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
How many studies and over how many different countries did Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg look at?
32 studies over 8 countries
What did Ijzendoorn and kroonenberg find?
Variations were found within cultures and countries therefore there is factors other than culture which effect attachment such as poverty
Who conducted the Love quiz
Hazan and Shaver
Outline Hazan and shavers love quiz study
-Questionnaire in a newspaper
Asked questions about love and also about childhood experiences
- 620 responses
Evaluation of hazan and shavers love quiz
- Volunteer sample
- Social desirability bias
Who conducted the adult attachment interview
- Main
Outline Mains adult attachment interview study
- Conducted interviews finding out about whether a parents attachment to their child matches to their attachment with their caregiver
Evaluation of Mains Adult attachment interview
- Responses may be inaccurate
- Social desirability bias
- Investigator effects
What were the findings of hazan and shavers love quiz
- 620 responses
- 56% had secure attachments as a child
- 25% avoidant
- 19% resistant
- These attachment types had a positive correlation with their own romantic relations as an adult
