Describe and evaluate research into attachment and/or sociability in the first few years of life

Sociability is the desire to seek out and interact with others whereas attachment refers to the formation of a relatively strong and enduring emotional relationship between people. While these appear to be separate behaviours they are in fact interdependent. In that if someone responds in an unsociable manner to another then it is highly unlikely that an emotional relationship will be formed. Conversely if someone responds sociably towards another and this is reciprocated then it …

…the attachment is disrupted (e.g. mother returns to work) or broken (e.g. divorce). Furthermore, Crockenberg (1981) found that changes in the caregivers circumstances (e.g. becomes less stressful) then an insecurely attached infant can become securely attached. Thus, unlike diamonds, attachment types are not forever and any event that drastically alters the ways in which infant and caregiver respond to each other can have a significant effect on the quality of their emotional relationship.