- What is attachment? Social and emotional bond between infant and caregiver.
- How does attachment develop in infants? Breastfeeding/bottlefeeding, cuddling, looking, smiling, crying
- What are the stages in which attachment develops?Pre-attachment, Indiscriminate attachment, Discriminate attachment, Multiple attachment
- What are the types of attachment that infants develop with their caregivers? Secure attachment, Ambivalent attachment, Resistant attachment, Disoriented attachment
- What are the short and long term effects of social deprivation?
Stages of attachment:
- Pre-attachment - (Birth to 3 months): Babies are attracted to other human beings rather than inanimate objects or environmental features. They engage in behaviours like nestling, cuddling, smiling, gurgling, cooing which are directed at others. (Social Smile)
- Indiscriminate Attachment - (3 to seven months): Infants can distinguish between people familiar and unfamiliar to them. Social smile disappears yet infants will allow strangers to hold them and/or look at them as long as the care is adequate.
- Discriminate Attachment - (7 to 9 months): Infants begin to develop specific attachments (usually the mother). They become stressed when separated (separation anxiety). They readily distinguish the mother from others, rely on object permanence and usually avoid strangers. They may respond to strangers by crying or trying to move away.
- Multiple Attachment - (9 months onward): Infants become increasingly independent of the primary caregiver. They form strong additional bonds with other major caregivers.
Types of attachment:
- Secure: infants actively seek contact from the mother/primary caregiver and gain comfort when united.
- Ambivalent: infants don't cry when their mother leaves them alone. They are slow to greet her when she returns.
- Resistant: infant rejects mother and refuses to be comforted by her after she leaves them alone.
- Disoriented: infant displays contradictory reactions.
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