Attachment is a long enduring
emotional tie between two people
were affection and the desire to be
close is mutual.
Maccoby - Signs of attachment.
-Joy on reunion, The caregiver is
welcome with hugs and smiles on
return. -Proximity Seeking, wanting
to maintain closeness at all times.
This can be shown by watching and
crawling. -Orientation, attention is
directed to the other. Attempts are
made to engage them in
interaction. - Distress on
separation, can be shown through
crying and upset when babies are
separated from their caregiver.
-Stranger anxiety, a fear of
strangers shown through upset
when around unfamiliar faces.
-Secure base effect, the baby's
caregiver acts as reassurance for
the child and will often explore
more willingly.
Evaluation - Although these signs are
used to detect securely attached
infants in research they cannot be
accurate measures of attachment as
these behaviours may reflect the
child's personality or mood. Therefore
they may not be valid measures of
attachment.
Bowlby's Attachment theory 1940
Bowlby believed that attachments were instinctive which enables a baby to survive to adulthood and reproduce.