Reflection

Human Developmentin Social Context

HAS121

Lecture 4.1: Attachment theory

• What is attachment and why is itimportant?
• Keythinkers/researchers inattachment theory

In this lecture we will:

Learn about the following key concepts

• A theory is set of ideas proposed todescribe and explain certainphenomena (in our subject, thephenomena of humandevelopment)
• Agood theory is….

• Internallyconsistent
• Falsifiable (capable of beingtested)
• Supportedby data

What is a theory

From lecture 2.2 theories of human development

• “An affectional tie that binds aperson to an intimate companion[attachmentfigure].”
• Safetyand security within contextof this relationship
• Lossor threat of loss of specialperson results in distress

Attachment: a theory of relationships

the capacity to form and maintain emotional relationships

Think…

Who were you attached to as a child?

• Who was important to you as achild?
• Who cared for you the most?
• Reflection is part of the task forassessment 2

Attachment has evolved for human survival

Attachment is an adaptation designed to protect the baby by keeping it close tocaregiver

• Infant attachment has roots in instinctual infant responsesimportant for survival and protection: Crying, sucking, clinging.

• Wedevelopa ‘sense of self’through our relationships withother people
• Attachmentis central toemotional development and self-regulation
• Attachmentis the foundation forsocialisation

Attachment is part of human development

Bi-directional

Key thinkers/researchers in attachment theory

Pre-attachment theory

• Lorenz–Imprinting on geese 1930s
• Spitz–Maternal deprivation 1940-50s
• Harlow and the cloth and wiresurrogates 1950-60s

• Bowlbyargued that the infant’semotional tie with the primarycaregiver evolved because itpromotes survival
• Infantsmake signals to theircaregivers and adapt to theresponses they receive (if noresponse, signals wane)–interaction of biological andenvironmental forces
• Thequality of the caregiver-childattachment has lasting impacts onfuture relationships through theInternal Working Model

John Bowlby

Founder of attachment theory 1950s

Core characteristics of attachment

Forming an attachment

Infant attachment cycle

Internal working models

Attachment strategiesreflectways of processing and dealing with emotion. Thesemodels of self and others come from thousands of interactions, and becomeexpectations and biases that are carried forward into new relationships.

• •https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsewNrHUHU
• See My Library linkonMoodleforstudies about fathers andattachment

The strange situation

Mary Ainsworth

To be continued