Developmental Psychology

Question 1

What is meant by the term ‘attachment’?

Answer 1

An emotional bond between two people,

e.g. mother and child.

Question 2

What is the learning theory?

Answer 2

All behaviour is learnt, not innate:
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning

Question 3

Learning theory support

Answer 3

Watson- Little Albert

Classical

Question 4

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 4

Learning by association

Before: US=UR
During: NS+US=UR
After: CS=CR

Question 5

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 5

Learning by reinforcement

Hunger (drive state) Food (primary reinforcer)
Caregiver associated with reward (secondary reinforcer)
Attachment because caregiver is a source of reward.

Question 6

Against Learning Theory

Answer 6

Schaffer and Emerson- 60 Glasgow babies

Harlow’s monkeys

Bowlby’s theory

Question 7

What is Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 7

Innate
Internal working model
Monotropy
Critical period 
Continuity hypothesis
Social releasers

Question 8

What are the three attachment types?

Answer 8

Secure
Insecure avoidant
Insecure resistant

The Strange Situation

Question 9

Cultural variation

Answer 9

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg

Meta Analysis

Question 10

Institutional care

Answer 10

Tizard and Hodges

Formed close attachments after institutionalisation:
20/21 adopted
6/13 restored

Question 11

Define Privation

Answer 11

The failure to develop any attachments during early life

Question 12

Define Deprivation

Answer 12

The loss of emotional care- when an infants caregiver is taken away.

Question 13

Research into privation

Answer 13

Genie case study

Question 14

Effects of disruption

Answer 14

Robertson and Robertson

Question 15

Define Separation

Answer 15

To be physically apart from one’s caregiver

Question 16

What is the MDH?

Answer 16

If an infant does not develop a continuous relationship with the primary caregiver/ mother then the child will have future problems forming relationships.

Question 17

Research support for MDH

Answer 17

Bowbly- 44 Thieves

86% of thieves diagnosed as affections psychopaths had experienced early and prolonged separation from their mothers.
Only 17% of other thieves had experienced such separations
4% of control group had experienced frequent early separations.

Question 18

Cross cultural variation

Answer 18

Takahashi
Strange situation with 60 Japanese infants.
68% S
32% IR
0% IA

90% of procedures had to be stopped due to extreme distress.

Question 19

Impact of daycare on aggression

Answer 19

NICHD
Longitudinal - 1000 children
Age 5- more assertive, disobedient, aggressive
30+ hours= more likely to have behaviour problems: lying, hitting, arguing, tantrums

Question 20

Impact of daycare on social development

Answer 20

Violates and Russel- meta analysis

88 studies- day care for more than 20hours per week= negative effect on socio-emotional development, behaviour and attachment of young children.

Sylvia et al.

3000 children
Increased independence and sociability.

Question 21

Impact of daycare on peer relations

Answer 21

Belsky and Rovine

20+ hours/week before age 1 more likely to be insecurely attached.

Field

The amount of time spent in full time daycare is positively correlated to the number of friends child had once they went to school.