Attatchment Flashcards
What are the evaluation points for caregiver and infant interactions?
+) controlled observations
-) unclear whether actions are meaningful or not
-) role in communication development
How are controlled observations a strength of reciprocty and interactional synchrony?
P: Controlled observations ensure accuracy and reliability.
Ev: Brazleton et al. filmed interactions from multiple angles, enabling detailed analysis and inter-rater reliability.
Ex: Provides objective evidence, enhancing validity.
L: Boosts confidence in conclusions about attachment behaviors.
How is unclear meaning of infant behaviour a limitation of research on reciprocity and interactional synchrony?
P: Observations may not reflect meaningful behavior.
Ev: Bremner suggests infants show reciprocity without understanding it.
Ex: This challenges the idea these behaviors show conscious bonding.
L: Highlights a key limitation in studying infant-caregiver interactions.
How is having a role in communication development a strength of RECIPROCITY AND interactional synchrony?
P: Reciprocity and interactional synchrony aid communication skills.
Ev: Brazleton et al. and Condon and Sander found early interactions coordinate movements and speech.
Ex: Supports language development and bonding.
L: Helps parents promote better long-term child outcomes.
What is attachment?
Attachment is a strong reciprocal emotional bond between an infant and their primary caregiver.
What does the term “reciprocal” mean in attachment?
: Reciprocal refers to a two-way process where both the caregiver and child contribute to and respond to the interaction.
How did Brazleton et al demonstrate reciprocity?
They found that infants as young as two weeks attempt to copy their caregiver’s behavior, with caregivers responding to the infants’ signals two-thirds of the time.
Why is reciprocity important for infant development?
It helps infants learn to communicate and enables caregivers to respond effectively to the infant’s cues, meeting their needs better.
What is interactional synchrony?
Interactional synchrony occurs when the caregiver and infant mirror or synchronize their interactions, such as matching facial expressions or gestures.
What did Condon and Sander (1974) discover about interactional synchrony?
They observed that infants synchronize their movements with the rhythm of an adult’s voice.
How does interactional synchrony benefit later communication?
It helps establish better communication skills between the parent and child as the child grows older.
What methodological strength supports the research on reciprocity and synchrony?
Controlled observations, such as those by Brazleton et al, allow for detailed and reliable analysis, including inter-rater reliability.
What limitation does Bremner highlight regarding infant behaviors in studies?
Bremner noted that infants’ behaviors may not reflect an understanding of the interaction’s purpose, making it unclear if actions are meaningful.
How do pitch, rhythm, and volume affect interactional synchrony?
: These aspects of an adult’s speech influence the way an infant synchronizes their movements, highlighting the dynamic nature of early interactions.
What are the evaluation points for Shaffer’s stages of attachment?
+) high ecological validity
-) potential lack of internal validity
-) difficult to study asocial stage
How is having high ecological validity a strength of Shaffer’s stages of attachment?
P: Schaffer’s study has high ecological validity.
Ev: Conducted in infants’ homes, observing natural caregiver interactions.
Ex: Findings reflect real-life attachment behaviors, increasing applicability.
L: The naturalistic design enhances reliability in understanding attachment development.
How is Difficulty studying the asocial stage a limitation of the sHAFFER’S stages of attachment?
P: The asocial stage cannot be studied objectively.
Ev: Infants under six weeks have limited coordination, making responses unclear.
Ex: Bremner’s distinction shows observable behaviors may not indicate genuine attachment.
L: Thus, causal conclusions about attachment in this stage are problematic.
How is a potential lack of validity a limitation of Shaffer’s stages of attachment?
P: The study may lack internal validity due to self-report methods.
Ev: Parents kept diaries, susceptible to bias or inaccuracies.
Ex: This could lead to skewed data, overreporting positive or underreporting negative behaviors.
L: Conclusions may not fully reflect actual attachment behaviors.
What was the aim of Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
To identify stages of attachment and find a pattern in the development of attachment between infants and parents.
Who were the participants in Schaffer’s study?
60 babies from Glasgow, mostly from working-class families.
What methods were used to measure attachment in the study?
Separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, and social referencing were observed, alongside interviews with carers.
What is the asocial stage, and when does it occur?
: Occurring from 0-6 weeks, the infant responds similarly to people and objects but may show a preference for faces.
What happens during the indiscriminate attachment stage?
Between 6 weeks and 6 months, infants develop responses to human company and can be comforted by anyone, despite recognizing different individuals.
What defines the specific attachment stage, and when does it begin?
Starting at 7 months, infants show a preference for a particular caregiver and display separation and stranger anxiety.
What is the multiple attachment stage?
Beginning at 10-11 months, infants form attachments with multiple individuals, such as fathers, siblings, and family friends.
What was a key finding regarding “sensitive responsiveness”?
Sensitive responsiveness, rather than time spent with the infant, was critical in forming stronger attachments.
What role do communication and play have in attachment formation?
Attachments were found to form through communication and play rather than caregiving tasks like feeding or cleaning.
What were the limitations identified in Schaffer’s research?
Lack of population validity, reliance on self-reports, and difficulty objectively studying the asocial stage were major limitations.
What did Schaffer and Emerson’s findings suggest about the role of the father?
The father is important but is less likely to be the primary attachment figure.
What are the evaluation points for the role of the father?
+) fathers can fulfill the primary caregiver role
-) disputed role of father
-) social and biological constraints
How is father’s fulfilling the primary caregiver role a strength of the role of the father?
Point: Fathers can form strong primary attachments when assuming the role of primary caregiver.
Evidence: Tiffany Field’s research demonstrated that primary caregiver fathers were just as nurturing and attentive as mothers, spending more time holding, smiling, and engaging with their infants.
Explain: This suggests that attachment formation depends on the caregiver’s behavior, not their gender.
Link: Therefore, the father’s role in attachment is flexible, highlighting that gender stereotypes are not biologically determined.
How is the disputed role of the father a limitation of the role of the father?
Point: The role of the father in attachment is still disputed.
Evidence: MacCallum and Golombok found no differences in development between children raised in homosexual or single-parent families compared to those in heterosexual families.
Explain: If the father’s role were essential, we would expect to see negative developmental outcomes in the absence of a father figure.
Link: This suggests that the father’s role may not be as critical as previously assumed.
What did Tiffany Field observe about primary caregiver fathers?
Primary caregiver fathers were just as nurturing and attentive as mothers, spending more time holding, smiling, and engaging with the infant.
How are social and biological constraints limitations of the role of the father?
Point: Social and biological factors may limit the father’s role as the primary attachment figure.
Evidence: Societal norms and higher levels of oxytocin in women may predispose mothers to be the primary caregivers.
Explain: These factors might explain why mothers are often expected to fulfill the role of primary attachment figures more than fathers.
Link: Therefore, social and biological influences must be considered when evaluating the father’s role in attachment
What proportion of infants formed a secondary attachment with their father within a month of forming a primary attachment?
29%
What percentage of infants formed a secondary attachment with their father by 18 months in Schaffer and Emerson’s study?
75%
How does MacCallum and Golombok’s research challenge the importance of the father in attachment?
It suggests that a father’s role may not be crucial for normal development.
What does Tiffany Field’s study suggest about gender and primary caregiving roles?
Gender does not determine the ability to form a strong primary attachment; behavior is more important.
What did MacCallum and Golombok find regarding children raised in homosexual or single-parent families?
These children showed no differences in development compared to those raised in heterosexual families.
Why is research into primary attachment figures considered socially sensitive?
It may place pressure on single parents or discourage them from returning to work early, due to concerns about secure attachment formation.
What societal factor might influence who becomes the primary attachment figure?
Answer: Gender norms and expectations in society may influence caregiving roles.
What biological factor is suggested to predispose women to be primary attachment figures
Higher levels of oxytocin in women
What are the evaluation points for animal studies of attachment?
+) practical value
-) ethical issues
-) limited generalisability to humans
What is imprinting as demonstrated by Lorenz
Imprinting is the attachment to the first moving object or person an animal sees directly after birth.
What was the critical period for attachment development in Lorenz’s study?
: The first 30 months of life.
What was Lorenz’s finding regarding sexual imprinting?
Animals display sexual behaviors toward the first moving object they see after birth, such as a peacock preferring turtles due to early exposure.
What limitation was identified regarding sexual imprinting?
Guiton et al found it is not permanent, as chickens initially imprinted on washing up gloves eventually preferred other chickens.
What was Harlow’s conclusion about the importance of contact comfort?
Contact comfort is more important than food in the development of attachments.
What were the long-term effects on monkeys in Harlow’s study?
They were less skilled at mating, socially reclusive, and aggressive toward their offspring.
How did Harlow’s research contribute to practical applications?
: It influenced zoo design and animal shelter practices to ensure animals could form secure attachments.
What ethical issues are associated with Harlow’s research?
The monkeys suffered psychological harm, including social and emotional developmental issues.
Why are Lorenz’s findings considered to have limited generalizability?
Mammalian attachment systems differ from birds, making Lorenz’s conclusions less applicable to humans.
What did Harlow’s study suggest about the critical period for attachment in monkeys?
A secure attachment must form within the first 30 months to avoid irreversible developmental issues.
How are practical applications a strength of animal studies into attatchment?
Point: Harlow’s research has significant practical value.
Evidence: It influenced the design of zoos and animal shelters, emphasizing the importance of attachment figures, intellectual stimulation, and contact comfort for healthy development.
Explain: These findings have improved the welfare and care of animals, ensuring better psychological and social development.
Link: Thus, Harlow’s work has had a lasting positive impact on animal care and broader attachment theory.
How are ethical issues of animal studies into attachment a strength?
Point: Harlow’s studies had significant ethical concerns.
Evidence: The monkeys experienced long-term psychological harm, such as difficulties mating, social reclusion, and poor attachment with offspring.
Explain: These ethical breaches question the moral justification of such experiments, even if the findings were valuable.
Link: This highlights the need for careful cost-benefit analyses in animal research, balancing knowledge gains against ethical costs.
How is limited generalisability a limitation of animal studies of attachment?
Point: Lorenz’s findings may not generalize to humans.
Evidence: Mammalian attachment systems differ significantly from birds, as mammals can form attachments at any life stage and with greater emotional intensity.
Explain: This limits the ecological validity of Lorenz’s findings since human attachment cannot be fully explained using bird behavior.
Link: Therefore, caution should be exercised when applying Lorenz’s conclusions to human attachment theory.
What are the evaluation points for the learning theory of attachment?
-) contradicted by animal studies
+) ignores important human behaviours
-) alternative theories provide better explanations
How is being contradicted by animal studies a limitation of the learning theory of attachment?
Point: Learning theory is contradicted by animal studies.
Evidence: Harlow’s study found baby monkeys formed attachments based on comfort, not food.
Explain: This shows that emotional security is more critical than food in forming attachments, undermining the idea of “cupboard love.”
Link: Therefore, learning theory oversimplifies attachment by focusing only on food.
How is learning theory ignoring important human behaviours a limitation of the learning theory of attachment?
Point: Learning theory ignores important human behaviors.
Evidence: Brazleton et al. highlighted the role of interactional synchrony and reciprocity in forming secure attachments.
Explain: These social and emotional factors are not explained by the stimulus-response mechanisms of learning theory.
Link: This makes learning theory a limited explanation of attachment formation.
How is alternative theories providing better explanations a limitation of the learning theory of attachment?
Point: Alternative theories provide better explanations.
Evidence: Bowlby’s monotropic theory explains attachment as adaptive for survival and emotional development.
Explain: Unlike learning theory, it incorporates comfort, security, and evolutionary needs.
Link: This makes Bowlby’s theory a more comprehensive and valid explanation than learning theory.
How does learning theory view children?
As blank slates who learn everything, including attachments, through experiences.
What is ‘cupboard love’ in the context of learning theory?
The idea that attachments form because the caregiver provides food, satisfying the baby’s hunger.
How does classical conditioning explain attachment?
The baby associates the caregiver (neutral stimulus) with the pleasure of being fed (unconditioned response).
In classical conditioning, what becomes the conditioned stimulus?
The mother, who is associated with the feeling of comfort and pleasure.
How does operant conditioning explain attachment?
The child learns to associate crying with rewards like food or comfort, reinforcing the behavior
What are primary and secondary reinforcers in operant conditioning?
Food is the primary reinforcer, and the mother becomes the secondary reinforcer.
How did Skinner’s experiments with rats demonstrate operant conditioning?
Rats learned to press a lever to receive food through positive reinforcement.
What contradictory evidence does Harlow’s study provide against learning theory?
aby monkeys preferred the cloth mother for comfort over the wire mother providing food, showing comfort is more important than food in attachment.
: What contradictory evidence from Brazleton et al challenges learning theory?
They emphasized the importance of interactional synchrony and reciprocity in forming attachments rather than food.
What is a limitation of learning theory according to Feldman and Brazleton?
Learning theory ignores universal features like interactional synchrony and reciprocity, limiting its explanation of attachment.
What are the evaluation points for Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
+) IWM have strong supporting evidence
-) monotropy is SSR
-) may not be a universal feature of attachment
How is the IMW having strong supporting evidence a strength of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Point: Internal working models have strong supporting evidence.
Evidence: Bailey et al. found that insecurely attached mothers often reported poor attachments with their own parents.
Explain: This supports the idea that internal working models formed during early attachments affect later relationships.
Link: Therefore, internal working models are a credible and impactful aspect of Bowlby’s theory.
How is monotropy being socially sensitive research a limitation of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Point: Monotropy is an example of socially sensitive research.
Evidence: It often stigmatizes mothers, pressuring them to stay at home to ensure secure attachments.
Explain: This can lead to blame on mothers for developmental issues, despite Bowlby not specifying that the mother must be the primary figure.
Link: This highlights ethical concerns and the potential harm of Bowlby’s concept of monotropy.
How is monotropy not being a universal feature of attachment a limitation of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Point: Monotropy may not be a universal feature of attachment.
Evidence: Schaffer and Emerson found that some children form multiple attachments early, and van IJzendoorn found this is common in collectivist cultures.
Explain: This challenges the universality of monotropy, suggesting it is culturally specific.
Link: Monotropy is a limited explanation, applicable only in certain contexts.
What is Bowlby’s theory of attachment based on?
It is an evolutionary theory suggesting that attachments are innate and beneficial for survival.
What are social releasers in Bowlby’s theory?
Innate behaviors (e.g., a baby’s cute face) that trigger caregiving responses in adults.
What is Bowlby’s critical period for attachment formation?
Between birth and 2.5-3 years, after which it becomes difficult or impossible to form attachments.
What happens if an attachment is not formed during the critical period?
It may result in emotional, social, intellectual, and physical deficits, such as affectionless psychopathy.
What does monotropy mean in Bowlby’s theory?
A child forms one special and intense attachment, typically with the mother.
What are the consequences of maternal deprivation according to Bowlby?
Emotional and intellectual developmental deficits, including affectionless psychopathy.
What is the internal working model?
A mental schema for relationships, formed based on the primary attachment figure, guiding future relationships.`
How does Bowlby’s theory explain the intergenerational transmission of attachment styles?
Poor attachments in childhood lead to poor parenting in adulthood, as seen in Bailey et al.’s study of 99 mothers.
What did Bowlby’s 44 thieves study demonstrate?
Maternal deprivation was linked to affectionless psychopathy and intellectual disabilities in juvenile thieves.
What are the evaluations for Ainsworth’s strange situation?
+) highly reliable
C.P -> lacks ecological validity
-) cultural bias
-) ethical issues
How is being highly reliable a strength of Ainsworth’s strange situation?
Point: The study is highly reliable.
Evidence: It was conducted in a controlled lab setting with strict control over extraneous variables.
Explain: This means the procedure can be easily replicated, as all stages and conditions are standardized. Studies using the “Strange Situation” consistently yield similar findings across samples, supporting the reliability of the results.
Link: This increases confidence that the findings were not a one-off occurrence and that the classifications of attachment types are consistent and valid.
How is cultural bias a limitation of Ainsworth’s strange situation?
Point: The study suffers from cultural bias.
Evidence: It was based primarily on Western cultures like the U.S.
Explain: The findings cannot easily generalize to collectivist cultures, where child-rearing practices differ significantly.
Link: This limits the study’s population validity and its applicability across cultures.
How is lacking ecological validity a counter of high internal validity in AInsworth’s strange situation?
Point: The study lacks ecological validity.
Evidence: It was conducted in a lab setting with controlled variables.
Explain: While this increases reliability and control over extraneous variables, it does not reflect real-life attachment behaviors.
Link: As a result, the findings cannot be generalized to everyday attachment situations.
How is having ethical issues a limitation of Ainsworth’s strange situation?
Point: The study has ethical issues.
Evidence: 20% of children cried desperately during the procedure.
Explain: This may have caused long-term emotional harm to the children, raising ethical concerns about psychological distress.
Link: A cost-benefit analysis is needed to justify the ethical costs versus the benefits of knowledge gained.
What is the purpose of Ainsworth’s “Strange Situation”?
To assess the type of attachment between a child and their caregiver and identify specific insecure attachment types.
How was the “Strange Situation” conducted?
It was a controlled observation through a two-way mirror involving seven 3-minute stages.
What are the four key behaviors observed in the “Strange Situation”?
Separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, willingness to explore, and reunion behavior.
What are the seven stages of the “Strange Situation”?
(1) Caregiver enters with the child, (2) Stranger enters and interacts, (3) Caregiver leaves, (4) Caregiver returns, stranger leaves, (5) Caregiver leaves the child alone, (6) Stranger re-enters, and (7) Caregiver returns.
What percentage of children were found to have a secure attachment?
: 65% of children were securely attached.
What are the key behaviors of securely attached children?
They show separation anxiety, use the caregiver as a safe base, and are easily soothed upon reunion.
What percentage of children were found to have insecure-resistant attachment?
3%, making it the least common attachment type.
: What are the characteristics of insecure-resistant attachment?
: Intense distress when separated, seek and reject interaction upon reunion, and less willingness to explore.
What percentage of children were found to have insecure-avoidant attachment?
20% of children.
What are the characteristics of insecure-avoidant attachment?
No separation or stranger anxiety, anger towards the caregiver, and willingness to explore independently
What was the Van Ijzendoorn study?
Meta-analysis of 32 studies across 8 countries (1,990 children).
Found secure attachment was most common globally (e.g., USA 65%, UK 75%).
Variations: Japan had more insecure-resistant (27%), and Germany had more insecure-avoidant (35%).
Suggests cultural child-rearing practices influence attachment types.
Highlighted differences within countries (e.g., rural vs urban areas).
What are the evaluation point for the Ijzendoorn study?
+) attachment types vary due to cultural norms
-) Strange situation used in meta-analysis may be culture bound
+) large sample size
How is attachment types varying die to cultural norms a strength?
Point: Attachment types vary due to cultural norms.
Evidence: Germany values independence (insecure-avoidant), while Japan values closeness (insecure-resistant).
Explanation: This shows cultural norms shape how attachment behaviours are expressed.
Link: Highlights the importance of considering cultural context in attachment studies
How is the strange situation being culture-bound a limitation of the Ijzendoorn study?
Point: The Strange Situation may be culture-bound.
Evidence: Western norms assume exploration indicates secure attachment, but in Japan, dependence is valued.
Explanation: Non-Western attachment behaviours may be misclassified.
Link: Suggests findings reflect methodological bias, not genuine differences.
How is a large sample size a strength of the Ijzendoorn study?
Point: Large samples improve reliability.
Evidence: Van Ijzendoorn used 1,990 children across 8 countries.
Explanation: Reduces anomalies and ensures findings are representative.
Link: Increases confidence in conclusions about attachment patterns.
What are the evaluatiopn points for Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivtion?
+) RWA
-) methodological issues
-) critical period may be flexible
How is RWA a strength of bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Point: Bowlby’s theory has real-world applications.
Evidence: It highlighted the importance of emotional care in hospitals and orphanages, leading to reforms in childcare practices, such as parents being allowed to stay with hospitalized children.
Explanation: These changes reduced the emotional harm caused by maternal deprivation, demonstrating the theory’s practical value.
Link: This shows that Bowlby’s work has been influential in improving child welfare.
How is having methodological issues a limitation of Bowlby’s thoery of amternal depriation
Point: Bowlby’s research may suffer from methodological issues.
Evidence: In the 44 juvenile thieves study, Bowlby relied on retrospective self-reports, which are prone to inaccuracies and leading questions.
Explanation: This undermines the validity of his conclusions, as other factors (e.g., post-traumatic stress) may explain the findings.
Link: This suggests the evidence supporting maternal deprivation is not robust.
How is the critical period not being absoloute a limitation of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Point: Bowlby’s critical period may not be absolute.
Evidence: Koluchova’s case study of twins locked in a cupboard found they recovered after proper care, despite severe deprivation beyond the critical period.
Explanation: This challenges Bowlby’s claim that deprivation within the critical period always leads to irreversible harm.
Link: The effects of maternal deprivation may be less rigid than Bowlby proposed.
What is Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Bowlby’s theory suggests that attachment is essential for healthy psychological and emotional development, and maternal deprivation can lead to severe consequences.
What are the negative consequences of maternal deprivation according to Bowlby?
Inability to form future attachments, affectionless psychopathy, delinquency, and cognitive development issues.
What is the difference between deprivation and privation?
Deprivation occurs when an existing attachment is broken, while privation is when no attachment is formed at all.
Name one situation where attachments might be disrupted.
Daycare, hospital stays, or institutional care
What is affectionless psychopathy?
It is the inability to feel guilt or remorse, often linked to maternal deprivation.
What did Bowlby find in his 44 juvenile thieves study
14 of 44 thieves showed affectionless psychopathy, and 12 of these experienced maternal deprivation.
How did Bowlby link maternal deprivation to delinquency?
He argued that early deprivation leads to affectionless psychopathy, increasing the likelihood of criminal behavior.
What did Lewis et al find regarding maternal deprivation and later relationships?
They found no link between maternal deprivation and difficulties in forming relationships, challenging Bowlby’s conclusions.
How does the case of the Koluchova twins challenge Bowlby’s critical period?
Despite extreme deprivation beyond the critical period, the twins recovered with proper care, suggesting the critical period is not absolute.
Why might Bowlby’s findings suffer from researcher bias?
Bowlby’s expectations may have influenced his interviews, leading to biased conclusions.
What are the evaluation points for Hodges and Tizard’s study?
+) Longituidinal study
-) Individual differences
-) ethical concerns
How is a longitudinal study a strength of Hodges and Tizard’s study?
P: Hodges and Tizard’s study used a longitudinal design.
E: Children were assessed at regular intervals up to age 16.
E: This provides detailed insights into how early privation affects long-term emotional and social development.
L: This increases the reliability and validity of findings as they demonstrate consistent patterns over time.
How is individual differences a limitation of the Hodges and Tizard study?
P: Individual differences may limit generalisability.
E: Some children coped better with institutionalisation, forming secure attachments later.
E: This suggests other factors, such as temperament, may influence outcomes, reducing the study’s explanatory power.
L: Therefore, early privation might not always lead to negative outcomes.
How is ethical concerns a limitation of institutionalisation studies?
P: Ethical concerns exist with institutionalisation studies.
E: Participants may face distress during assessments of their emotional difficulties.
E: This raises concerns about psychological harm and whether the benefits of the research outweigh the ethical costs.
L: Despite valuable insights, ethical issues must be addressed carefully.
What is institutionalisation?
The effects on children raised in institutions, often involving privation and difficulty forming attachments.
What policy was enforced in the institution studied by Hodges and Tizard?
Caretakers were not allowed to form attachments with the children.
What percentage of children in the study could not care deeply for anyone?
70%
What were the three groups in the study?
Children who stayed in the institution, those adopted, and those restored to their original families.
How did adopted children differ from restored children?
Adopted children formed secure attachments with their adoptive parents, while restored children struggled with maternal attachment.
What social difficulties did ex-institutional children face?
Problems with peers, being quarrelsome, bullying, and seeking adult attention.
What attachment type is associated with seeking adult attention excessively?
What conclusion did Hodges and Tizard reach about privation?
Early emotional privation negatively impacts relationships, even with good subsequent care.
How does this study support Bowlby’s theory?
It aligns with the idea that failure to form attachments during the sensitive period causes irreversible emotional harm
What limitation did the study reveal about peer relationships?
Despite success at home, ex-institutional children struggled to form and maintain peer relationships.
wHAT ARE the evluation points for Romanian orphanage studies?
+) research support shows importance of early adoption
-) lacks cultural validity
+) uses control group
How is research support a strength of the romanian orphanage studies?
P: Rutter’s study (2007) shows the importance of early adoption.
E: Children adopted before 6 months had higher IQs and fewer attachment issues.
E: This demonstrates that adoption before 6 months leads to better recovery from privation.
L: Early adoption is crucial in promoting emotional and cognitive recovery in children.
How is the use of a control group a strength of the romanian orphanage studies?
P: The study’s use of a control group is a strength.
E: Rutter compared Romanian orphans to British children adopted at the same time.
E: This strengthens the conclusions by showing the direct effects of institutionalisation.
L: The control group adds validity to the findings.
How is the lack of cultural validity a limitation of the romanian orphanage study?
P: Rutter’s study may lack cultural validity.
E: The study only focused on Romanian orphans.
E: This limits generalisation to other countries with different care systems.
L: The findings may not apply to all children in institutional care worldwide
What was the aim of Rutter et al’s (2007) study on Romanian orphans?
: The aim was to investigate the effects of institutionalisation on a group of 165 Romanian orphans, comparing their emotional, psychological, and physical development to British children adopted around the same time.
How did the IQs of children adopted before and after 6 months differ
: Children adopted before 6 months had an IQ 25 points higher than those adopted after 2 years of age
What is disinhibited attachment, and which children displayed this?
Disinhibited attachment is characterized by attention-seeking and affectionate behavior towards any adult. Children adopted after 6 months displayed signs of this attachment pattern.
What role did the control group play in Rutter et al’s study?
: The control group, consisting of 50 British children adopted at the same time, helped compare the effects of institutionalisation on orphans versus children raised in a typical family environment.
What impact did early adoption have on the children’s emotional development?
Early adoption, particularly before 6 months, allowed the children to develop normal emotional attachments, reducing the likelihood of disinhibited attachment and improving emotional development.
How did the timing of adoption influence attachment outcomes in Rutter’s study?
Children adopted before 6 months developed better attachment and cognitive outcomes than those adopted after 6 months, who showed signs of attachment disorders.
What is the significance of the Bucharest Early Intervention project in relation to Rutter’s findings?
The Bucharest Early Intervention project supported Rutter’s findings by demonstrating that children who were adopted earlier showed healthier attachment patterns compared to those adopted later.
How did Rutter et al measure the psychological and emotional development of the orphans?
Rutter et al assessed the children at various intervals, measuring their IQ, attachment behavior, and social development, with particular attention to how their early experiences influenced their later behavior.
What conclusions did Rutter et al draw about the critical period for attachment?
Rutter concluded that early adoption, especially before 6 months, is crucial for proper attachment formation, and delays in adoption past this point can lead to emotional and cognitive difficulties
Why may the findings from Rutter et al’s study not apply universally across cultures?
: The study focused on Romanian orphans, and the findings may not apply to other cultural contexts with different caregiving practices, family structures, or institutional care conditions.
What are the evaluation points for influence of early attachment on childhood and adult reltionships?
+) research support
-) deterministic
+) Hazan and Shaver
hOW IS RESEARCH SUPPORT A LIMITATION OF influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships?
The idea of continuity is supported by Bailey (2007).
E: Bailey found that the majority of women studied had the same attachment classification to both their babies and their mothers.
E: This supports Bowlby’s view that early attachment experiences shape our internal working model, which is passed down through generations.
L: This demonstrates that early attachments influence later relationships, including parenting.
hOW IS RESEARCH SUPPORT FROM HAZAN AND SHAVER A STRENGTH OF INFLUENCE OF EARLY ATTACHMENT ON ADULT RELATIONSHISP
P: Hazan and Shaver’s research supports the role of early attachment in adult relationships.
E: They found that securely attached individuals had longer, more stable relationships, while insecurely attached individuals had more divorces and were less trusting.
E: This highlights the impact of early attachment on one’s ability to form healthy romantic relationships in adulthood.
L: This supports Bowlby’s theory of the influence of early attachments on later relationship quality.
How is being determinsitic a limitation of the influience of early attachment on adult relationships?
P: The deterministic nature of Bowlby’s theory has been criticized.
E: It suggests that poor early attachments inevitably lead to poor adult relationships, disregarding individual differences.
E: However, many insecurely attached individuals grow up to form happy, stable relationships.
L: This shows that attachment theory may oversimplify the complex nature of human relationships and overlooks other contributing factors.
What is meant by the term “internal working model” in attachment theory?
The internal working model is a mental framework or template that children develop based on their first attachment experiences. It influences how they perceive relationships and how they expect others to behave in future relationships.
How do early attachment experiences influence parenting style according to Bowlby?
Bowlby suggested that early attachment experiences shape an individual’s internal working model, which, in turn, influences their parenting style. People tend to raise their own children in ways similar to how they were raised.
What did Bailey et al (2007) find in their study on the continuity of attachment?
Bailey et al found that the majority of women in their study had the same attachment classification to their babies and their own mothers, supporting the idea of continuity of attachment across generations.
How did Hazan and Shaver’s study support Bowlby’s ideas about early attachment?
Hazan and Shaver found that those who were securely attached as children had happier and more stable romantic relationships in adulthood, while those who were insecurely attached were more likely to experience relationship difficulties and divorce.
What type of romantic relationships did securely attached individuals report in Hazan and Shaver’s study?
ecurely attached individuals reported having happier, longer-lasting relationships with more trust and emotional stability, aligning with Bowlby’s ideas about the impact of early attachment on adult relationships.
What criticism has been leveled against Bowlby’s theory in terms of determinism?
Bowlby’s theory has been criticized for being deterministic because it suggests that early attachment experiences directly and inevitably determine the quality of adult relationships, ignoring other factors like personal choice or environmental influences.
How did Simpson et al’s longitudinal study support the idea of continuity in attachment?
Simpson et al’s longitudinal study showed that securely attached children were more expressive and emotionally attached in their later romantic relationships, supporting the idea that early attachment experiences influence future relationship quality.
What alternative explanation to early attachment influencing adult relationships is proposed by Kagan?
Kagan proposed the temperament hypothesis, suggesting that innate biological factors, such as personality traits, play a significant role in determining adult relationship outcomes, rather than attachment style alone.
9. How do insecurely at
. How do insecurely attached children sometimes defy Bowlby’s predictions about adult relationships?
Insecurely attached children do not always grow up to have poor or troubled relationships. Many individuals who experienced insecure attachment as children go on to have healthy and fulfilling relationships, demonstrating that early attachment is not the sole determinan
What is the relationship between early attachment and success in later relationships, according to Fraley’s meta-analysis?
Fraley’s meta-analysis found a moderate correlation (up to 0.50) between early attachment types and later relationship success, suggesting that while early attachment influences adult relationships, it does not completely determine their quality.
