introduction to attachment

Question 1

explain reciprocity?

Answer 1

• from around 3 months interaction becomes frequent
• caregivers + infants interaction is reciprocal as they respond to each other
• both mother and child can initiate interactions (two way/multi-process)
• like a conversation

Question 2

evaluate study that supports interactional synchrony?

Answer 2

STRENGTH

• observed IS in infants from 2 weeks
• the mother displayed 1 of 3 facial expressions
• child’s response was filmed and identified by an independent observer
• (independent observer used to stop investigatory effects and researcher bias)
• a correlation was found between facial expression of adult and actions from the babies
• shows IS to be important in the formation of a mother infant relationship

Question 3

explain interactional synchrony?

Answer 3

• when a mother and infant act in a way that their actions and emotions mirror each other.
• believed to be important for the development of mother and infant attachment.

Question 4

explain schafer and Emerson’s role of a father as an attachment figure?

Answer 4

• Schafer and Emerson found that the majority of babies first became attached to their mothers and then make secondary attachments inc. the father
• in 75% found that babies made an attachment to their fathers within 18 months

Question 5

explain parent-infant attachment for attachment figures?

Answer 5

• Grossman carried out a longitudinal study into both parents behaviour and the quality of children’s attachment in their teens
• found that quality of attachment to mothers was related to quality of attachment in their teens, NOT FATHERS
• suggested a fathers role in attachment is different and more to do with play and stimulation

Question 6

explain fathers as primary caregivers for attachment figures?

Answer 6

• Tiffany field filmed 4 month old babies in face to face interaction with primary caregiver mothers/fathers and secondary caregiver fathers,
• primary caregiver mothers and fathers spent more time smiling and imitating baby more than secondary fathers
• shows that fathers can be a nurturing figure unlike what was said by Grossman

Question 7

Evaluate a weakness of interactional synchrony study?

Answer 7

WEAKNESS

• the study which observed levels of interactional synchrony between mother and child is limited
• because its hard to know what is happening when observing infants and difficult to know for certain if it is a change in expression or if it was deliberate.

Question 8

Evaluate a strength of observations for interactional synchrony study?

Answer 8

STRENGTH
(facial expressions)
-observations of mother-infant interactions are done in well controlled procedures and filmed from multiple angles
-ensures fine details are captured to be analysed
-in addition babies don’t realise they are being recorded so =NO DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS
-good validity

Question 9

evaluate why children without fathers aren’t different?

Answer 9

WEAKNESS

• Grossman found that fathers played an important role as secondary attachment figures
• but study showing that children in single parent homes don’t grow up any different than those in a nuclear family home
• fathers role as secondary is not important

Question 10

evaluate gender roles for fathers as primary caregivers?

Answer 10

WEAKNESS
-could be due to traditional gender roles
-women are expected to be more caring and nurturing than men
+hormones- oxytocin creates higher levels of nurturing=women biologically pre-disposed to be primary attachment figure