ATTACHMENT Flashcards
What are the animal studies of attachment?
Lorenz and Harlow
Animal studies of attachment
Who conduced the imprinting study?
Lorenz
Animal studies of attachment
What is imprinting?
The evolved, innate ability of animals to make an attachment to the first moving thing they see
For protection and learning survival behaviour
Animal studies of attachment
Aim of imprinting study
To test imprinting as an evolved, innate ability
Animal studies of attachment
Procedure of imprinting study
Clutch of grey lag geese split into 2
C1- Eggs returned to natural mother
C2- Eggs placed in incubator & hatched with Lorenz
Put ALL geese in a room and tested whether they followed Lorenz or biological mother
Animal studies of attachment
Findings of imprinting study
The geese imprinted on whoever they saw first
Critical period- 48 hours, goslings imprinted within 14 hours
Animal studies of attachment
What theory does the imprinting study support?
Supports Bowlbys maternal deprivation theory
Adaptive, critical period, monotropy
Animal studies of attachment
Strengths of imprinting study
Natural
High ecological validity
Animal studies of attachment
Limitations of imprinting study
Natural
No control over extraneous variables
Animal studies of attachment
Limitations of imprinting study
Animal study
Cant extrapolate to humans
Animal studies of attachment
Limitations of imprinting study
Investigator bias
Lorenz was experimenter and investigator -> bias -> NOT analysed results objectively -> lack validity
Animal studies of attachment
Strengths of imprinting study
Further research support
Guiton
Exposed leghorn chicks to yellow rubber gloves whilst feeding -> imprinted -> linked with later mating behaviour -> survival behaviour
Animal studies of attachment
Who conduced the origins of love study?
Harlow
Animal studies of attachment
How did Harlow propose attachments were formed?
Attachments formed through comfort
Animal studies of attachment
Aim of Harlows study
To disprove the learning theory
Animal studies of attachment
Procedure of Harlows study
8 infant rhesus monkeys studied from 165 days
C1- Cloth mother had milk bottle
C2- Wire mother has milk bottle
Recorded time spent per day on mother
Reactions when scared
Animal studies of attachment
Findings of Harlows study
ALL spent most time on cloth mother, regardless of milk bottle & if scared
18 hours a day
Animal studies of attachment
Lasting effects of Harlows study
Socially abnormal
Sexually abnormal
Animal studies of attachment
Limitations of Harlows study
Confounding variables
The ‘faces’ of the mothers were different, which may be a reason for the cloth mother being more popular- e.g. her face could’ve seemed more natural
Animal studies of attachment
Limitations of Harlows study
Animal study
Cant extrapolate to humans
Animal studies of attachment
Limitations of Harlows study
Ethics
Lon- term psychological consequences
Shown as lasting effects included social and sexual abnormality
Animal studies of attachment
Limitations of Harlows study
Artificial tasks
Low ecological validity
Animal studies of attachment
Strengths of Harlows study
Allows research
Allows research that cannot be undertaken on humans due to ethics
Animal studies of attachment
Strengths of Harlows study
Lab study
Control over extraneous varibles
Can be replicated for reliability
Explanations of attachment
What are the explanations of attachment?
Learning theory- behaviourist
Monotropic theory- biological
Explanations of attachment
What is the learning theory AKA?
The cupboard love theory
Explanations of attachment
What does the cupboard love theory propose?
Attachment is based on provision of food alone
Occurs as the child seeks out the person who can supply the reward
Explanations of attachment
Classical conditioning in the learning theory
Before- mother (NS), food (UCS), baby happy (UCR)
During- mother and food consistently linked to make baby happy
After- mother (CS), baby happy (CR)
Explanations of attachment
Operant conditioning in learning theory
Drive reduction theory- Dollard and Miller
hungry -> drive to reduce -> fed-> discomfort reduced-> food is primary reinforcer and supplier is secondary reinforcer
Positive reinforcement- feeding pleasure
Negative reinforcement- reduce discomfort
Explanations of attachment
Strengths of learning theory
Research support
Pavlov- CC
Skinner- OC
Explanations of attachment
Limitations of learning theory
Animal studies
Supportive research undertaken on animals
Can’t extrapolate
Explanations of attachment
Limitations of learning theory
Contrasting research
Harlow proposed that attachment is formed through comfort
Explanations of attachment
What is Bowlbys definition for attachment?
Attachment is an evolved mechanism to ensure survival of the child
Explanations of attachment
What are the 5 aspects of Bowlbys monotropic theory?
ASCMI Adaptive Social releases Critical period Monotropy Inner working model
Explanations of attachment
Monotropic theory- Adaptive
Attachment in innate
Babies and caregivers have evolved through natural selection
Explanations of attachment
Monotropic theory- Social releases
Babies- crying and smiling
Caregiers have instincts
Explanations of attachment
Monotropic theory- Critical period
6 months- 2 1/2 years
If attachment is disrupted during the CP, there will be negative consequences
Explanations of attachment
Monotropic theory- Monotropy
One relationship is TOP of the hierarchy
IT is the most important
Explanations of attachment
Monotropic theory- Inner working model
First attachment provides a template for future relationship (continuity hypothesis)
Child- lovable or not
Caregiver- trustworthy or not
Explanations of attachment
Strengths of monotropic theory
Real- life application
Critical period- age at which children should be adopted
Monotropy- importance of extended maternity leave without disruptions
Explanations of attachment
Strengths of monotropic theory
Research support
Lorenz- adaptive, critical period, monotropy
Who investigated the types of attachment?
Mary Ainsworth
What was the aim of the Strange Situation study?
To investigate the different types of attachment between babies and their caregivers
Who were the ppts of the Strange Situation study?
Mothers and infants aged 9-18 months
Episode 1 of the Strange Situation
- Mamma baby
Episode 2 of the Strange Situation
- Baby play
Episode 3 of the Strange Situation
- Mumma stranger
Episode 4 of the Strange Situation
- Mumma goes away
Episode 5 of the Strange Situation
- Mumma comes back and stranger goes away
Episode 6 of the Strange Situation
- Mumma laves baby alone for the day
Episode 7 of the Strange Situation
- Stranger comforts baby whilst mumma is away
Episode 8 of the Strange Situation
- Mumma comes back and stranger goes- hooray!
What 4 attachment behaviours were being observed in the Strange Situation?
Mother as a secure base
Stranger anxiety
Separation anxiety
Reunion behaviour
What were the findings of the Strange Situation study?
3 attachment types
What is type A attachment?
Insecure- avoidant
What are key behaviours of type A attachment?
Low stranger anxiety
Low separation anxiety
No response to return
Willing to explore
What % of babies are type A attachment?
22%
What is type B attachment?
Secure
What are key behaviours of type B attachment?
Moderate stranger anxiety
Moderate separation anxiety
Positive reunion behaviour
Willing to explore if mother present
What % of babies are type B attachment?
66%
What is type C attachment?
Insecure- resistant
What are key behaviours of type C attachment?
High stranger anxiety
High separation anxiety
Negative reunion behaviour- angry at mother
Anxious to explore
Limitations of the Strange Situation & attachment types
Culture bias
Strange Situation used middle class, white, Americans
Reflects individualistic culture
Limitations of the Strange Situation & attachment types
Temporally relative
May show DIFFERENT attachment type at different occasions
Limitations of the Strange Situation & attachment types
Artificial tasks
Low ecological validity
Limitations of the Strange Situation & attachment types
Beta- bias
Baby may show DIFFERENT attachment types when with different people
e.g. Lamb proposed father as a playmate
Strengths of the Strange Situation & attachment types
Test- retest reliability
Similar studies show different results
Strengths of the Strange Situation & attachment types
Real- life application
Worldwide method for measuring attachment attachment types
Who conducted the study into cultural variations in attachment?
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg
What was the aim of the study into cultural variations in attachment?
To investigate if attachment types are universal across all cultures, or culturally specific
Who’s theory do I&K question?
Bowlbys monotropic theory -> suggests attachment is biological -> suggests its universal across all cultures
What was the procedure of the study into cultural variations in attachment?
8 countries
32 studies
2,000 + babies
Used Ainsworth’s Strange Situation attachment types
What were the findings of the study into cultural variations in attachment?
4 findings
- Secure (B) attachments most common
- Avoidant (A) most common in west Germany
- Resistant (C) most common in Japan & Israel -> mums stay close to babies
- Differences WITHIN cultures was 1.5% LARGER than BETWEEN cultures
Strengths of cultural variations in attachment
Meta- analysis
8 countries
32 studies
2,000 babies
large sample -> reliable -> generalisable
Strengths of cultural variations in attachment
Real- life application
Secure (B) -> most common -> best biological method for survival
Limitations of cultural variations in attachment
Some culture bias
18/ 32 studies undertaken in America
27/ 32 studies undertaken in individualistic cultures
Limitations of cultural variations in attachment
Imposed etic
Strange Situation developed in America so not suitable for other cultures
Who proposed the maternal deprivation theory?
Bowlby
What does the maternal deprivation theory propose?
If a child experiences a loss of maternal care during the critical period, there will be long- term consequences
What are the 3 elements of the maternal deprivation theory?
The value of maternal care
Critical period
Long- term consequences
Maternal deprivation theory
The value of maternal care
NOT enough for a child to be safe and fed
Need a warm, intimate and continuous relationship
Maternal deprivation theory
Critical period
Separation will only have these effects if it occurs within the critical period
BUT risks up to 5 years old
Maternal deprivation theory
Long- term consequences
Emotional issues
Mental health issues e.g. depression
Strengths of the maternal deprivation theory
Real- life application
Importance of child rearing
Pre 1950s- infants in hospitals had little visits
Post 1950s- family visits are encouraged
Strengths of the maternal deprivation theory
Research support
Bifulco
25% of patients with depression experienced early separation
Limitations of the maternal deprivation theory
‘Deprivation’ is unclear
Often taught to just be physical, but can ALSO be emotional separation
Limitations of the maternal deprivation theory
Deterministic
Early separation = long- term consequences
What is the supportive study for the maternal deprivation theory?
44 juvenile thieves
What was the aim of the 44 juvenile thieves study?
To investigate whether a lack of maternal care during the critical period leads to emotional maladjustment
What was the procedure of the 44 juvenile thieves study?
88 ‘emotionally maladjusted’ children
44 had been caught stealing
14 were ‘affectionless psychopaths’ - no empathy, guilt or shame
What were the findings of the 44 juvenile thieves study?
12 of the ‘affectionless psychopaths’ had experiences early separations with their mothers
Supports maternal deprivation theory
Limitations of the 44 juvenile thieves study
Investigator bias
Used ppts from his own London clinic
Collected AND interpreted data -> bias -> lacks validity
Limitations of the 44 juvenile thieves study
Small sample
88- 44- 14- 12
Limitations of the 44 juvenile thieves study
Culture bias
London clinic -> individualistic
Who studied the effects of institutionalisation?
Rutter & Burke
What is institutionalisation?
The impact of living in an institution
Social, mental and physical underdevelopment, some of which is irreversible
Institutionalisation
What was the aim of the study into institutionalisation?
Study the ERA
Institutionalisation
What does ERA stand for?
English & Romanian adoptees
Institutionalisation
Who were the ppts of the study into institutionalisation?
165 Romanian children who spent early lives in institutions- 111 adopted before 2y/o, 54 adopted before 5y/o
British children adopted before 6 months old
Institutionalisation
What was the procedure of the study into institutionalisation?
Romanian children compared to control group of British children
Tested at ages 6, 11 and 15 on physical, cognitive and social development
Institutionalisation
What were the findings of the study into institutionalisation?
At time of adoption, ALL Romanian orphans were smaller, weighed less and ‘mentally retarded’
Romanian orphans adopted before 2y/o caught up with UK by 4y/o
Romanian orphans adopted before 5y/o showed ‘disinhibited attachment’ - form of insecure attachment: overfamiliarity with strangers and attention seeking
Institutionalisation
What is disinhibited attachment?
A form of insecure attachment
Overfamiliarity with strangers
Attention seeking behaviours
Strengths of institutionalisation
Real- life application
Adoption laws -> the ages children should be adopted
Strengths of institutionalisation
Natural experiment
No demand characteristics
Socially sensitive
Strengths of institutionalisation
Longitudinal study
Tested long- term
Tested at ages 6, 11 and 15
Limitations of institutionalisation
Deterministic
In institution at young age -> long- term negative consequences
Limitations of institutionalisation
Lacks reliability
Can’t be replicated as socially sensitive
Institutionalisation
What are the 4 effects of institutionalisation?
Physical underdevelopment
Intellectual underfunctioning
Disinhibited attachment
Poor parenting
Institutionalisation
Effects of institutionalisation
Physical underdevelopment
Due to poor nutrition
Lack of care -> deprivation dwarfism
Institutionalisation
Effects of institutionalisation
Intellectual underfunctioning
Lower IQ
Lack of education
Institutionalisation
Effects of institutionalisation
Disinhibited attachment
A form of insecure attachment
Overfamiliarity with strangers
Attention seeking behaviour
Institutionalisation
Effects of institutionalisation
Poor parenting
More extreme difficulties in parenting
Early attachment on adult relationships
What study tested the IWM?
The love quiz
Early attachment on adult relationships
Who conduced the love quiz?
Hazan and Shaver
Early attachment on adult relationships
What was the aim of the love quiz?
To test the influence on early attachment on adult relationships
The IWM
Early attachment on adult relationships
What was the procedure of the love quiz?
Placed quiz in Rocky Mountain local paper
Asked about- early relationships and current relationships
To identify attachment type A, B or C
Early attachment on adult relationships
What were the findings of the love quiz?
620 responses- 415 women and 205 men 56% secure -> positive IWM 25% avoidant 19% resistant POSITIVE correlation between early and adult relationship type
Early attachment on adult relationships
Limitations of the love quiz
Self- reporting
Demand characteristics
Social desirability bias
May not be consciously aware
Early attachment on adult relationships
Limitations of the love quiz
Deterministic
Poor early relationships = poor adult relationships
Early attachment on adult relationships
Limitations of the love quiz
Cultural bias
Sample in local America newspaper
Early attachment on adult relationships
Limitations of the love quiz
Gender bias
415 women
205 men
Unequal sample
Early attachment on adult relationships
Limitations of the love quiz
Volunteer sample
Ppts may have similar personality traits in order to volunteer -> biased sample -> not representative
