Lecture on Psychology of Attachment

Introduction to Attachment

• Significance: One of the most significant relationships in early life is the attachment to a caregiver.
• Impact: Shapes how an infant views the world and themselves.
• Topics Covered:
  • Types of attachment
  • Impact on future relationships
  • Consequences of inability to form attachments

The Psychology of Attachment

• Developmental Psychology: Study of how and why humans change over time.
• Definition of Attachment: Emotional relationship where both parties seek closeness and feel secure with each other.
• Attachment Indicators:
  • Proximity: Need to be physically close.
  • Separation Distress: Distress when apart from the attachment figure.
  • Secure Based Behavior: Infants return to attachment figures while exploring.

Infants and Their Caregivers

• Attachment to Objects: Strong attachment to items like mobile phones, similar behaviors observed as with human attachment.
• Caregiver-Infant Interaction:
  • Meltzoff and Moore (1977): Studied imitation in infants as young as two weeks old.

Key Concepts in Attachment

• Reciprocity: Mutual exchange of responses between infant and caregiver, reinforcing behavior.
• Interactional Synchrony: Coordinated timing of behaviors between infant and caregiver, essential for emotional connection and skill development.

Psychological Research on Attachment

• Still Face Paradigm (Kronick, 1978): Demonstrates distress in infants when interaction is stopped, highlighting importance of interaction.
• Isabella and Belsky (1991): High interactional synchrony linked to secure attachment, while low synchrony linked to insecure attachment.

Challenges in Studying Attachment

• Controlled Observations: Effective but have limitations in understanding infant intentions.
• Bias and Interpretation: Potential for observer bias, measures taken to mitigate this.
• Practical Challenges: Infants' unpredictable schedules reduce observation opportunities.
• Social Sensitivity: Research can put pressure on mothers, affecting decisions like returning to work.

Conclusion

• Importance of Early Interactions: Essential for developmental benefits such as empathy and language.
• Further Learning: Exploration of stages of attachment and their significance.