A-Level Psychology - PAPER 1 - Attachment
We first form an attachment through non-verbal communication, such as eye contact, facial expressions, and body language. As the caregiver becomes more sensitive and responsive to the infant's signals, the emotional bond deepens, leading to a secure attachment.
how do we first form an attachment ?
non-verbal communication
- more sensitive to signals the deeper the relationship
Key Terms
how do we first form an attachment ?
non-verbal communication
- more sensitive to signals the deeper the relationship
what is RECIPROCITY ?
related response
- increasingly matched reactions
what is INTERACTIONAL SYNCHRONY ?
mirroring
- same actions
what did Melzoff and Moore observe ?
interactional synchrony
babies could imitate both facial and manual gestures
building blocks for social and cognitive development
what is PROXIMITY ?
people try to stay close to those who they are attached to
what is a SECURE BASE ?
even when we are independent we tend to make regular contact
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
how do we first form an attachment ? | non-verbal communication - more sensitive to signals the deeper the relationship |
what is RECIPROCITY ? | related response - increasingly matched reactions |
what is INTERACTIONAL SYNCHRONY ? | mirroring - same actions |
what did Melzoff and Moore observe ? | interactional synchrony babies could imitate both facial and manual gestures building blocks for social and cognitive development |
what is PROXIMITY ? | people try to stay close to those who they are attached to |
what is a SECURE BASE ? | even when we are independent we tend to make regular contact |
what is SEPARATION ANXIETY ? | people become distressed when an attachment figure leaves |
What did SHAFFER AND EMERSON study ? | development of attachment |
Describe the key characteristics of Shaffer and Emerson’s development of attachment study ? | longitudinal study working class family homes Glasgow mother would say how child reported to separation |
How old were the infants in Shaffer and Emerson’s study ? | 5 -23 weeks - studied at monthly intervals for the first 18 months |
What is the first stage of attachment ? | ASOCIAL STAGE - 0 - 6 weeks |
What is the second stage of attachment ? | INDISCRIMINATE ATTACHMENT - 6 weeks - 6 months |
What is the third stage of attachment ? | SPECIFIC ATTACHMENT - 7 - 9 months |
What is the fourth stage of attachment ? | MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT - 10+ months |
What happens in the ASOCIAL STAGE ? | similar response to objects and humans bias towards people like looking at faces |
What happens in the INDISCRIMINATE ATTACHMENT stage ? | more sociable easily comforted by anyone don’t prefer specific individuals |
What happens in the SPECIFIC ATTACHMENT stage ? | separation anxiety protest when primary caregiver leaves fear of strangers |
What happens in the MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT stage ? | multiple attachment - by 1 year most infants had multiple attachments |
What is the ROLE OF THE FATHER | 10% stay at home dads playmate males can adapt to be sensitive to child’s responses |
What is the FIRST factor that affects the attachment of a father to their child ? | DEGREE OF SENSITIVITY - more sensitive to child’s needs = better attachment |
What is the SECOND factor that affects the attachment of a father to their child ? | TYPE OF ATTACHMENT TO OWN PARENTS - single-parent fathers tend to form similar attachments with their children that they had with their parents |
What is the THIRD factor that affects the attachment of a father to their child ? | MARITAL INTIMACY - intimacy that father has with their parents affects attachment |
What is the FOURTH factor that affects the attachment of a father to their child ? | SUPPORTIVE CO-PARENTING - amount of support father gives his partner e=affects type of attachment |
What did GEIGER study ? | fathers play interactions were more playful than mothers |
What did LAMB study ? | children prefer interacting with father when in positive emotional state |
What are the key points of LORENZ'S study ? | animal study imprinting geese 50% with natural mother |
What time did Lorenz find was the strongest tendency for imprinting ? | 13 - 16 hours |
After what time had the tendency to imprint passed ? | 32 hours |
What is IMPRINTING | a process that BINDS a YOUNG ANIMAL to a CAREGIVER in a SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP |
Outline the key features in HARLOW'S study | effects of privation 16 monkeys wire mother cloth mother |
What did Harlow discover in his privation study ? | both groups spent more time with cloth mother took refuge with cloth mother explore more with cloth mother present |
What is the LEARNING THEORY ? | children learn to become attached |
What is CLASSICAL CONDITIONING ? | associations between different stimuli FOOD: UCS = UCR MOTHER: NS = NR |
What is OPERANT CONDITIONING ? | learning by reinforcement |
What did BOWLBY investigate ? (1) | monotropic theory of attachment | - evolution explanation |
What is MONOTROPY ? | a child attaches to one caregiver more than others | - the more time the baby spends with this primary attachment figure the better |
What is the FIRST LAW linked with monotropy ? | THE LAW OF CONTINUITY | - the more constant and predictable a child's care is, the better the attachment |
What is the SECOND LAW linked with monotropy ? | THE LAW OF ACCUMULATED SEPARATION: | - the more time you spend with your child the better the attachment |
What is the INTERNAL WORKING MODEL ? | template for future relationships | - based on infant's primary attachment |
Bailey et al is research evidence for Bowlby's monotropy theory - what did they research ? | 99 mothers 1 year old babies quality of attachment interview and observations found poor attachments with own parents resulted in poor attachments to children |
What did AINSWORTH study ? | THE STRANGE SITUATION | - quality of attachment between mother and child |
What 4 things did the observers in Ainsworth's study record ? | willingness to explore separation anxiety stranger anxiety reunion anxiety |
What percentage of children were SECURELY ATTACHED ? | 66% |
What percentage of children were INSECURE AVOIDANT ? | 22% |
What percentage of children were INSECURE RESISTANT ? | 12% |
What did VAN IJZENDOORN study ? | cross cultural variations in attachment meta analysis 32 separate studies 8 countries 2000 babies |
Where was secure attachment most common ? | West cultures (highest - GB) |
Where was secure attachment least common ? | China |
Where was avoidant attachment most common ? | Germany |
Where was avoidant attachment least common ? | Japan |
Where was resistant attachment most common ? | Israel |
Where was resistant attachment least common ? | GB |
Where variation WITHIN a country greater or fewer than those BETWEEN countries ? | GREATER - 150% USA: one study found 46% secure // one study found 90% secure |
Why are Israeli children resistant attachment ? | reared in a KIBBUTZ | - used to being separated from mothers |
Why are Japanese children resistant attachment ? | similar to israel but for different reasons rarely left mothers distress was due to shock not insecurity |
Why are German children avoidant attchament ? | independent children are desired | - less anxious about separation |
What did BOWLBY investigate ? (2) | MATERNAL DEPRIVATION THEORY |
What are the key elements of Bowlby's maternal deprivation theory ? | attachment to mother figure is essential for PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT |
In terms of maternal deprivation, what is the critical period ? | first 2.5 years of life |
What is the first EFFECT on DEVELOPMENT of maternal deprivation ? | INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT low IQ Goldfarb (1955) - low IQ - children in institutions |
What is the second EFFECT on DEVELOPMENT of maternal deprivation ? | EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT affectionless psychopathy inability to feel guilt prevents normal relationships |
What is an INSTITUTION ? | where people live for a long time |
What is INSTITUTIONALISATION ? | effects of living in an institution / little emotional care / subsequent development |
What did RUTTER study ? | ERA STUDY romanian orphans 165 orphans |
How many of the romanian orphans where adopted by the age of 2 ? | 111 |
How many of the romanian orphans where adopted by the age if 4 ? | 54 |
Hoe many British children where the Romanian children compared to ? | 52 - adopted by 6 months |
What where the findings of Rutter's study ? | by 4 (if adopted by 6 months) the R had caught up with B | - adopted after 6 months = DISINHIBITED ATTACHMENT |
What did HODGES & TIZARD study ? | longitudinal study | - ex-institutionalised children |
What are the key elements of Hodges and Tizard's study ? | 65 children |
What were the results of Hodges and Tizard's study ? | DIFFERENCES (between adopted and restored) adopted had close attachments SIMILARITIES both were more likely to seek adult attention less successful in school |
What are the 4 effects of institutionalisation ? | physical underdevelopment intellectual under-functioning disinhibited attachment poor parenting |
What is PHYSICAL UNDERDEVELOPMENT as an effect of institutionalisation ? | physically small | - lack of emotional care rather than poor nourishment |
What is INTELLECTUAL UNDER-FUNCTIONING as an effect of institutionalisation ? | cognitive development | - from emotional deprivation |
What is DISINHIBITED ATTACHMENT as an effect of institutionalisation ? | attention seeking clinginess towards familiar and unfamiliar adults |
What is POOR PARENTING as an effect of institutionalisation ? | QUINTON ET AL found parenting difficult supported by Harlow's monkey study |
What did SROUFE ET AL study ? | CHILDHOOD RELATIONSHIPS | - secure attachment = more popular / self-esteem / confidence |
What did SMITH ET AL study ? | ATTACHMENT TYPE AND BULLYING 196 children london secure = least likely IA = likely to be VICTIMS IR = likely to be BULLIES |
What did HAZAN and SHAVER investigate ? | LOVE QUIZ correlation between attachment type and approach to future romantic relationship support for internal working model |
What did secure attachment describe love as ? | happy friendly accepting partners despite faults |
What did resistant attachment describe love as ? | involving obsession jealousy worry that partner didn't love them |
What did avoidant attachment describe love as ? | feared intimacy emotional highs and lows don't need love to be happy |
What are the STRENGTHS of Melzoff and Moore ? | INTERNAL VALIDITY person doing the judging didn't know what behaviour was being measured DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS babies can't change behaviour to suit the experiment |
What are the LIMITATIONS of Melzoff and Moore ? | RELIABILITY | - infant's mouth in fairly constant motion |
What are the STRENGTHS of Shaffer and Emerson - stages of attachment ? | NATURAL STUDY behaviour was unlikely to be affected by observer SAGI ET AL kibbutz closeness of attachment is twice as common in family-based arrangements |
What are the LIMITATIONS of Shaffer and Emerson - stages of attachment ? | VALIDITY mothers' report = bias POPULATION VALIDITY same district and social class CULTURAL VARIATIONS individualistic cultures = main concern of themselves and immediate family collectivist cultures = concerned with the group |
What are the STRENGTHS of role of the fathers ? | RESEARCH SUPPORT Geiger - fathers are more playful Lamb - fathers adapted to becoming main caregiver LIMITED FOCUS research focuses on single mothers poor socio-economic may be the reason kids do less well in school and relationships |
What are the STRENGTHS of Lorenz - imprinting ? | RESEARCH SUPPORT Guiton = chicks and rubber gloves IMPORTANT INFO GAINED critical period |
What are the LIMITATIONS of Lorenz - imprinting ? | GENERALISING mammals show more emotional attachment VALIDITY Guiton chicks eventually learned to mate with other chicks |
What are the STRENGTHS of Harlow - effects of privation ? | GENERALISING mammals are easier to generalise to humans PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS help social workers understand the effects of privation breeding programmes |
What are the LIMITATIONS of Harlow - effects of privation ? | CONFOUNDING VARIABLES two heads were also different ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY lab study |
What are the STRENGTHS of the learning theory ? | AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR REINFORCEMENT dollard and miller babies fed 2000 times in first year SOME EXPLANATORY POWER do learn through associations food isn't main reinforcer but is a reward |
What are the LIMITATIONS of the learning theory ? | CONTACT > FOOD Harlow Shaffer and Emerson - 39% main attachment wasn't mother ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS Bowlby innate tendency to attach adult programmed to become attached to infants |
What are the STRENGTHS of Bowlby - monotropy theory of attachment ? | SUPPORT FOR IWM Bailey = 99 mothers = poor attachment to own mothers meant poor attachment to child McCarthy (results supported those of IWM) |
What are the LIMITATIONS of Bowlby - monotropy theory of attachment ? | MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT Shaffer and Emerson = 39% mother not main attachment figure ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS Kagan - Temperament Hypothesis temperament affect relationship between mother and child |
What are the STRENGTHS of the strange situation ? | PREDICTIVE VALIDITY predict later development secure = better relationships and success at school INTER-RATER VALIDITY Bick et al - 94% agreement because of controlled conditions |
What are the LIMITATIONS of the strange situation ? | OTHER ATTACHMENT TYPES Main and Solomon = disorganised attachment - mixture of IA and IR VALIDITY only looks at attachment to the mother |
What are the STRENGTHS of Van Ijzendoorn - meta analysis ? | ETHICALLY SOUND no new data collected APPLICATIONS TO PSYCHOLOGY develop understanding of different child rearing practices and their impact on attachment |
What are the LIMITATIONS of Van Ijzendoorn - meta analysis ? | ETHNOCENTRIC PROCEDURE developed in america may not be suitable to use in other cultures NOT TRULY REPRESENTATIVE only looked at 1 study in China |
What are the STRENGTHS of Bowlby - maternal deprivation ? | RESEARCH SUPPORT 44 Juvenile Thieves 14 showed little affection 12/14 frequent early separation bifulco = 250 women lost mothers before 17 - doubled risk of mental illness |
What are the LIMITATIONS of Bowlby - maternal deprivation ? | CRITICAL PERIOD MORE OF A SENSITIVE PERIOD damage is not inevitable twin boys isolated from 18 months - 7 DEPRIVATION AND PRIVATION privation = never formed deprivation = formed and lost |
What are the STRENGTHS of the effects of institutionalisation ? | LONGITUDINAL STUDIES prove effects can disappear increase validity APPLICATIONS improvements in child care have key workers NO CONFOUNDING VARIABLES romanian children weren't dealing with other traumas |
What are the LIMITATIONS of the effects of institutionalisation ? | STUDIES ARE LIMITED we don't have much research into adulthood ROMANIAN ORPHANS NOT TYPICAL really poor conditions hard to generalise |
What are the LIMITATIONS of early attachment on later relationships ? | VALIDITY IN MEASUREMENT most studies don't make use of the strange situation to classify attachment type but use interviews relies on self-report being honest retrospective nature relies on accurate recollections OVERLY DETERMINISTIC research has found people having happy relationships even without secure attachment |
What are the STRENGTHS of the early attachment on later relationships ? | LONGITUDINAL STUDIES don't have the same problems as self-report techniques Simpsom et al = support research of Hazan and Shaver |