Attachment measures

Attachment measures are tools or tests that are used by caregivers, parents, or researchers to understand how an infant or child is emotionally connected to a primary caregiver, usually their mother or father figure. These measures are used to examine the quality and strength of the relationship between an infant or child and their caregiver.

Imagine you and your best friend have a special bond - this bond helps you feel safe and loved when you're together. The bond you share with your friend is similar to the bond between a child and their caregiver. Attachment measures help us understand how strong and special this bond is between the child and their caregiver.

There are different types of attachment measures, but one of the most common is called the Strange Situation Procedure. This procedure involves having an infant or young child play with their caregiver in a room with toys and then seeing how the child reacts when the caregiver leaves and returns.

For example, let's say your mom was playing with you in a room with lots of toys. Then, your mom left the room, and a stranger came in to watch you play. Later, your mom came back into the room. An attachment measure might observe how you reacted during these different situations to see if you were upset when your mom left, if you were comfortable with the stranger, and if you were happy when your mom returned.

By observing how an infant or child reacts during this procedure, researchers can determine the quality of the child's attachment to their caregiver. This helps us better understand how important it is for an infant or child to have a strong and secure attachment with their caregiver, and to promote healthy parent-child relationships.