ATTACHMENTATTACHMENT

From Alan SroufeFrom Alan Sroufe

University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota

Minnesota Longitudinal StudyMinnesota Longitudinal Study

180 Children born in poverty180 Children born in povertyAssessment starting before birthAssessment starting before birthAge-by-Age measures from birth to adultAge-by-Age measures from birth to adultFocus on early relationshipsFocus on early relationships

The Attachment RelationshipThe Attachment Relationship

Between Infant and CaregiverBetween Infant and CaregiverAll Infants become attachedAll Infants become attachedDifferences in attachment qualityDifferences in attachment qualityPatterning of carePatterning of careOrganization of Attachment BehaviorOrganization of Attachment Behavior

ModelsModels

FocusFocus

ModelsModels

LIMITSLIMITS

ModelsModels

UtilityUtility

Two HypothesesTwo Hypotheses

Quality of attachment depends on earlier Quality of attachment depends on earlier quality of carequality of care

Infant attachment is the foundation for Infant attachment is the foundation for personality developmentpersonality development

Attachment and BondingAttachment and Bonding

Bonding refers to a mother’s initial reaction Bonding refers to a mother’s initial reaction to her babyto her baby

Attachment refers to what happens over Attachment refers to what happens over the long haul (first few years of life) the long haul (first few years of life) A relationshipA relationship

Early DevelopmentEarly Development

Newborns are not born blindNewborns are not born blindRecognition of general facial featuresRecognition of general facial features

Some color vision & fairly good motion Some color vision & fairly good motion perceptionperception

Sense of smell and taste well developedSense of smell and taste well developedPerception more developed than cognitionPerception more developed than cognition

Bowlby DefinitionBowlby Definition(1950s)(1950s)

Enduring emotional bondEnduring emotional bondEffect on developmentEffect on development

Representational ModelRepresentational Model

Unconscious structure create mental Unconscious structure create mental representationsrepresentations

Sets the stage for future interactionsSets the stage for future interactions

MEASURING EARLY CAREMEASURING EARLY CARE

Sensitivity to early CareSensitivity to early CareCooperative vs. Intrusive CareCooperative vs. Intrusive Care Inconsistent care, rejection or emotional Inconsistent care, rejection or emotional

unavailability leads to anxious attachmentunavailability leads to anxious attachment

SECURE ATTACHMENTSECURE ATTACHMENT

Effective use of caregiver as secure baseEffective use of caregiver as secure base Clear preference for caregiver when distressedClear preference for caregiver when distressed Active initiation of contact following brief Active initiation of contact following brief

separationsseparations Ease of being comfortedEase of being comforted 65% are securely attached65% are securely attached Advantages in early developmentAdvantages in early development Do not perform better in cognitive tasks but they Do not perform better in cognitive tasks but they

persistpersist

RESISTANT (Anxious/Ambivalent) RESISTANT (Anxious/Ambivalent) ATTACHMENTATTACHMENT

Poverty of explorationPoverty of explorationWariness of separatingWariness of separatingDifficulty separatingDifficulty separatingDifficulty being settled by caregiverDifficulty being settled by caregiver

Visible AngerVisible Anger

RESISTANT (Anxious/Ambivalent) RESISTANT (Anxious/Ambivalent) ATTACHMENTATTACHMENT

Infant irritabilityInfant irritability Low level of social support for Low level of social support for

mothermother Instability in the familyInstability in the family Boys are at greater riskBoys are at greater risk 2 or more increases likelihood2 or more increases likelihood

AVOIDANT ATTACHMENTAVOIDANT ATTACHMENT

Little obvious preference for caregiver Little obvious preference for caregiver when stressedwhen stressed

Little emotional sharingLittle emotional sharingActive avoidance following brief separationActive avoidance following brief separation35% in most samples35% in most samplesDoes not request support – doubts it will Does not request support – doubts it will

be providedbe provided

DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENTDISORGANIZED ATTACHMENTCaregiver as source of threatCaregiver as source of threat Irresolvable paradoxIrresolvable paradoxDisorientation and incoherenceDisorientation and incoherenceApprehension or confusionApprehension or confusion

SPECIAL AREASSPECIAL AREAS

Babies develop clear, stable hierarchies of Babies develop clear, stable hierarchies of attachment figuresattachment figures

Mothers employed have securely attached Mothers employed have securely attached babiesbabies

Part time working mother’s babies at no Part time working mother’s babies at no riskrisk

Avoidant attachment increases if child Avoidant attachment increases if child under 6 mo. and in day care >20hrs a wkunder 6 mo. and in day care >20hrs a wk

No info about attachment to caretakersNo info about attachment to caretakers

DETERMINANTS OF DETERMINANTS OF ATTACHMENT PATTERNSATTACHMENT PATTERNS

Quality of care of primary caregiverQuality of care of primary caregiverBabies personality influence outcomes to Babies personality influence outcomes to

a degreea degreePrimary caregiver has long term influencePrimary caregiver has long term influenceNo gender difference in attachment No gender difference in attachment

patternspatterns

ATTACHEMENT IMPLICATIONS ATTACHEMENT IMPLICATIONS IN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTSIN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS

Secure adolescent – love experiences are Secure adolescent – love experiences are positivepositive

Anxious/avoidant adolescents and adults Anxious/avoidant adolescents and adults have difficulty building, enjoying & have difficulty building, enjoying & maintaining relationshipsmaintaining relationships

Anxious/ambivalent adolescents and Anxious/ambivalent adolescents and adults have obsessional love relationships, adults have obsessional love relationships, extreme sexual attraction and are jealousextreme sexual attraction and are jealous

How does attachment support How does attachment support development?development?

As Motivational baseAs Motivational baseAs Attitudinal baseAs Attitudinal base Instrumental baseInstrumental baseEmotional baseEmotional baseRelational baseRelational base

MOTIVATIONAL BASEMOTIVATIONAL BASE

Positive expectations concerning Positive expectations concerning relationshipsrelationships

Basic sense of connectednessBasic sense of connectednessBelief that relationships will be rewardingBelief that relationships will be rewarding

ATTITUDINAL BASEATTITUDINAL BASE

Belief that one may elicit responses from Belief that one may elicit responses from othersothers

Expectation of Mastery in the social worldExpectation of Mastery in the social world

INSTRUMENTAL BASEINSTRUMENTAL BASE

Object mastery through support for Object mastery through support for explorationexploration

Capacity to enjoy play and discoveryCapacity to enjoy play and discovery

EMOTIONAL BASEEMOTIONAL BASE

Modulated arousalModulated arousalSelf-regulation of emotionSelf-regulation of emotion

RELATIONAL BASERELATIONAL BASE

Empathic responsiveness derived from Empathic responsiveness derived from empathic careempathic care

Expectations concerning reciprocityExpectations concerning reciprocity

MAJOR OUTCOMESMAJOR OUTCOMES

SELF-RELIANCESELF-RELIANCECURIOSITYCURIOSITYSELF-REGULATIONSELF-REGULATIONCOMPETENCE with PEERSCOMPETENCE with PEERSMENTAL HEALTH or PATHOLOGYMENTAL HEALTH or PATHOLOGY

Resistant Attachment Resistant Attachment and and

Later PsychopathologyLater Psychopathology

Anxiety ProblemsAnxiety ProblemsDepressionDepression Interaction with infant temperamentInteraction with infant temperament

Avoidant Attachment Avoidant Attachment and and

Later PsychopathologyLater Psychopathology

Conduct ProblemsConduct ProblemsDepressionDepression

Disorganized Attachment Disorganized Attachment and and

Later PsychopathologyLater Psychopathology

General PathologyGeneral PathologyDissociationDissociationConduct ProblemsConduct Problems

DISORGANIZATIONDISORGANIZATIONTRAUMATRAUMA

&&DISSOCIATIONDISSOCIATION

Disorganized attachment + Trauma =Disorganized attachment + Trauma =Predicts DissociationPredicts Dissociation

Dissociation predicts = Frightening Parent Dissociation predicts = Frightening Parent BehaviorBehavior

Frightening Parent Behavior = predicts Frightening Parent Behavior = predicts Disorganized AttachmentDisorganized Attachment