Attachment AO1 and AO3

Question 1

Outline the role of reciprocity in attachment

Answer 1

Mother and infant respond to each other which requires close attention from to each other’s signals

Question 2

Outline the role of interactional synchrony in attachment

Answer 2

Mother and infant carry out the same actions simultaneously

Question 3

Outline research into interactional synchrony in attachment by Meltzoff and Moore (1977)

Answer 3

An adult displayed a facial expression and a child’s response was filmed. An association was found between the adult’s action and the actions of the babies

Question 4

Outline research into interactional synchrony by Isabella et al (1989)

Answer 4

Observed 30 mothers and infants together and assessed the degree of synchrony. High levels of synchrony were associated with better quality attachments

Question 5

What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) find out about parent-infant relationships?

Answer 5

75% of infants formed an attachment with the father by 18 months but previously they had been mainly attached with their mothers

Question 6

What is the role of the father in attachment?

Answer 6

Grossman (2002) carried out a longitudinal study looking at the relationship between the children and each parent. Quality of infant attachment with mothers was related to children’s attachment in adolescence suggesting father’s attachment was less important

Question 7

What is the role of fathers in attachment?

Answer 7

Play and simulation are a father’s role rather than nurturing

Question 8

Outline research into fathers as primary caregivers

Answer 8

Field (1978) filmed the interaction between infants and primary caregiver mother, secondary caregiver fathers and primary caregiver fathers. Primary caregiver fathers acted like mothers and were smiling and interacting with the infant.

Question 9

What is the problem with observing infants? AO3

Answer 9

It is difficult to know if the actions of the infants are deliberate and therefore we don’t know if the infant-mother interactions have a special meaning

Question 10

What is the advantages of filming the interactions of infants? AO3

Answer 10

The use of multiple angles ensure that fine detailed is captured. Children don’t care about being observed and their attitude isn’t likely to change due to observations

Question 11

Observations don’t tell us the purpose of synchrony and reciprocity AO3

Answer 11

We don’t know the purpose of interactional synchrony and reciprocity but we have an idea how they are useful in infant-mother relationships

Question 12

What are the inconsistent findings on fathers? AO3

Answer 12

Researcher’s cannot state the role of the father because some research look into fathers as secondary caregivers and others consider them as primary caregivers

Question 13

Why is that children without fathers aren’t different to children with fathers? AO3

Answer 13

Children who grow up in same sex parent families or single parent families aren’t significantly different to other children. Therefore, it may be that fathers don’t have a distinct role

Question 14

Why don’t fathers generally become caregivers? AO3

Answer 14

Traditional roles may come into play as women are expected to be more caring and nurturing.

Question 15

Outline Schaffer and Emerson’s study into attachment (1964)

Answer 15

60 babies (31 males, 29 females) were visited every month for a year and again at 18 months. Th mother were asked about the children’s attachment.

Question 16

Outline Schaffer and Emerson’s findings

Answer 16

50% showed separation anxiety to an particular adult by 25 weeks
80% had specific attachments by 40 weeks

Question 17

Name Schaffer and Emerson’s stages of attachment

Answer 17

Asocial stage
Indiscriminate attachment (2-7 months)
Specific attachment (7+ months)
Multiple attachment (1 year)