Assignment One Human Development

1
Running head: Attachment and Co-Sleeping
Secure Attachment in Infants and Caregivers That Co-Sleep
73198 Human Development
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand
Assignment 1
Recommended Word Count Part A: 300-400 words.
Recommended Word Count Part B: 1000-1200 words.
Actual Word Count Part A: 799 words
Actual Word Count Part B: 899 words

2
Which of the infant sleeping arrangements identified by Abel et al.’s (2001)
participants is most likely to result in secure attachment?
Attachment is an emotional closeness that is shared with another person that is
developed by trust over time (Karen, 1994; Santrock, 2015). “Attachment is an instinct that
has evolved in order to keep infants in close proximity to their primary caregivers” (Gillath,
Karantzas, & Fraley, 2016. pp. 4), but there is a significant cultural variation on how infants
are cared for. A study completed in 2001 by Abel, Park, Tipene-Leach, Finau, & Linnan,
2001., outlined and compared the personal theories and care practices for infants under 12
months by conducting an interview of Maori, Tongan, Samoan, Cook Islands, Niuean and
Pakeha (European) caregivers living in New Zealand (Abel, et al., 2001).
Where the infant slept was given priority of place over the position the infants were
slept in, because most caregivers, from all groups interviewed, agreed that sleeping an
infant on their back was the safest of all practices. With very little exceptions, co-sleeping
was seen to be the norm amongst caregivers from the Pacific ethnic groups (Abel et al.,
2001). Co-sleeping is a common intercultural sleeping arrangement for families, with the
arrangements differing across cultures, each arrangement having its own positive and
negative results on the attachment between the infant and primary caregiver. There are
strong beliefs among the cultures that co-sleeping is has many practical, psychological, and
spiritual benefits for the infant (Abel et al., 2001). Especially when forming a secure
attachment to their primary caregivers. John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth both also
conducted research that successfully support the idea that co-sleeping has benefits towards
obtaining secure attachment in infants.

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John Bowlby (1907-1990) saw how important it was to make the most out of
parenting experiences during the early childhood years, these early experiences have a
great impact on the development of the child (Berzoff, Flanagan, & Hertz, 2011). “Bowlby
proposed that all complex organisms, including humans, have an attachment system, one
that is highly adaptive in that it keeps the young in close proximity to a critical older animal
to whom the young seek to return at times of danger” ((Berzoff, et al., 2011. pp162). It is
also interesting to note that because of Bowlby’s studies on infant/maternal attachment
that due to the needs of children being barely met in orphanages, foster care became the
largely preferred option (Gillath, et al., 2016). Bowlby believed that having a continuous,
warm, and supportive connection with a mother or mother-figure is vital for a child’s mental
health, sense of security, and enables their positive social and emotional development.
(Gillath, et al., 2016).
Mary Ainsworth was well known for her research supporting the importance of
infant and early childhood dependence on an individual caregiver, having enough of an
attachment for ideal development as long as the infant’s changing needs were constantly
met (Berzoff, et al., 2011). Ainsworth found, following a research project that involved
observing the mother and infant behaviors during their first year, that attachment from the
child to the mother or another primary caregiver advances quickly from six to twelve
months following the birth of the child (Berzoff, et al., 2011). It was also observed that the
infant would smile and vocalize more toward the primary caregiver than to other people.
Completion of attachment was seen by the time the infant turned one (Berzoff, et al., 2011).
Ainsworth found that the attachment relationship that is formed between an infant and
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their caregiver is the foundation for their behavior and attachments in other relationships
throughout the rest of their lives (Ainsworth, 2008).
Both Bowlby and Ainsworth, as seen in their research, both believed that secure
attachment occurs if the child’s needs were constantly and consistently met in the early
stages of childhood. This supports the theory that co-sleeping benefits the development of
secure attachment because the child is close by, warm, comforted, and any needs that are
requested by the child are met quickly whilst remaining safe and secure, always near the
primary caregiver offering easy attendance to the infant’s needs throughout the night (Abel
et al., 2001).
Some Paciﬁc-raised Tongan and Samoan caregivers viewed co-sleeping as a means of
protecting their infant from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) because the mother
would, being so close by, notice if anything was wrong with the infant (Abel et al., 2001).
Having the infant in a separate room could be seen to be placing the infant at risk where
they cannot be as easily observed (Abel et al., 2001). According to the information gathered
in the interviews caregivers such as older Maori, Pakeha, or those who follow western
beliefs, who choose not to co-sleep with their infants because they believe that if the infant
sleeps in their own cot this will create autonomy and independence. These caregivers may
miss out on secure attachment opportunities that co-sleeping enables (Abel et al., 2004).
In conclusion the infant who co-sleeps and is shown constant warmth, love, care,
and responsiveness will become securely attached to their main caregiver, and in turn the
infant gains the security of being able to explore the world around them and engage
socially, with the confidence that they can return, and their primary caregiver will be there.
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This security of their place in the world will carry on throughout the child’s lifetime (Karen,
1994 & Gillath, et al., 2016).

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References.
Abel, S., Park, J., Tipene-Leach, D., Finau, S., & Lennan, M. (2001). Infant care practices in
New Zealand: A cross-cultural qualitative study. Social Sciences and Medicine.
Ainsworth, M. D. D. (2008). Infant-mother attachment. In R. Diessner (Ed.), Classical
Edition Sources: Human Development (3rd ed., pp. 104-109). Dubuque, IA:
McGraw-Hill Contemporary Learning Series.
Berzoff, J., Flanagan, L. M., & Hertz, P. (Eds.). (2011). Inside out and outside in:
psychodynamic clinical theory and psychopathology in contemporary multicultural
contexts. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
Gillath, O., Karantzas, G. C., & Fraley, R. C. (2016). Adult attachment: A concise
introduction to theory and research. London, UK: Academic Press, an imprint of
Elsevier.
Karen, R. (1994). Becoming attached: First relationships and how they shape our capacity
to love. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Santrock, W. J. (2015). Essentials of life-span development. New York, NY: McGraw Hill
Education.

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1

Running head: Attachment and Co-Sleeping

Secure Attachment in Infants and Caregivers That Co-Sleep

73198 Human Development

The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

Recommended Word Count Part A: 300-400 words.

Recommended Word Count Part B: 1000-1200 words.

Actual Word Count Part A: 799 words

Actual Word Count Part B: 899 words

Which of the infant sleeping arrangements identified by Abel et al.’s (2001)

participants is most likely to result in secure attachment?

Attachment is an emotional closeness that is shared with another person that is

Pakeha (European) caregivers living in New Zealand (Abel, et al., 2001).

obtaining secure attachment in infants.

also interesting to note that because of Bowlby’s studies on infant/maternal attachment

(Gillath, et al., 2016).

infant and early childhood dependence on an individual caregiver, having enough of an

throughout the rest of their lives (Ainsworth, 2008).

Some Paciﬁc-raised Tongan and Samoan caregivers viewed co-sleeping as a means of

1994 & Gillath, et al., 2016).

New Zealand: A cross-cultural qualitative study. Social Sciences and Medicine.

Ainsworth, M. D. D. (2008). Infant-mother attachment. In R. Diessner (Ed.), Classical

McGraw-Hill Contemporary Learning Series.

psychodynamic clinical theory and psychopathology in contemporary multicultural

contexts. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

Gillath, O., Karantzas, G. C., & Fraley, R. C. (2016). Adult attachment: A concise

introduction to theory and research. London, UK: Academic Press, an imprint of

to love. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

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