(3) attachment

Question 1

what is attachment?

Answer 1

a two-way emotional bond between two individuals, where each perceives the other as essential for their emotional security, forming within months and enduring over time.

Question 2

why do psychologists emphasise early experiences in attachment?

Answer 2

high brain neuroplasticity in first two years so experiences and interactions shapes neurodevelopment, influencing psychological and social development

Question 3

what are the main caregiver-infant interactions?

Answer 3

reciprocity and interactional synchrony, strengthens attachment

Question 4

what is reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions?

MS: (~~~~)

Answer 4

a mutual turn-taking form of interaction, Brazelton (1975) describes as a dance - highlighting partners mutual responsiveness

Question 5

name a study relating to reciprocity (~~~~)

Answer 5

Tronick’s still face experiment reveal (1975), lack of reciprocity leads to negative reactions so mutuality is essential in fostering attachment

Question 6

what is interactional synchrony?

Answer 6

simultaneous and coordinated mirroring of actions and emotions between caregiver and infant

Question 7

how do some researchers study interactional synchrony?
(MS)

Answer 7

observational studies, like those by isabella et al., offer insights into how IS can sustain communication

Question 8

⭕️✅ - supporting evidence of reciprocity in infants

🦄- infants’ imitative behaviors may be reflexive, not intentional

Answer 8

evidence: Meltzoff and Moore’s study shows infants imitate facial expressions and gestures, where newborns as young as 21 days old imitated actions

explain: implies infants at young age have innate reciprocity ability through active imitation, challenging theories of infants being passive and reciprocity is developed later in life.

Question 9

✅ - supporting evidence of reciprocity in infants

⭕️🦄- infants’ imitative behaviors may be reflexive, not intentional

Answer 9

evidence: in Meltzoff and Moore’s study, infants could be responding to adult actions as reflexes

explain: challenging the interpretation of early reciprocity as intentional, therefore undermining conclusions drawn from studies like Meltzoff and Moores’ regarding early reciprocity

Question 10

⭕️✅ - supporting evidence of synchrony in infants

🦄- Isabella et al.’s findings have limited generalisability

Answer 10

evidence: Isabella et al.’s observational study (1989) studied 30 mother-infant pairs in natural settings, focusing on facial expressions and gestures

explain: found high interactional synchrony levels associated with better attachment quality, highlighting the impact of synchrony on attachment.

Question 11

✅ - supporting evidence of synchrony in infants

⭕️🦄- Isabella et al.’s findings have limited generalisability

Answer 11

evidence: exclusive focus on mother-infant pairs
explain: limits ability to generalise findings to broader caregiver-infant relationships that could vary

Question 12

❌ - interpreting infant behavior is challenging due to limited movements and underdeveloped motor skill

Answer 12

evidence- researchers must rely heavily on subjective inferences about infants’ internal mental states based on observable behavior.
explain- this subjectivity considered unscientific and could lead to misinterpretations.

Question 13

attachment is expressed through specific behaviours as outlined in…

Answer 13

Bowlby’s attachment and loss book (1969)

Question 14

what are these specific behaviours that express attachment?

Answer 14

proximity, secure base and separation distress

Question 15

who outlined the stages of attachment, and in what year?

Answer 15

Shaffer and Emerson (1964).