Interview (adult recollections). Adults are questioned (interviewed) about their early childhood relationships.11Attachment Categories: (1)A (anxious‑avoidant): 20% of NA infants. Infants tend to avoid or ignore their caregiver, who are themselves rejecting/unresponsive. An insecure attachment.B (secure): 65% of NA infants. Explores while with mom. Is glad to see her when she returns. If distressed, seeks contact with mom. C (anxious‑resistant): 10% in NA. Infants are ambivalent about mom, who is inconsistent. An insecure attachment.D (disorganized): 5-10% of NA infants. The most insecure because caregiver is neglectful/abusive. Infants display intense approach/avoidance.12How do attachment relationships form?Care giving hypothesis: Secure attachments produced by caregivers who are sensitive, positive, supportive, stimulating, synchronous, and mutual. Insecure attachments result from caretakers who are depressed, themselves mistreated as children, or who have unwanted pregnancies and reject their babies13Attachment Security during Adolescence (1)The conceptual issue:Behavioral systems that endure across time and developmental periods are oftentimes difficult to operationalize in their separate developmental periods.What behaviors in youth correspond to using parent as a secure base during infancy?14Attachment Security during Adolescence (2)What can parents do?Accommodate the child’s growing need for autonomy while maintaining appropriate limitsRemaining available when neededOpen communication of emotionNegotiate differencesWhat would the “bad” parent do?1516Why Should We Care About Attachment Relationships?Early relationships help develop a template for later relationships!E.g., securely attached infants (Bs) are better playmates (had better peer relations) at 3 yearsE.g., young teens who are Bs had better social skills and were more likely to have close friends (Minn. Mother-Child Project)E.g., Adults tend to form the kind of relationship with their romantic partners as they did in their early relationships with primary caregivers.17Why might early attachment relationship forecast latter relationships?Internal working models (Bretherton) based upon early experiences. These are internal representations of other (e.g., mom) and themselves Mom‑infant interaction is prototype of future interactions (Alan Shroufe).18Four Perspectives on Attachment-based Relationships Model of Self Positive Negative Model of OthersNegative Positive Secure(Secure Primary Attach.)Preoccupied(Ambivalent Primary Attach.) Dismissing(Avoidant Primary Attach.) Fearful(Disorganized Primary Attach.)19Getting Help with Defective Attachment RelationshipsFonagy (2001) states that “the past influences or biases expectations but does not determine these.”Where do you get help?Bibliotherapy (Pop psychology): Becoming attached: First relationships and how they shape our capacity to love by