Attachment- Key studies Flashcards
Who investigated into the multiple stages of attachment?
Schaffer and Emerson
What was the procedure of Schaffer and Emersons study?
- Observed interactions of babies with their attachment figures every day lives
- Observed 60 babies
- Assessed stranger anxiety and separation anxiety
What were the findings of Schaffer and Emersons research?
- They supported the 4 stages of attachment
- Around 90% of babies formed multiple attachments
- The more sensitive the relationship with the care giver, the stronger the attachment
What is a strength of Schaffer and Emersons study?
- It is a naturalistic observation therefore it has high ecological Validity
2 Weaknesses of Schaffer and Emersons study into attachment
- Observer bias: researchers could see what they want to see
- As interviews were also used social desirability bias could be present
What bowlby study supports maternal deprivation?
44 thieves study
What is the procedure of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?
- He interviewed 44 thieves and a control group of 44 normal people
- Asked them about childhood attachment
What are the findings of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?
- Found that almost 50% of the thieves had experienced separation as an infant
- <5% of the control group experienced separation
- 32% of the 44 thieves were considered affectionless psychopaths
- 86% of these emotionless psychopaths experienced separation as an infant
3 weaknesses of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study
- Can lack accuracy and objectivity
- Social desirability bias
- There could be extraneous variables outside of separation such as poverty or conflict in the household
2 strengths of Ainsworths strange situation
- High degree of control and replicability
- Results have been replicated across cultures
2 Weaknesses of Ainsworths strange situation
- Culturally biased towards western culture
- Lacks ecological validity (lab)
Who conducted the Romanian orphan studies
Rutter
Outline the romanian orphan studies
- Longitudinal study into children adopted from romanian orphanages and english orphanages
- Found that children could recover from being adopted from uk orphanages
- Children adopted before 6 months from romanian orphanages recovered however if they were adopted after then there were long lasting effects
Evaluation of rutters romanian orphan studies
- Families could have displayed social desirability bias
- Effects in romanian orphans could be due to other abuse faced
Who conducted a meta analysis of the strange situation
- Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg
