Intrinsic and extrinsic motivators of attachment under active inference

Abstract

This paper addresses the formation of infant attachment types within the context of active inference: a holistic account of action, perception and learning in the brain. We show how the organised forms of attachment (secure, avoidant and ambivalent) might arise in (Bayesian) infants. Specifically, we show that these distinct forms of attachment emerge from a minimisation of free energy—over interoceptive states relating to internal stress levels—when seeking proximity to caregivers who have a varying impact on these interoceptive states. In line with empirical findings in disrupted patterns of affective communication, we then demonstrate how exteroceptive cues (in the form of caregiver-mediated AMBIANCE affective communication errors, ACE) can result in disorganised forms of attachment in infants of caregivers who consistently increase stress when the infant seeks proximity, but can have an organising (towards ambivalence) effect in infants of inconsistent caregivers. In particular, we differentiate disorganised attachment from avoidance in terms of the high epistemic value of proximity seeking behaviours (resulting from the caregiver’s misleading exteroceptive cues) that preclude the emergence of coherent and organised behavioural policies. Our work, the first to formulate infant attachment in terms of active inference, makes a new testable prediction with regards to the types of affective communication errors that engender ambivalent attachment.

Expected Free Energy Formalizes Conflict Underlying Defense in Freudian Psychoanalysis

“…This is in line with research which has shown that affective communication errors are associated with both ambivalent and disorganized attachment patterns (Bronfman et al, 1999 ; Safyer, 2013 ). The observation that these models produce responses that are in line with what is expected from previous theory and research on attachment, is offered as strong support for a FEP based computational model of the child's responses to a caregiver (Cittern et al, 2018 ). With regard to the formulation being offered in this paper, this work supports the grounding of a process of conflict within a FEP-based model, that may be organized by interactional process as suggested by Hopkins ( 2016 ).…”

“…A detailed computational model of the interaction between caregiver and child that simulates the emergence of an attachment pattern in the child has recently been published by Cittern et al ( 2018 ). In their model a Bayesian approach based on active inference (based on the FEP) is deployed within a game theoretical framework where a child agent has three available actions, “seek,” “guarded seek,” or “avoid.” In return, a caregiving agent may be “highly responsive,” “inconsistently responsive,” and consistently “unresponsive,” expressed in terms of “attend” or “ignore” behavior.…”

“Surprise” and the Bayesian Brain: Implications for Psychotherapy Theory and Practice

“… 8 For a recent example of a simulated infant learning about mother’s quality of caregiving under active inference, see Cittern et al (2018).…”

The Influence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Including the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Toxic Stress on Development and Health Outcomes of Latinx Children in the USA: a Review of the Literature

“…Furthermore, there is evidence of intergenerational effects of ACEs and trauma through links between parental ACE scores and child exposure to ACEs, coined as "secondary trauma" by Mersky et al (2013). These effects of ACEs can be displayed through intergenerational transitions of attachment types, as parent-child interactions and parental mental health are a large determinant of a child's attachment style (Cittern et al, 2018). If a child is to transition from a secure to insecure attachment style, it is often linked to higher ACE scores or traumatic experiences of either the parent or the child (Cittern et al, 2018).…”

“…Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, shape the physical, mental, and social health of individuals throughout their entire lives. Early childhood adversity and its residual effects of toxic stress are shown to impact both early development and long-term health outcomes well into adulthood (Cittern et al, 2018;Espeleta et al, 2018;Flores & Salazar, 2017;Grey et al, 2019;McKelvey et al, 2019;Mersky et al, 2013;National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2020). The purpose of this literature review is to synthesize existing literature to analyze the influences of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including the COVID-19 pandemic context as an ACE, and toxic stress on child development and lifelong health outcomes of Latinx children in the USA and its adverse impacts on Latinx communities.…”