Attatchment

Question 1

What is the primary caregiver’s role in attachment theory?

Answer 1

To provide a “safe base” for the infant by being consistent and aware
Research done by Bowlby

Question 2

What are the four main attachment styles?

Answer 2

Secure
Anxious
Avoidant
Disorganized

Question 3

What are the types of caregiver-infant attachments?

Answer 3

Reciprocity: Infants have alert periodic phases where they are ready for interaction. This can be seen where the infant responds to the caregiver by doing similar actions e.g. nodding head or smiling
Interactional synchrony: this is where the mother and the infant mirror each other / actions

Question 4

What is a key study on attachment

Answer 4

Shafferon and Emerson
His aim was to investigate how early attachments were formed
His sample was 60 babies in Glasgow (working class family)
Method:
The researchers would visit the baby and the mother every month for a year. The researcher would ask the mother if the child protested when they were seperated
They also assessed stranger anxiety
- Findings: 50% of babies from 25-30 wk showed signs of separation anxiety. Attachment was most abundant when the caregiver was most interactive and sensitive to the child. 80% of babies age 40wks had specific attachment while 30% displayed multiple attachments

Question 5

What are the stages of atachment

Answer 5

Stage 1: Asocial stage (0-3wks) = the baby displays no emotion
Stage 2: Indiscriminate attachment (2-7mths) = observable social behaviour
Stage 3: Specific attachment (7mths) = baby displays anxiety towards strangers but is emotionally attached to their caregiver (Stranger Anxiety)
Stage 4: Multiple attachments (10mths) = the baby is attached to not only the caregiver but other people (e.g. siblings)

Question 6

What are the strengths and limits of attachment?

Answer 6

Strengths
controlled observation therefore more reliable and valid + ecological validity
therefore can be repeated
Case study by Shaffaron and Emerson
Weakness
Observations do not tell us the meaning of reciprocity and synchrony
We can not understand the cognitive process of the baby

Question 7

What is a limitation of Shaffaron And Emersons Study

Answer 7

They tested it on Norwegian baby from Glasgow therefore it lacks ecological validity
Cultural biased

Question 8

What is attachment?

Answer 8

Its an emotional long lasting bond between 2 people

Question 9

What is reciprocity

Answer 9

back and fourth interaction between humans e.g. baby and mother

Question 10

What is international synchrony

Answer 10

Small periods of time mirroring micro behavioural e.g. baby and mother doing same faces

Question 11

summarise learning theory

Answer 11

attachment is social learning theory + classical conditioning
cupboard love
AO3
pavlov dogs, skinner rats
cant generalise because too simplistic

Question 12

summarise bowlbys theory

Answer 12

critical periods are formed if attachments are not formed then there will be critical periods e.g. the mammal raging
bowlby did not test this just stated this - not valid
social releasers and internal working model
AO3
Harlow + Lorenz
Reductionist

Question 13

Explain culutural variations in attachment AO3

Answer 13

its greater within a country than outside. e.g. in china 50% secure is most common whereas in germany avoidant is most common and in Japan is more resistant 27% . could be because of different parenting styles. Secure is most common type B
2000 ppts (1990)
32 countries

Question 14

what were the findings in attachment strange situation

Answer 14

70% secure
25% avoidant
5% resistant