...Women in Psychology - Mary Ainsworth University of Phoenix History and Systems of Psychology PSY/310 Nicole Parkinson April 08, 2012 Women in Psychology - Mary Ainsworth The contributions of many of psychology's most eminent female thinkers have long been ignored, but that is starting to change as more history texts begin to recognize women such as Karen Horney, Mary Ainsworth, Leta Hollingworth and Christine Ladd-Franklin in their pages (Cherry, n.d.). This paper will discuss Mary Ainsworth and her background, theoretical perspective, and contributions to the field of psychology. Background Mary Dinsmore Salter Ainsworth was born in Glendale, Ohio, in 1913, the oldest of three daughters of Charles and Mary Salter ("Ainsworth, Mary D. Salter", 2005). Ainsworth reportedly demonstrated an aptitude for academics early on in life, even learning to read at the young age of three. Mary’s parents placed significant importance on education. Her mother and father were both graduates of Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. Ainsworth recollects frequent visits to the library and the elevated scholastic expectations established for her and her sisters by their parents. Ainsworth obtained her A.A., B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in psychology with honors all at the University of Toronto by 1939. Theoretical Perspective In the 1960s, Ainsworth formulated a method, called A Strange Situation, to monitor attachment relationships between a caregiver and child. In this method of...
Words: 463 - Pages: 2
...The problem and issue of the study conducted by Mary Ainsworth was to test and study the attachment of a child with their parent. This is imperative to any reader because even if you're not planning on having children, everyone will eventually interact with one. This being said, the study not only observed the attachment of a child on their mother, but also the changes in their behavior around a stranger. As a parent, it would be beneficial to read and learn about the way a child might think and react around different people in different scenarios. As a student, it's beneficial to read about Ainsworth's studies to be able to psychologically understand how a child might react around different people. The research method used in Mary Ainsworth's...
Words: 692 - Pages: 3
...An observation study is the recording of behaviours or events and the gathering of data that proves or disproves a hypothesis. There are five different types of observational study which can be covert meaning secretive or overt meaning open to all involved. Observational studies are not usually experimental as there are no independent or dependant variables as this method is a more natural type of study in psychology. Participant observation is when the researcher takes part in their own observation with the participants. A non-participant study is where the researcher keeps his or her distance while observing the participants behaviours during the study. Unlike the others the structured observation method is a semi-experimental observational study. It is a planned observation and recording of behaviours as they happen in a controlled environment. The unstructured observation is a spontaneous observation of behaviours or events while they are happening in their natural environment. The naturalistic observation is a planned observation of natural behaviours in their environment. A participant observational study can be beneficial as the researcher is part of the environment of the study allowing an insider view of their own study. Non participant observational studies can be seen as a good way of researching the study, as the researcher avoids contact with the participants and this could be because the observer could cause the participants to act in an unnatural...
Words: 975 - Pages: 4
...was investigated by Mary Ainsworth in the 'strange situation' study, in order to determine the nature of attachment behaviours and styles of attachment. In the ‘strange situation’, infants and their mothers were observed in a range of situations, which allowed the researcher to see the different types of behaviours shown. The infants were observed through video cameras in a purpose-built laboratory playroom with their mothers. The room contained two comfortable chairs and a play area with a set of toys suitable for young children. The procedure in Ainsworth’s research consisted of a series of situations, which were standardised for all the infants who took part. 1. Mother and infant enter the room. Mother sits in one of the chairs and reads a magazine. Child is placed on the floor and is free to explore the toys. 2. After about three minutes, a stranger enters, sits on the second chair and talks briefly with mother. 3. The stranger approaches the infant and attempts to interact and play with them. 4. Mother leaves the room so the infant is alone with the stranger. The stranger comforts the baby if they are upset and offers to play with them. 5. After around three minutes mother returns and the stranger leaves. 6. Three minutes after mother departs again leaving the baby briefly alone in the room. 7. The stranger re-enters and offers to comfort and play with the baby. 8. Mother returns and the stranger leaves. Using this procedure, Ainsworth was able to monitor...
Words: 726 - Pages: 3
...Attachment Theory Attachment theory is a concept in developmental psychology and was defined by Schaffer (1993) as ‘A close emotional relationship between two persons characterised by mutual affection and a desire to maintain proximity’. Also, Maccoby (1980) describes the four characters of attachment: 1. Seeking proximity - the desire to be close to the person to whom you are attached. 2. Separation anxiety - the distress that results from being separated from that person. 3. Pleasure when reunited - relief and observable joy when reunited with them. 4. General orientation of behaviour towards the caregiver - the child’s awareness of where the person is, and the reassurance they feel by them being close. Harlow’s monkeys (1959): The origins of love. Harry Harlow used rhesus monkeys in his research into learning and noticed that many of the young monkeys kept in isolation became distressed when he cleaned out their cages. It seemed that the monkeys were forming an attachment with the sanitary towels he used to line the base of the cages. Harlow carried out a number of variations using sixteen young isolated monkeys. Some were kept in cages with both a wire surrogate mother and a softer one covered in Terry cloth whilst others were kept in cages with just one. Sometimes the monkeys would be fed by the wire mother and other times by the softer cuddlier mother. However, the important variation was the one with a monkey in a cage with a wire mother...
Words: 665 - Pages: 3
...Outline and evaluate research into types of attachment. The Strange Situation was devised by Mary Ainsworth and her colleagues in order to test the nature of attachment by placing an infant in conditions of mild distress which was caused by the presence of a stranger and separation from the caregiver. This also allowed the observers to measure stranger anxiety and separation anxiety. The procedure consisted of eight episodes with each episode designated to behaviour for example episode 3 the entrance of the stranger measured the stranger anxiety. With respects to the Strange Situation, Ainsworth found out that there were three types of attachment. One of these being secure attachment, these infants were in a happy relationship with their caregiver, however were distressed by the presence of the stranger and separation from the caregiver. They happily greeted their caregiver on reunion. The second type of attachment was insecure- avoidant, these infants avoided social interaction and intimacy. They were unaffected by the presence of the stranger and separation from the caregiver. Lastly, the third type of attachment was insecure- resistant, in which the infant had high levels of stranger anxiety and separation anxiety and they rejected the caregiver on reunion. The Strange Situation has provided means through which we can study attachment types and later correlated them with behaviours in the future as done by Prior and Glaser who conducted a longitudinal studies and found...
Words: 592 - Pages: 3
... attachment relationships help the immature brain use the mature functions of the parent’s brain to develop important capacities related to interpersonal functioning. The baby’s bond with their attachment caregiver. Offer experience-dependent neural avenue to develop. Particularly in the frontal lobes where the capacities are wire into the developing brain. Attachment Theory devised by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth to account for the impact of early separation and trauma on the child. Has revolutionized our views of development, psychopathology, and clinical work. Is the most prominent theory today regarding early socio-emotional development. The empirically based and support the research. The child is highly motivated beginning birth to form and maintain attachments to a few caregivers. Healthy attachments have successful survival value. Children will do whatever is necessary to maintain their attachments and to achieve security. The baby uses the attachment figure as a secure base. Mary Ainsworth did her study on infant’s attachment. Ainsworth was particularly interested in the individual differences. She carried out naturalistic observation in Uganda. Securely attached infants elicited,...
Words: 787 - Pages: 4
...The effect of child-caregiver interacton on the social-, emotional and cognitive development of children “Lack of caregiver-child interaction has been cited as a risk factor that contributes to loss of developmental potential. On the other hand, positive caregiver-child interactions are said to facilitate social-emotional development (Walker et al., 2011). This is especially true in infancy.” “Lack of caregiver-child interaction has been cited as a risk factor that contributes to loss of developmental potential. On the other hand, positive caregiver-child interactions are said to facilitate social-emotional development (Walker et al., 2011). This is especially true in infancy.” In this essay I wish to discuss the above emphasised statements in the context of normal social behaviour. This essay places specific emphases on three main areas; the role of attachment in child developement, how a lack of caregiver-child interactions affect the infant and the protective factors that could facilitate the child’s social-emotional development. After World War II, it was found that many children who lost their parents presented similar psychological difficulties (Cassidy & Shaver, 1999). Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby wrote a pamphlet on the situation, entitled “Meternal Deprivation”. Out of this work spawned the attachment theory. For the first time people became aware that the close careciver-child attachment, usually mother-child, was very important in the...
Words: 2910 - Pages: 12
...are related to early experiences in life. Bowlby believes that the type of relationship the individual has with their primary caregiver gives a basis of a future relationship. This is called the internal working model. The fear of strangers represents an important survival mechanism, which is by nature, babies display social releasers which helps them ensure contact or proximity with the primary caregiver, as they similarly will with their partner in their adult relationship. Another example of the internal working model is the continuity hypothesis, which is a key theory to explaining childhood or adolescent experiences on later adult relationships, where it states that childhood relationships will affect your future relationships, Mary Ainsworth explores this by looking at our relationships as infants as concluded three types: Secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant. Secure is where the infant is in a calm state even without the presence of the primary caregiver, secure avoidant is where shows little distress, avoids contact with caregiver when returns, and insecure-resistant is when child shows a lot of distress, anxious and nervous. This demonstrates the relationship that the child has with the primary caregiver when they are present and not present. This gives the child a set of beliefs about themselves and the nature of the relationship with others, the continuity thesis see’s this as a predictive behaviour of future relationships. Hazen and Shaver also devised a...
Words: 757 - Pages: 4
...grow and develop in a healthy manner. Babies constantly need someone to look after them. However, care does not mean meeting only physical needs of a child; they need sensitive care. I have always thought that there is no substitute of a mother for a baby because no one else can care for baby like mother herself. Though, researches and studies have given me a broader picture of the concept of sensitive mothering, mother and child bonding and their impacts on the social and emotional development of a child. In this essay we will discuss sensitive mothering in relation to attachment theory of John Bowlby together with Ainsworth patterns of attachment. Also, link the concept with Erik Erikson psychodynamic theory and will look into researches on the impact of early attachments on social and emotional development over a life span. Sensitive mothering as explained (Ainsworth et al. (1971) in Meins et al. 2001) is mother’s sensitivity and her positive attitude towards a child. Sensitive mother is able to understand a child’s specific behaviour and respond to his/her needs on time in a proper manner. She is able to establish mother- child communication and can arouse child senses without obstructing child’s own interest and always puts her child first. Sensitive mothering allows emotional attachment, and enables mothers to read child’s emotions and respond to them accordingly. In contrast, in sensitive mother is the one who gives priority to her own schedule and her care is based on her...
Words: 1964 - Pages: 8
...Cultural differences in attachment Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg 1988 Cross-cultural Attachment What is culture? * “Culture is a framework of beliefs and values shared by a group, that influences the perception and interpretation of experiences by individuals within that group, as well as their goals for action and their actions themselves.”. * Parents' attachment beliefs, values, and practices differ around the world. Although the attachment relationship is universal, parents' attachment beliefs, values, and practices differ around the world. Abraham Sagi, Marinus Van IJzendoorn & N Koren-Karie (1991) reported on Strange Situation findings from studies in the United States, Israel and Japan. The American results were similar to Ainsworth’s: 71% showing secure attachment, 12% anxious-resistant and 17% anxious-avoidant. The Israeli findings - from Sagi, Van Ijzendoorn, Ora Aviezer, Frank Donnell & Ofra Mayseless (1985) - were rather different: 62% secure, 33% anxious-resistant and only 5% anxious-avoidant. The Israeli sample, though, was taken from a kibbutz (communal farm) where the infants were looked after much of the time by adults who were not part of their family. As the children still had close relationships with their mothers, they tended not to be anxious-avoidant. They rarely encountered complete strangers which might help explain the high numbers of anxious-resistant. Another reason put forward was that mothers were often absent; while the caregivers...
Words: 549 - Pages: 3
...Attachment Style and Relationships Kathy Schwab PSY/220 July 29, 2012 Edward Billingslea Attachment Style and Relationships Part 1 Robert Sternberg’s triangular theory of love is based on three dimensions: passion, intimacy, and commitment. In Sternberg’s model passion, intimacy, and commitment each represent one side of a triangle describing the love shared by two people. Passion means strong emotion, excitement, and physiological arousal, often tied to sexual desire and attraction. Intimacy refers to mutual understanding, warm affection, and mutual concern for the other person’s welfare. Commitment is the conscious decision to stay in a relationship for the long haul. By putting together different combinations of the three ingredients, Sternberg’s model describes several varieties of love and the specific components of romantic and companionate love (Baumgardner and Crothers, 2009). Romantic love is a combination of intimacy and passion. It is more than infatuation, its liking with the added excitement of physical attraction but without commitment. Companionate love is slow-developing love built on high intimacy and a strong commitment. When youthful passions fade in a marriage, companionate love, based on deep, affectionate friendship provides a solid foundation for a lasting and successful relationship. Fatuous love combines high passion and commitment with the absence of intimacy. The commitment is based on passion and sustained solely by passion....
Words: 1306 - Pages: 6
...Attachment Paper Maria Salsberry PSY/205 June 1, 2015 Tanya Semcesen Attachment Paper According McLeod (2009) Mary Ainsworth describes, “ as an affectional tie that one person or animal forms between himself and another specific one, a tie that binds them together in space and endures over time”. John Bowlby suggests that there is a direct correlation between the emotional and cognitive development in children and the relationship with their mother. Bowlby further believes the child’s inability to adjust relates to the early separation form he/she’s mother (McLeod, 2009). Developing secure attachment in a child starts the day they are born and continues to develop through the toddler years. Behaviors in Children Securely Attached From 0-2 months is the pre-attachment period and the behaviors are the cries, sucking, and babbling needed to achieve their mother’s attention. 2-6 months attachment starts to develop as he/she recognizes known figures they begin to cling, grasp, and vocalize their preference of their mother. 6 -11 months the toddler clearly knows who their caregiver is and begins to uncomfortable when strangers are around or when caregiver leaves the room. Children 11-18 months are relaxed and secure when their parent or caregiver is around and become upset and anxious when they leave. Upon their parents return they will seek comfort from their caregiver when contact is initiated with positive behavior (Positive-Parenting-Ally Practical Advice & Deep...
Words: 712 - Pages: 3
...During the early months of a growing infant, there is an opportunity for optimal attachment to the mother or both parents. This is a crucial time for the baby, during this time the infant will attachment to its parents and forms either a secure attachment, insecure avoidance attachment or insecure ambivalent attachment. Attachment is considered a social concept in childhood development because; it lays the foundation for relationships with parents, siblings, friends and relatives. It also effects whether or not the child will grow up with the ability to hold fulfilling and successful relationships. When a child grows up with a secure attachment to both parents, they tend to have great problem solving skills as well as social skills. It also provides the starting point for the child to grow into a secure individual capable of have strong and stable emotional bonds with others. There are three attachment qualities in the developing child; secure attachment, insecure avoidance and insecure ambivalent attachment. When a child is securely attached to the parent they have a stable emotional bond with the parent. They are upset with the parent leaves however they experience a smaller amount of separation anxiety than the others. Also when the parent returns, the child actively seeks to be near the parent once again. Insecure avoidance attachment is just the opposite; they have anxious emotional bond with the parent and tend to shy away from the parent when he/she returns. A child...
Words: 515 - Pages: 3
...PSYA1 - Developmental Psychology (Attachment) Exam Questions 1. Outline individual differences in attachment. Attachment has been shown to be different to each human being. It is possible to generalise characteristics but no one has the exact same qualities. Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found out that some babies enjoyed cuddling while others preferred not to be touched. They also found that some children were only securely attached to one person whereas others had multiple attachments. There are two forms of attachment; Secure and Insecure. What determines the type of attachment is how the infant is brought up by their parents/caregivers. Secure attachments are formed when there is a positive bond between the child and caregiver, such as comfort and feeding. Insecure attachments are formed when there is a negative bond between the child and caregiver. They occur when there is neglect, lack of comfort or malnutrition. 2. Outline two behaviours that are characteristics of a securely attached child. When a child is securely attached, they will show certain characteristics and behaviour. In the company of a caregiver, a child is happy and content. They will feel safe in their presence. However, if they are separated then the infant will be distressed. Upon reunification with the caregiver, they will return to their former behaviour of happiness. The infant will also prefer their parents to strangers. 3. Identify two cultural variations in attachment. Individualist cultures...
Words: 1030 - Pages: 5
