PSYC21H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Attachment In Adults, Oral Stage, Object Permanence
Document Summary
Attachment: strong emotional bond that forms between infant and caregiver in second half of child"s first year. Psychoanalytic theory infants become attached to mother because associate her w/ gratification of instinctual drive to obtain pleasure through sucking and oral stimulation (oral stage of development) Not correct, but drew attention to notion of attachment and to importance of early contact between mother and infant. Drive-reduction learning theorists: mother becomes attachment object because she reduces baby"s primary drive of hunger, wanting mother"s presence is secondary or learned drive. Challenged this: baby monkey preferred cloth mother even though it didn"t dispense food. Operant-conditioning learning theorists: suggest basis for development of attachment isn"t feeding, but visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation infants receive from caregivers. Attachment not automatic, develops over time as result of satisfying interactions w/ responsive adults. As grow older=physical proximity becomes less important. Can maintain contact w/ parent through words, smiles, and looks.
