Attachment evaluations Flashcards
(6 cards)
Caregiver infant interactions in humans A03
P- scientific controlled procedure
Ev- used slow motion camera, dummy in mouth, infant on mothers lap and same facial expressions shown
Ex- ensures accuracy of babies facial expressions e.g. dummies in mouth eliminates unwanted expressions. Thereofre certain babies were mirroring strangers at only 3 days
L- However lack ecological validity. Set in unfamiliar environment so babies may act differently in own homes e.g. pay less attention to caregiver because of toys. Thereofre real life interactional synchrony not shown
P- unscientific as making inferences
Ev- Cannot ask infants why they ate behaving as they are so relation to attachment is an inference
Ex- It is unclear whether behaviour is merely imitation of aduly signals to learn motor movements and develop expressions or a form of attachment behaviour.
L- However, many studies have observed interactions between mothers and infants and found same pattern of interaction
P- cultural bias
Ev- Kenyan mothers have little physical interactions ot physical contact with their infants, however, the infants go on to have secure attachments.
Ex- therefore interactional synchrony is not shown universally so is not a necessary caregiver infants interaction to form secure attachments
L- On the other hand this is only compared to one emic study in kenya. It may be possible it is demonstrated across most other cultures therefore cannot be rejected
Stages of attachment key study Schaffer and Emerson A03
P- highyl scientific and controlled
Ev- Controlled observation, clear behavioural categories e.g. crying for signs of anxiety. Structured interview used and same procedure to test separation and stranger anxiety. Triangulation of methods to reduce social desirability.
Ex- Therefore strong
causal explanation- develop the attachment behaviours as infants age. Implies attachment is biologically innate.
P- On the other hand there is sample bias
Ev- Schaffer & Emerson used middle class infants from Glasgow
Ex- Therefore may only apply to parents from middle class Scottish background. Not possible to apply to different collectivist cultures or other classes.
P- However there are ethical issues
Ev- Infants put under mild stress during observations. Unable to get direct informed consent from infants.
Ex- This means the stress they experienced may affect their future development. Secondly they may regret taking part in the study once an adult
L- However there was parentsl consent and parentd had right to withdraw child if they felt stress was too high. Moreover stress was only mild.
Animal studies Lorenz & Harlows Monkeys A03
P- strength- Lorenz’s study had strong causal explanation of how attachments form
Ev- standardised procedure in incubation, only difference is whether it hatched to Lorenz or goose
Ex- Therefore can be certain goslings imprint on first thing they see during critical period. This implies human infants also imprint onto caregivers upon birth
L- However could be argued it was artificial setting to be hatched in and this may be particular to only Lorenzs study and goslings
P- However futher research support for imprinting
Ev- Leghorn chicks were exposed to yellow rubber gloves frok birth. They became imprinted on gloves and male chicks later tried to mate with it
Ex- Therefore impritning is not particular to goslings but also explains how attachment developes through impritning in othet precocial species increasing credibility
L- However animal studies cannot be generalised to humans. Goslings and leghorn chicks are precocial(born mobile and self sufficient) unlike humans who are altricial (under developed and require more care) Therfore goslings/chicks may need to imprint durinf critical period for survival
P- However, Lorenz was incorrect to suppose imprinting was permanent
Ev- Lorenz believed impritning was irreversible and permanently stamped on nervous system. However when chicks encouraged to spend time with other chicks they engaged in normal mating behaviour again
Ex- Therefore Lorenz may not have given enough time for goslings to mix with species to reverse imprinting. Therefore there is no fixed behaviour or critical period
L- This has real life implications as immediate contact with caregiver is key too attachment e.g. hospital policy for immediate skin to skij contact upon birth
Animal studies Harlows Monkeys A03
P- stength- Harlows study had strong caus explanation of how attachment forms
Ev- all same experiment e.g. cage with cloth or wire monkey. All taken away at birth (privation)
Ex- Therfore can state cloth monkey was more important in creating secure base. Hence comfort is more important in attachment than food
L- However small sample size (8).
Hard to generalise to all mammals as could be unique factors with those particular rhesus monkeys. On other hand they are evolutionary closer to humans than goslings or leghorn chicks so more generalisable.
P- However, not generalisable to human attachment
Ev- Rhesus monkeys are evolutionary futher away from humans than other primates
Ex- Rhesus monkeys have not developed language unlike humans. Therfore may be more imoortance placed on comfort than with humans. The critical period for human attachment seems to coincide with language development. Therfore developed of language to communicate feelings may be more important than actual skin to skin contact and comfort
L- However both rhesus monkeys and humans are altricial and are underdeveloped when born. Hence have far more similarities as species than precocial species such as goslings or chicks. Hence this is better comparison of animal attachment
P- However Harlow was criticised for assuming the cloth monkey was preferred due to comfort
Ev- Critics argued monkeys choose cloth for warmth
Ex- Therefore Harlows study was not accurately testing attachment behaviour as rhesus monkeys were in an artificially simplistic environment
L- However, Harlow argued this criticism was invalid as the floor of the cage was heated and monkeys did not lay on the floor
Explanations of attachment learning theory A03
P- criticism lack research support
Ev- evidence of cc is from pavlovs dogs
Ex- This research is not related at all to attachment. Therefore cannot say humans attach because of associating food with their mother. Ignores roles of emotions and language
P- However reductionist to assume all attachment is due to cupboard love
Ev- Harlow proved that monkeys prefer comfort over food. If learning theory was correct monkeys should have preferred wire monkey with bottle
Ex- Therefore learning theory is poor explanation of attachment. Too simplstic. It would be neglect if parents only needed to feed there children to attach because this ignores emotional support and social interactions
P- On other hand it explains how we form multiple attachments
Ev- We can attach to whoever feeds us e.g. grandparents
Ex- Therefore explains how attachments are formed with mutliple caregivers. Unlike Bowlbys monotropic theory that assumes maternal is more important than fathers.
L- Howevr LT assumes attachment is environmental ignoring role of evolution. If all mammals have a need to attach it suggests universal and biological explanation. Undermines LT
Explanations of attachment- Bowlbys Monotropic theory A03
P- strength, research support for innate and critical period
Ev- Lorenz, gosling imprinted within fixed critical period
Ex- this supports idea that attachment is innate and has evolved to survive
L- However Lorenz proved critical period with precocial animals. Bowlby suggested more sensitive period of 0-18 months as humans are altricial and have more gradual development
P- Strength- research support for monotrophy figure
Ev- Schaffer & Emerson- by 7 months old formed their main attachment to 1 caregiver 65% was mother
Ex- This supports Bowlby theory that its the first main caregiver attachment that is most important in developing the internal working model, a template to adulthood relationships
L- However Schaffer and Emerson also said that 10-11 months, multiple attachments are formed which criticises Bowlbys theory. Though Bowlby accepts mutliple attachments theyre are no important for forming secure attachments in future
P- Strength- research support for continuity hypothesis
Ev- Hazan & Shaver love quiz, positive correlation between childhood and adulthood attachment
Ex- proves attachment type continues into adulthood and effefts future reactionships as secure are more likely to have lost lasting relationships, insecure more likely to divorce and have mental health issues.
L- However evidence is self report and retrospective, assumes people can accurately recall childhood. Secondly its hard determinism.
