Lesson 11: The influence of early attachment on childhood relationships.

Question 1

Who investigated the influence of early attachment on childhood relationships?

Answer 1

Sroufe et al

Question 2

What did Sroufe et al do?

Answer 2

Investigated the influence of early attachment on childhood relationships through the Minnesota Parent-Child project. Began in 1975 and continued today

Question 3

What was Sroufe et al’s procedure.

Answer 3

Mother and children’s behaviour has been assessed using questionnaires and observations. They were video taped for intra-observer reliability for a period of 10-15 minutes. They were aware of this (social desirability bias). Two observers analysed the recordings (inter-observer reliability)

Question 4

What were Sroufe et al’s findings?

Answer 4

Securely attached children were: rated higher for social competence, less socially isolated, more popular with peers, more empathetic. Internal working model is positive

Question 5

What long term effects did Sroufe et al discover?

Answer 5

No attachment means no internal working model, means possible attachment disorder. Evident from the age of 5, inability to interact and relate to each other. Usually due to severe neglect or frequent caregiver changes.

Question 6

Positives of Sroufe et al’s study

Answer 6

Reliable. Simpson found similar results. Assessed attachment style at 1 year old and secure attached infants were found to have higher social competence as children, and closer to friends at 16.

Question 7

Negatives of Sroufe et al’s study

Answer 7

1. Claims that early experiences have a fixed effect, deterministic, no free will
2. Tizard and Hodges, 4 year old adopted children form attachments to new parents.