Attachment Research/case Studies

Question 1

Effects of daycare on children’s social development: Aggression
>research support for negative effects of daycare

Answer 1

Belskey (2006): Longitudinal study of 1000 American children
-showed higher levels of problem behaviour than non daycare kids
-aggression towards peers
-disobedience towards teachers/adults
>May be because they become more confident & assertive

Question 2

Ainsworth’s strange situation found that children with different attachment types displayed different behaviour..

Answer 2

> Secure - easy to sooth when mother leaves - high stranger anxiety (SA) - happy when mother returns
insecure-avoidant - indifferent when mother leaves/returns - low SA
insecure-resistant - high stranger anxiety - distressed when mother leaves - seeks & rejects mother upon return

Question 3

Bowlby’s evolutionary theory

Answer 3

A> adaptive
S> social releasers
C> critical period
M> monotropy
I> internal working model (mental schema)

Question 4

Harlows monkeys study

Answer 4

Found that they preferred comfort over food

Question 5

Research support for cultural variations in attachment..

Answer 5

Van ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg: meta analysis of strange situation in several different countries
>Germany: 35% insecure-avoidant (independence encouraged)
>Japan: 27% insecure-resistant
>Israel: 64% secure, 29% insecure-resistant

Question 6

Response to separation: Research support for ‘Protest, Despair, Detachment model’

Answer 6

Robertson & Robertson (1969) > Study of john, boy put in residential nursery, showed 3 stages of reaction typical of young children

1. Protest - may cling to parent. Cry/scream after they’ve gone
2. Despair - State of hopelessness or depression
3. Detachment - No longer actively distressed. ‘Switched off’ from ppl

Question 7

Research support for effects of privation..

Answer 7

Koluchova (1972)
> Czech twin boys locked in cellar (from 18 months-7yrs), no other human contact
> at age 7 unable to talk, terrified of adults, severe health problems
> Extensive treatment - permanent foster homes, developed normal language skills

Question 8

Research support for effects of privation: institutional care

Answer 8

Tizard & Hodges: Natural experiment

>Longitudinal study

Question 9

Effects of daycare on children’s social development: Peer relations
>Research support for positive effects on peer relations

Answer 9

Schindler et al (1998)

• US daycare
• Positive correlation between time spent in daycare & time spent playing cooperatively with peers