Final Answer:
Attachment is a two-way emotional bond that is essential for survival. It is shown through behaviours like proximity seeking, secure-base behaviour, and responses to separation (separation anxiety or separation delight).
Reciprocity → An interaction when each person responds to the other and elicits a response from them
Alert phases → A signal from a baby, usually eye contact, that they are ready for interaction
Interactional synchrony → People carrying out the same action simultaneously – ‘the temporal coordination of micro-level social behaviour’
Proximity → People trying to stay physically close to their attachment figure
Schaffer and Emerson based their stage theory on an observational study of the formation of early infant adult attachments.
The study involved sixty babies. All were from Glasgow and the majority were from skilled working-class families. Researchers visited babies and mothers in their own homes every month for the first year and again at 18 months.
The researchers asked the mothers questions that kind of protest that baby showed in seven every day separations e.g. adults leaving the room (a measure of separation anxiety). This was designed to measure the babies’ attachment. Researchers also assessed stranger anxiety – the babies anxiety response to unfamiliar people.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of psychology lessons and worksheet.
