This essay focuses on the comparison in infant sleeping arrangements among different culture. Moreover, further discussion of attachment theory in which mainly focusing on Ainsworth (1979) research findings and a hypothesis on relationships between maternal behavior and infant behavior with its effect on various sleeping arrangements.
Attachment theory was initially developed by British psychologist John Bowlby, by using various ethological theories and later, Mary Ainsworth who was an American-Canadian psychologist …show more content…
In the experimental situation, securely attached babies freely explored the environment, using their mothers as a ‘secure base’. Also, they were less angry and co-operative, and they responded positively to being held by strangers (Ainsworth, 1979).
Insecurely attached babies were further categorized into three sub-groups; insecure avoidant babies, insecure resistant babies, and insecure disorganized babies (Santrock, 2012). According to Ainsworth (1979), those babies were more angry and anxious than securely attached babies, as they shown refusal of being held by strangers, and avoided contact with their mothers.
From the experiment, another significant finding was a strong connection between maternal behavior and a quality of attachment that determined infant behavior (Ainsworth, 1979). Ainsworth believed that a sensitive and responsible mothers create a strong emotional bond, which make emotionally secure and confident baby (Santrock, …show more content…
2001).
The last group is a young Pakeha family who chose to sleep with a baby.
According to Abel et al. (2001), Pakeha family, depending on different age groups hold different value and idea on infant sleeping arrangements.
Young Pakeha family preferred to sleep with their baby as they favor an intuitive approach to infant care practice. Although, they sleep with a baby, their sleeping arrangement changes frequently according to living situation and age of an infant, concerning the baby’s emotional needs (Abel et al., 2001).
Considering of these research findings and based on Ainsworth attachment theory, it can be presumed that the above three groups of babies are most likely to become a securely attached babies. It is because they receive physical comfort, warmth, and love from their caregivers who are sensitive to the baby’s signals. The babies might sleep peacefully as Ainsworth (1979) had suggested that the securely attached babies are co-operative, less angry than insecure babies, and respond positively to being held by