SignificanceSignificanceDr. Mary D. Ainsworth, a Dr. Mary D. Ainsworth, a developmental psychologist developmental psychologist work revolutionized the work revolutionized the understanding of the bond understanding of the bond between mothers and between mothers and infants.infants.

Impact on ThinkingImpact on Thinking She argued, on the basis of her She argued, on the basis of her

research, that picking up a crying research, that picking up a crying baby does NOT spoil the child; rather, baby does NOT spoil the child; rather, it reduces crying in the future.it reduces crying in the future.

It had been thought that picking up a It had been thought that picking up a baby spoiled it and led to MORE baby spoiled it and led to MORE crying. crying.

Instead, it teaches the baby that the Instead, it teaches the baby that the world is a responsive place and leads world is a responsive place and leads to less crying long term.to less crying long term.

Impact on ThinkingImpact on Thinking

Dr. Ainsworth's research found Dr. Ainsworth's research found that feeding an infant on demand that feeding an infant on demand rather than on a strict schedule rather than on a strict schedule led to a more secure attachment led to a more secure attachment between infant and mother.between infant and mother.

'These findings had a big impact 'These findings had a big impact on how pediatricians advised on how pediatricians advised mothers.mothers.

AttachmentAttachment

Attachment is a Attachment is a bond that involves bond that involves a desire for regular a desire for regular contact with contact with another person.another person.

Strange SituationStrange Situation

Psychologist Mary Psychologist Mary Ainsworth devised an Ainsworth devised an assessment technique called assessment technique called the the Strange SituationStrange Situation in in order to investigate how order to investigate how attachments might vary attachments might vary between children.between children.

Infants were aged Infants were aged between 12 and 18 between 12 and 18 months. The months. The sample comprised sample comprised about 100 middle about 100 middle class American class American families.families.

Ainsworth identified three Ainsworth identified three main attachment styles; main attachment styles; secure, secure, avoidant/ambivalent, and avoidant/ambivalent, and resistantresistant. .

She concluded that these She concluded that these attachment styles were the attachment styles were the result of early interactions result of early interactions with the mother.with the mother.

Securely Attached ChildrenSecurely Attached Children(Don’t Copy)(Don’t Copy)

Comprised the Comprised the majoritymajority children. children. Such children feel confident that the Such children feel confident that the

mother will be available to meet their mother will be available to meet their needs. needs.

They seek the mother in times of distress. They seek the mother in times of distress. They are soothed by the mother when They are soothed by the mother when

upset. upset. Infants develop a secure attachment when Infants develop a secure attachment when

the caregiver is sensitive to their signals, the caregiver is sensitive to their signals, and responds appropriately to their needs. and responds appropriately to their needs.

Parent RoleParent Role

Parents of securely attached children tend to Parents of securely attached children tend to play play more with their children. more with their children.

parents parents react more quickly to their children's react more quickly to their children's needs needs and are and are more responsive to their children more responsive to their children than the parents of insecurely attached children. than the parents of insecurely attached children.

Studies have shown that securely attached children Studies have shown that securely attached children are more empathetic during later stages of are more empathetic during later stages of childhood. childhood.

These children are also described as less disruptive, These children are also described as less disruptive, less aggressive, and more mature than other less aggressive, and more mature than other children.children.

Ambivalent ChildrenAmbivalent Children(Don’t Copy)(Don’t Copy)

Very independent of the mother, both Very independent of the mother, both physically and emotionally. physically and emotionally.

They do not seek contact with the They do not seek contact with the mother when distressed. mother when distressed.

Such children are likely to have a Such children are likely to have a caregiver who is insensitive and caregiver who is insensitive and rejecting of their needs.rejecting of their needs.

The mother may withdraw from helping The mother may withdraw from helping during difficult tasks and is often during difficult tasks and is often unavailable during times of emotional unavailable during times of emotional distress. distress.

Avoidant /Resistant Avoidant /Resistant Children Children

The child exhibits clingy and dependent The child exhibits clingy and dependent behavior.behavior.

The child rejects the mother. The child rejects the mother. The child fails to develop any feelings of The child fails to develop any feelings of

security from the mother. security from the mother. When distressed they are difficult to When distressed they are difficult to

soothe and are not comforted by soothe and are not comforted by interaction with the mother. interaction with the mother.

This behavior results from an inconsistent This behavior results from an inconsistent level of response to their needs from the level of response to their needs from the mother. mother.

Characteristics of Adults Characteristics of Adults with Avoidant Attachmentwith Avoidant Attachment

Have difficulty with intimacy and close Have difficulty with intimacy and close relationships. relationships.

These individuals do not invest much emotion These individuals do not invest much emotion in relationships and experience little distress in relationships and experience little distress when a relationship ends. when a relationship ends.

They often avoid intimacy by using excuses They often avoid intimacy by using excuses or may fantasize about other people. or may fantasize about other people.

More accepting and likely to engage in More accepting and likely to engage in casual sexcasual sex

Failure to support partners during stressful Failure to support partners during stressful times and an inability to share feelings, times and an inability to share feelings, thoughts and emotions with partners. thoughts and emotions with partners.

18 Indicators of Poor 18 Indicators of Poor Attachment with the Attachment with the

MotherMother

Fidgety and Fidgety and impulsive. impulsive.

Difficulty in school.Difficulty in school.

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…Lack of respect for Lack of respect for authority. authority.

No adult can be No adult can be trusted.trusted.

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

Eating Eating disordersdisorders

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

Poor hygiene. Poor hygiene. Resist taking baths Resist taking baths or brushing teeth.or brushing teeth.

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

FascinatioFascination with fire.n with fire.

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

Fascinated with Fascinated with blood and gore.blood and gore.

Torturing animals.Torturing animals.

Poor Attachment with the Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result in…Mother may Result in…

Only allow love or affection on their Only allow love or affection on their own terms. own terms.

They may come to you for comfort They may come to you for comfort and affection, but when you ask and affection, but when you ask them to come to you for love and them to come to you for love and affection, they resist. affection, they resist.

Stiff and uncomfortable if you hug Stiff and uncomfortable if you hug them.them.

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

Difficulty initiating Difficulty initiating and sustaining and sustaining relationships.relationships.

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

AggressiveAggressive

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

Cut themselvesCut themselvesSuicidalSuicidal

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

StealSteal

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

Depression Depression

Poor Attachment with Poor Attachment with the Mother may Result the Mother may Result

in…in…

Sexually Sexually promiscuous promiscuous

Your thoughts, Your thoughts, feelings, or feelings, or questions.questions.

Attachment Analysis Attachment Analysis PaperPaper

Describe your attachment with your primary Describe your attachment with your primary caretaker. Think back as far as you can remember.caretaker. Think back as far as you can remember.

Which of Ainsworth’s descriptions (Which of Ainsworth’s descriptions (secure, secure, avoidant/ambivalent, resistant)avoidant/ambivalent, resistant) best best characterizes your relationship with your primary characterizes your relationship with your primary caretaker?caretaker?

Give a solid explanation based on how you were Give a solid explanation based on how you were raised as well as who you are today.raised as well as who you are today.

Provide details from your childhood as well as a Provide details from your childhood as well as a description of your adolescent characteristics. description of your adolescent characteristics.

Length: 1 page. Length: 1 page. (entire from side of 1 sheet of notebook (entire from side of 1 sheet of notebook paper)paper)

Due date: Next Tuesday.Due date: Next Tuesday.