Paper 1: Attachments Flashcards
Define the difference between reciprocity and interactional synchrony
Reciprocity: Both infant and mother respond to each others signals
Interactional synchrony: Mother and baby reflect each others actions in a synchronised, co-ordinated way
What percentage of infants in a schaffer and emmerson study became attached to their father by 18 months and what was the sign of attachment that was observed?
75% - observed that the baby protested when the father would walk away
What type of study did Grossman conduct (2002) and what did he find?
Longitudinal study - Found that the role of the father was centred around play and was particularly important during adolescence
Identify a weakness when studying infants
They are difficult to observe as hand movements and facial expressions may not be deliberate and may be random
Identify one weakness of Grossman’s study into the role of the father
It ignores single parent families or same-sex parents - Children don’t develop any differently, suggesting that the fathers role is unimportant
Outline Schaffer and Emmerson’s findings
25-32 weeks of age: 50% of babies show separation anxiety towards particular adult (mother)
Attachment tended to be towards caregiver that showed the most reciprocity
By 40 weeks: 80% babies had developed a specific attachment and 30% displayed multiple attachments
Define the term ‘multiple attachments’
Attachments to two or more people
Outline the stages of Schaffer and Emmerson’s stages of attachment
- Asocial: Baby’s behaviour towards objects and humans is similar. Some preference towards particular adults
- Indiscriminate attachment: Preference for people over objects. Act the same towards anyone but they prefer familiar adults
- Specific attachment: Anxiety towards strangers + especially when away from one particular adult. (the person who offers the most interaction = specific attachment)
- Attachment behaviour to other adults that they spend time with as well as specific attachment = secondary attachments
According to Schaffer and Emmerson, what age range does the indiscriminate attachment stage take place?
2-7 months
According to Schaffer and Emmerson, what age range does the specific attachment stage take place?
from 7 months
Give one strength of Schaffer and Emmerson’s research
Good external validity - conducted in their own houses - by their own parents.
Give one weakness of Schaffer and Emmerson’s study
Limited sample - Working class families, only Glasgow = culture bias
What did Lorenz find in his imprinting investigation?
The incubator group followed Lorenz everywhere but the control group followed the mother. He identified a critical period: a few hours after birth
What were Harlow’s findings?
The baby monkeys cuddled the soft object more when frightened regardless of which one dispensed milk - contact comfort was more important than food
Why is it difficult to generalise animal studies to humans?
Mammalian attachment is different to birds + humans experience different stressors in the world - may affect attachment through evolution
Outline the ethical issues of Harlow’s research
The monkeys suffered psychological harm into adulthood - killing their children and becoming more aggressive than other monkeys due to maternal deprivation
In terms of classical conditioning, explain attachment in 5 points.
Food = unconditioned stimulus ==> unconditioned response (pleasure)
Caregiver = neutral stimulus (over time…) ==> conditioned stimulus
After association of food and caregiver, sight of caregiver = pleasure = conditioned response
In terms of operant conditioning, explain attachment
Crying causes the caregiver to comfort them, reinforcing crying. = positive reinforcement
Simultaneously, the care giver receives negative reinforcement as the crying stops
Which psychologist(s) suggested that attachment is a secondary biological drive?
Sears et al (1957)
Outline two criticisms of the learning theory
Animal studies have shown that they don’t necessarily imprint on those who feed them. - Lorenz and Harlow
Schaffer and Emmerson - Feeding isn’t an important factor as specific attachments still formed even though other carers did most of the feeding
Identify Bowlby’s five features of the monotropic theory
Adaptive, monotropy, social releasers, critical period, internal working model
Define monotropic
A central attachment - different from other attachments and is significant for the child’s development
When does the critical period end for babies (bowlby)?
If an attachment isn’t formed before the age of two, the child will find it difficult to form an attachment later in life
What is the internal working model?
A mental representation of the child’s relationship with the primary caregiver - models future relationships
