Attachment & Daycare

Modules 9-1 & 14-1

What Is Attachment?

Attachment – an emotional bond between two people

When, how & why does Attachment develop?

By 6 months, infants show obvious signs of attachment to their mothers (primary caregivers)

Freud suggested that this is the foundation for all later relationships.

Psychoanalysts & behaviorists thought that feeding was the basis for attachment.

What is the basis for Attachment?

1950s-Harry Harlowe showed that contact comfort rather than feeding was the basis for attachment in monkeys

Baby monkeys preferred terrycloth to wire “surrogate mothers”

Social Development

Harlow’s Surrogate Mother Experiments Monkeys preferred

contact with the comfortable cloth mother, even while feeding from the nourishing wire mother

Assessing attachment:Ainsworth: The Strange Situation

1 Parent/baby in playroom 2 Parent seated, baby plays 3 Stranger enters 4 Parent leaves, stranger responds to baby 5 Parent returns, stranger leaves 6 Parent leaves 7 Stranger enters & offers comfort 8 Parent returns

Attachment PatternsSecure – (65%) parent is a secure base; may cry at

separation; seek contact on return

Insecure Avoidant – (20%) unresponsive to parent; not distressed when leaves; treat stranger like parent; slow to greet on reunion

Insecure Resistant – (10-15%) seek closeness, cling, fail to explore; cry at separation angry, resistive behavior on return; not easily comforted

Disorganized/disoriented – (5-10%) confused, contradictory behavior; odd postures; flat emotion; fearful

Attachment & Later Development

Attachment provides inner feelings of affection & security.

Securely attached preschoolers were high in self-esteem, socially competent, cooperative and popular.

Avoidantly attached agemates were isolated and disconnected.

Resistantly attached agemates were disruptive and difficult.

Attachment Styles

Mary Ainsworth (1979) identified three attachment styles between infants and caregiver:

Secure attachment style (70%) - caregiver is responsive to infant’s needs; infant trusts caregiver

Avoidant attachment style (20%) - caregiver is distant or rejecting; infant suppresses desire to be close to caregiver

Ambivalent attachment style (10%) - caregiver is inconsistently available and overbearing with affection; infant clings anxiously to caregiver and then fights against closeness by pushing away

Links Between Attachment in Childhood and Close Relationships in Adulthood

Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver (1987) examined continuity between childhood attachment and romantic relationships

Securely attached infants are more likely to have a secure attachment to adult romantic partner

Individuals with avoidant attachment style in childhood find it difficult to develop intimate relationship in adulthood

Individuals can revise attachment styles in adulthood

Long-term Effects

Stroufe & others, 2005

Longitudinal study (later childhood/teens) Positive emotional health Higher self-esteem Self-confidence Social competence with peers, teachers,

counselors, romantic partners

Attachment & Later Development

Securely attached had better social skills and relationships with peers.

Secure attachment leads to improved cognition, better social and emotional competence in later years.

Disorganized attachment is consistently related to high hostility and aggression in school

Study of children age 11 at summer camp

Attachment & Later Development

Continuity of caregiving The picture can change over the years. The best predictor of adult function is

not secure attachment in infancy, but whether the child experienced a family divorce.

Attachment in Adolescence• Study using the AAI – Adult Attachment Interview

Teenagers securely attached to parents have better: Social competence Self esteem Emotional adjustment Physical health Behavior (fewer problem behaviors)

Types of Attachment in Adolescence

Secure autonomous Dismissing avoidant

• Rejected by caregiver; deny importance of attachment; related to violent behavior

Preoccupied ambivalent• Attachment seeking; parent inconsistently

available; high conflict Unresolved disorganized

• Had traumatic experience; disoriented, fearful

Adult Attachment Styles

Secure – good relationships

Insecure avoidant – difficulty establishing relationships; quickly end relationships; prone to one-night stands, depression

Ambivalent – less trusting, more jealous, tend to anger and emotional intensity

Factors in Security of Attachment

I. Opportunity – orphans, working parents

2. Baby’s Characteristics - temperament

3. Family Context

4. Quality of Caregiving - Erikson

Factors – 1. Opportunity

Institutionalized babies often have emotional difficulties because they are prevented from establishing a bond.

Adoptions show the first bond can be established as late as 4-6 years.

These children may have an excessive desire for adult attention and few friendships.

Factors – 2. Baby Characteristics

Prematurity, birth complications, newborn illness.

Temperamentally difficult babies?

Factors – 3. Family Circumstances

Divorce

Financial strain

Career demands/role conflicts

Parents’ childhood experiences

Factors – 4. Quality of Caregiving

Sensitive caregiving and interactional synchrony related to secure attachment across cultures

Overly stimulating, intrusive care associated with avoidant attachment.

Inconsistent care associated with resistant attachment.

Child abuse and neglect associated with disorganized attachment.

Children in Childcare In U.S. Currently 2+ million children in childcare; 5+ million in

kindergarten

Parental Preferences• Relative care• Non-relative (unlicensed) care• Child-care Center

Employer Church Commercial

Percentages of children shift from relative to commercial as the children get older.

Quality of Childcare Factors

Provider training Adult to child ratio (<10; <20) Planned curriculum Rich Language Environment (conversation) Sensitive caregivers (when to intervene) Appropriate materials and activities Safety & Cleanliness

Unrealistic Comparisons

Can anybody afford daycare this good?

Example: Harvard Demonstration Project

Staff pediatrician Non-teaching director 3:1 infant/teacher ratio Teachers and aides trained to smile

Cognitive Development

Rule of Thumb

Daycare attendance slows the cognitive development of middle-class children somewhat.

Daycare speeds up the cognitive development of disadvantaged children.

Childcare and Attachment

Childcare children at 15 months with unresponsive mothers showed insecure attachment; not at 36 months

Vanelli (2004) Children in daycare <30 hours/week compared to

children in daycare >40 hours. More daycare• More illness• More behavior problems• Less sensitive interaction with mother

Attachment & Daycare

Infants placed in full-time child care before 12 months of age are more likely to display insecure attachment (Belsky, 1992).

Explanations:

Could be mom’s work stresses,Could be healthy autonomy.Could be quality of daycare.Could be an interaction effect.

Attachment & Childcare

NICHD Study (longitudinal, 1300 children)

Regardless of quality of care, children 4.5 – 5 years old, children averaging 30 hours or more per week of daycare were rated by mothers, caregivers, and kindergarten teachers as having more behavior problems, especially defiance, disobedience, and aggression.

What is the purpose of daycare anyway?

Babysitting for working moms

Fear that your child will get behind

China – good academic start

Japan – experience as a group member

U.S. - To make children more independent

Start children on the road to good citizenship