I don't disagree with you, Joan, in fact, I tend to agree with the findings--but only because I like them, not because I believe the evidence is *compelling*. I can't find any evidence OTHER THAN that provided by Ainsworth to support that side of the story :(
So its exactly my critical thinking self who tells me I need more evidence to be really convinced. The current evidence, is not compelling me to take a clear 'side'. I tried to google Laura Spiegel, and then google scholar her, and finally went to the trouble of doing a remote log-in into psych info via our library and I found NOTHING by Laura Spiegel (I tried Speigel also). Can someone provide a reference for this work, please? As an aside, the Ainsworth work on attachment was embedded in one of the AP exam questions this year and I'm afraid that confidentiality prohibits me from making any specific statements about high school students' understanding of this literature, but let me just say, globally, "The poor Smith-Garcia baby!" (despite "little B. F. Albert's" politically correct double lastname and all!) In other words, the literature doesn't seem to be well understood. I'm curious: Do any of you on this listserve teach the Ainsworth studies in any depth/breadth? In intro? In dev psych? I think the problem may have to do with the 1-semester/quarter format for most college intro psych courses prohibiting such in-depth analysis. Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- Original message ---- >Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:10:04 -0500 (CDT) >From: "Joan Warmbold" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: [tips] allowing infants to cry?NO! >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > >In 1972, Ainsworth and Bell conducted a very important study about the >impact of picking up a crying baby on their future crying. I believe it >was published in Child Development by Bell and Ainsworth titled, "Infant >Crying and Maternal Responsiveness," 1972: 43, pp 1171-1190. I'm simply >baffled at why this very important study has been cited more frequently >nor given attention in child psychology units in text books. > >They collected data how often and how consistently parents picked up their >crying babies as well as the frequency and duration of their baby's >crying. These data were collected during the entire first year and then >they compared the parents response to the amount of crying in each quarter >of the first year. The very telling result was that the baby's whose >parents responded quickly and consistently during the first three months >ALWAYS had the babies beginning in month 4 or 5 who cried the least. That >is, apparently the responsiveness of the parent to crying will not make a >difference during those first 3 months but fairly soon it has been fairly >agreed upon that babies who are responded consistently gain a strong sense >of security and safety so cry very little after month four. I felt so >very fortunate that I had read about this research as my mom warned me >about "spoiling" my son as an infant by picking him up when he cries--and >sometimes it did feel like that. But I was very consistent and quick in >my response to him in distress and by month 5 he never, ever cried. My >friends were green with envy--and it was rather remarkable. > >The secure and valued baby will soon develop a strong sense of self and a >strong sense of safety so will become MORE independent, curious and happy >as they reach toddlerhood and beyond. BTW, where did Laura Spiegal get >her information??!! Please folks, let us play the critical thinkers we >ask of our students and ask for and look for the empirical (NOT >AUTHORITATIVE)evidence. > >Joan >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
