Attachment: Studies Flashcards
What was the aim of meltzof and moore’s study?
To show wether infants as young as 3 days old could imitate facial expressions.
What was the methodology of meltzof and moore’s study?
They asked adult models to display one of three facial expressions to the baby, in controlled conditions and videoed the baby’s face.
When was Isabella’s study?
1989
How many mothers and children did Isabella observe?
30
What did Isabelle measure?
The amount of interactional synchrony
What were the results from Isabella’s study?
The securely attached baby’s had more interactional synchrony showing a stronger bond
What type of study was Isabella’s?
Longitudinal study following children up over several years.
When was Murray and trevarthen’s study?
1985
How old were the babies that Murray and trevarthen investigated?
2 months old
What was Murray and trevarthen’s method?
Step one: the baby interacted with their mother via a video screen. The mother responded to the baby normally, and the researchers observed.
Step two: a video of the mother was played so that she did not respond in synchrony.
What did Murray and trevarthen find?
Babies showed signs of distress when the mother did not respond in synchrony.
This supports the idea that baby’s are actively trying to communicate.
It also shows that bad response from parents can cause problems in the baby’s emotional development.
When and where was Schaffer and emerson’s study?
1964, Glasgow
What type of study was Schaffer and Emerson?
Longitudinal study over the first two years of a baby’s life.
Each child was observed every 4 weeks until they were 1 year old, and then again at 18 months old
How many babies did Schaffer and emerson study?
60: 31 male, 29 female Mainly working class families in Glasgow
What did Schaffer and emerson study?
Wether the child was attached to an adult and how many adults the child appeared to be attached to.
How were the children in Schaffer and emerson’s study observed
In their natural surroundings, from direct observations and by records kept by the mother.
When was meltzof and moore’s study?
1977,1983
From Schaffer and emerson’s study, what percentage:
- Of children formed the first main attachment with their mother
- The person who usually fed, bathed and Changed the baby was to the primary carer
- 65%
2. 39%
Why does Schaffer and emerson’s study challenge the stages of attachment?
Research suggests that even newborn babies prefer a face like stimuli rather than a non - face like stimuli, which challenged the pre-attachment phase as young babies do not treat humans and objects in a similar way
Why does Schaffer and emerson’s study challenge the learning theory?
Because the study provided evidence that 39% of children were not attached to the person who regularly fed them.
Give a positive of Schaffer and emerson’s study
It was a longitudinal study, therefore the researches could track changes in attachment in the same Babies, giving the study a better internal validity.
The study observed babies in their natural surroundings rather than in an lab, which meant that it is more valid.
Give a negative of Schaffer and emerson’s study.
The study was conducted over 40 years ago and the structure of families have changed a lot since then. Women are more likely to be working. Therefore study has limited TEMPORAL VALIDITY. doesn’t generalise to now.