The 'Strange Situation' procedure and Separation Anxiety - Fathers' Rights

But I do want to point out that the beginning and the end still seem to have a large gap between them and the middle part. The video somehow ends very abruptly and it's a bit hard to discern how the cross-cultural evidence you pointed out has any real significance about the importance of mothers vs. fathers.

I agree that there is no biological disposition to form closer bonds with either of the sexes. The biological differences between women men are insignificant compared with cultural diff.

I definitely agree that the way attachment is shown and how it relates to future success is varies in different cultural settings. However, it is important to point out that attachment is biological. Babies grow fond of persons who take close care of them. How that attachment manifests is of course dependent on the quality of the caretaker, the number of them and the child.

Attachment is "unreliable" because it changes over time and because the test-retest ratio is about .70.

But it does have some validity as is shown in countless of studies. To claim otherwise wouldn't be right. It certainly has its limits, though.

PART FOUR

Spathever,

I am afraid Attachment is not biological. This was the view originally purported by Bowlby but it is wrong.

Once again I must assume you have studied the Bowlby theory of attachment. There are many who do not know any other.

Professor Sir Michael Rutter wrote 'Maternal Deprivation Reassessed in which he tried to dis-spell some of Bowlby's ideas. I am trying to do the same.

Unfortunately his ideas still prevail.

Once again, thank you,

Kingsley Miller

I am not speaking of Attachment theory but the phenomenon of an infant getting close to its caretaker. There are number of biological dispositions that lead us to form relationships with our caretakers, facial and voice recognition, seeking of nurture (Harlow's experiments), etc. Those are all biological disposition that lead us to form close relationships with our caretaker. Attachment doesn't form really before the second half of first year, when the cognitive side of the child isn't developed

There is the phenomenon attachment and theories of attachment. Kinda like the relationship of evolution and evolutionary theory. Evolution is a fact just like attachment and there are theories that try to explain that phenomenon.

PART FIVE

Spathever,

I feel we have come full circle in these comments. Your initial observation was that the video clip lacked cohesion. In fact it was seeking to make the points you have now raised that the Strange Situation procedure and Separation Anxiety have little or nothing to do with Bowlby's original Attachment theory. I feel your comments have reinforced my belief that you were not looking at the video from an objective starting point (Please see my next comment).

Kingsley Miller

PART SIX

Spathever,

Of course cognitive development begins as soon as we are born (or before). I was in the process of making a video clip on alternative views of attachment ie behaviorist, cognitive, ethological and I wondered if you would allow me to e-mail a copy of the script beforehand so that you can make any criticisms?

Kingsley Miller kip

I don't really have any real criticisms than about the forceful rejection of Bowlby's theory and the apparrent lack of cohesion in the film. I listened to this again and I now understand the point you made about Bowlby's theory about maternal care and that this film was basically a response to that theory. I'm not a native so these things sometimes get confused.

PART SEVEN

Spathever,

You have argued your points extremely well!

You could be pedantic and say that we are not back to the start at all, as you clearly realise, but instead you have looked at the original source material again, hopefully in a fresh light, and although you may not agree with it, at least you are prepared to give me the benefit of the doubt.

Kingsley Miller