chapter 14 attachment and social relationships

Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 14

Chapter 14

Attachment and Social Relationships

Attachment

• The case of “Baby Jessica”

– Children are resilient

– Negative early experiences rarely ruin them for life

• Close relationships provide

– Learning experiences

– Social support (social convoy)

Attachment Theory

• Bowlby: A strong affectional tie that binds a person to an intimate companion

• Helps regulate distress by proximity seeking

– By about 6-7 months

• Ainsworth: special, irreplaceable people

– Desire to maintain proximity

– Derive a sense of security

• Bowlby: normal environment important

Ethology

• Konrad Lorenz: Imprinting

– Critical period

– Irreversible

• Humans: Attachment

– Sensitive period

– Predisposed

Figure 14.2

Childhood Peers

• Important for social development

• Piaget: equal power among peers

– Requires cooperation, negotiation skills

• Sullivan: Peers important after age 6

– Changing interpersonal needs

• Harris: Parental influence is overrated

– Peers more important for development

Emotions in Infancy

• Timing of emotions biologically programmed

– Tied to cognitive maturation

– Evolved to ensure that caregivers respond

• Social referencing by 10-12 months

– monitor reactions in others to help define situation, regulate behavior and emotions

– Modeling, imitation, reinforcement

Figure 14.1

Caregiver’s Attachment to Infant

• Early contact not crucial nor sufficient

• Neonatal reflexes endearing: e.g., smiling

• Cooing and babbling: early conversations

• Synchronized routines

– Peek-A-Boo

– Sensitive responding a must

– Over-stimulation/under-stimulation

Infant’s Attachment to Caregiver

• Social responsiveness

– At birth: undiscriminating

– 2-6 mo: preferences develop

• Proximity seeking

– 6 mo to 3 yr

– Attachment figures

– Mental representation abilities needed

Attachment-Related Fears

• Separation anxiety: 6-8 mo

– Peaks around 14-18 mo

– Gradually wanes

• Stranger anxiety: 8-10 mo

– Declines during 2nd yr

• Ainsworth: secure base for exploration

Quality of Attachment

• Caregiver provides “contact comfort”

• Ainsworth: Strange Situation Test

– Secure attachment: most

– Insecure attachment categories

• Inconsistent care > resistant

• Insensitive stimulation > avoidant

–Rejection, impatient, resentful

–Intrusive

• Abusive > disorganized/disoriented

Infant Characteristics

• Must acquire person permanence

• Temperament a factor

• Reaction to parenting style

– *Goodness of fit

Context of Attachment

• Culture

– Individualistic: encourage independence

• e.g., Japan

• resistant

– Collectivist: encourage group conformity

• e.g., Western

• avoidant

Effects of Social Deprivation

• Infants grieve when separated from caregiver

– Recover when reunited or upon forming new attachments

• A series of separations more harmful

• Romanian orphans

– Insecure, anxious

– Difficulty coping with stress

• Need sustained interaction with responsive caregivers – one or a few

Later Outcomes

• Securely attached child

– Cognitively and socially competent

– Expect positive reactions

• Insecurely attached child

– Withdrawn, dependent, fearful

– Less competent

• Patterns last through adolescence

Conclusions

• Attachment to fathers, grandparents, etc.

– Can compensate for poor attachment

• Secure attachments may change

– Stressful events: divorce, illness

• Insecure attachments may change

– Lifestyle improvements

• Later relationships influenced by nature of early attachment

Peer Relations

• 18 mo: first peers

– Turn taking

– Reciprocal play

• Age 2-12: increasing time spent

– Same sex peers

– Similar age and play preferences

• Age 1-2: Pretend play

• Age 2-5: Social play

• Age 5-6: Rule-based games

• By age 11-2: Rule flexibility

• Play is beneficial

– Cognitive development

– Social skills

Peer Acceptance

• Sociometric techniques

– Most popular kids

• Attractive, intelligent

• Socially competent

– Rejected kids

• Highly aggressive

• Socially isolated, overly sensitive, submissive

Adolescents

• Parents still important

• Boy-girl friendships and dates

– Dating: Dunphy’s phases

• Initiation; Status; Affection; Bonding

• Friendships: More intimacy

• Friends similar psychologically

• Cliques and crowds

• Increased conformity

Figure 14.6

The Adult

• Social networks shrink

• Closer to family

• Romantic attachments

• Adult friendships valued

• Important to have one confidant

chapter 14 attachment and social relationships

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