Paper 3 - Child 5 - Attachment Flashcards
1
Q
explain Bowlby’s theory on attachment being innate
A
- attachment is an innate instinct evolved for survival
- social releases/critical period - emotiond in the adults are activated by babies innte cuteness. smiling, gurgling and cooing are all social releasers because they trigger an innate disposition to respond by giving affection and food.
- the first 6 months are critical for attachment development, separation may disrupt this.
2
Q
explain baileys study on continuity hypothesis
A
- continuity hypothesis - early attachment style dictates later attachment styles, secure or insecure avoidant or resistant
- evidence - Bailey studied 99 mothers . most with poor attachment to their parents were more likely to have 1 year olds who were poorly attached.
3
Q
explain the background study by bowlby on effects of deprivation
A
- effects of deprivation
- correlation with 44 juvenile theives
- .from london
- They interviewed them and diagnosed 14 with affectionless psychopathy and inability to feel empathy for others guilt or wrong doings.
- 12 of these had experienced lengthly separation from mothers before 2 years old.
- concluded that deprivation of maternal bond in the critical period of first 30 months led to irreversable emotional deprivation.
4
Q
explain the background study done by rutter on effects of privation
A
- effects of privation
- a longitudinal study of orphans rescued from appauling circumstances of institutions in Romania.
- children had physically harsh treatment and lack of opportunity to form an attachment bond.
- 165 romanion orphans adopted to uk.
- physical, cognitive and emtional development was assessed at age 4, 6, 11, and 15.
- When they first arrived they showed signs of mental retardation, but once adopted they made remarkable recoveries.
- 60% had formed a secure attachment with parent.
- concluded that it is a sensitive period for the first 6 months as those adopted after 6 months had clingyness and attention seeking but some recovered.
5
Q
what are the aims of Ainsworth and Bell’s study
A
- highlight the evolutionary concept of attachment
6
Q
what is the method of Ainsworth and Bell’s study
A
- controlled observation
- of babies behaviour
- to investigate responses to certain manipuated events
7
Q
what is the sample of Ainsworth and Bell’s study
A
- 56 babies from white middle class familes
- recruited via paediatricians
- the babies mother also participated following standardised procedures of thr strange situation.
- a confederate played the role of a stranger
- two observers
8
Q
what was the strange situation
A
- 8x3 minute episodes
- which included the mother, observer and stranger
- they either left or entered the room
- at some points the baby was on its own
- at some points it was given a toy
9
Q
what was the procedure of Ainsworth and bell’s study
A
- 2 observers dictate running commentary into a tape recorder which is transcribed and coded
- a timer clicked every 15 seconds.
- a score of one was given for every event of crying or exploratory behaviour per 15 seconds
- 5 categories of behaviour assessed on a 7 point scae of babies behaviour to mother and stranger
- categories - proximity seeking, contact maintaining, proximity avoiding, proximity avoiding, contact resisting, searching behaviour
10
Q
what were the results for Ainsworth and Bell’s study
A
- exploration - significantly decreased when stranger was present, lowest in 7, highest in 5
- crying - did not increase when stranger entered but did when mum left and reduced when mum returned
- search behaviour - highest in 6, 37% cried minimally and seeked strongly and 20% cried alot and searched weakly
11
Q
what are the conclusions of Ainsworth and Bells study
A
- attachment behaviour is shaped by factors such as the mum leaving and stranger entering
- babies have a predisposition to proximity seeking so parents should maintain this to promote exploring behaviour
- attachment behaviour increases in threatning situations so parents should provide safety and support in these events
- baby used mam as a safe base for exploration.
- there are individual differences in the quality of attachments. these differences and the sensitivity to situational factors make it hard to assess strength of an attachment
- research should focus on the differences in the quality of attachments rather than their strengths
- supports Bowlby’s theory on evolution - attachment is for survival against threats.
- helping parents with children
- managing separations carefully (e.g. ensuring that carers are at least familiar to the child),
- to allow sufficient time post-separation for the child to display intense and prolonged attachment behaviours.
- It could also be noted that mothers should expect some proximity-avoiding behaviour post-reunion
and to understand that attachment behaviour is not
coincident with attachment.
12
Q
evaluate the validity of this topic
A
- ainsworth and bell - internal validity - standardised controlled lab study
- ainsworth and bell - ecological validity is low, artficial environment, parents may act different in homes
- Bowlby - population validity - 44 thieves were a small sample all from london clinic
13
Q
evaluate the reliability of this topic
A
- ainsworth and bell - internal reliability - strange situation is a standarised procedure
- ainsworth and bell external reliability - only done with mothers rather than fathers, only done with white middle class families.
- Rutter - external reliability - difficult to know if the adoptees got the same level of care in each of their families. if they were different this could impact findings and explain behaviour
14
Q
evaluate sampling bias in this topic
A
- bowlby used 44 thieves from his own clinic in london
- rutter - reprisentitive - 165 romanian orphans were compared against 52 british orphans adopted under 6 months. shows affect of privation
- ainsworth and bell - strange situation used 56 white middle class american babies at 49 and 51 weeks old. sample is narrow and cannot be generalised to other cultures or individuals
15
Q
evaluate ethnocentrism in this topic
A
- ainsworth and bell - based on western idea of what attchment is- more distress in babies in strange situation study in japan as separation is rare (co - sleeping)
- rutter - reprisentitive - 165 romanian orphans were compared against 52 british orphans adopted under 6 months. shows affect of privation
- bowlby’s 44 thieves - early separation leading to affectionless psychopathy. however in collectivist cultures, babies may have more than 1 carer
16
Q
evaluate nature/nurture in this topic
A
- nature - Bowlby - innate instict for attachment, social releasers are innae and evolved for survival.
- nurture - Rutter romanion orphans adopted after 6 months had disinhibited attachment (attention seeking) because of harsh ophanage conditions
- interactionist - Ainsworth and Bell - attachment is a biological instinct and is universal. but attachment type is shaped by interactions with care givers - inconsistent care = insecure resistant attachments
17
Q
evaluate freewill/determinism in this topic
A
- biological determinism - Bowlby - innate instict for attachment, social releasers are innae and evolved for survival.
- environmental determinism - Rutter romanion orphans adopted after 6 months had disinhibited attachment (attention seeking) because of harsh ophanage conditions
- freewill - Bailey studued 99 mothers those with poor attachments to own parents were more likely to have poor attachments with their babies . however some were secure attachment - parents had chosen to break tha patter and maybe get professional help or do research
18
Q
evaluate reductionism/holism
A
- biological reductionism - Bowlby - innate instict for attachment, social releasers are innae and evolved for survival.
* environmental reductionism - Rutter romanion orphans adopted after 6 months had disinhibited attachment (attention seeking) because of harsh ophanage conditions
* holism - Ainsworth and Bell - attachment is a biological instinct and is universal. but attachment type is shaped by interactions with care givers - inconsistent care = insecure resistant attachments
19
Q
evaluate ethics in this topic
A
- ainsworth and bell - no protection from harm - the strange situation causes distress like crying, however each episode only lasted 3 minutes
- ainsworth and bell - no right to withdraw - mothers were involved they may feel olbliged to continue even if their child was upset
- Bailey - informed consent - parents consented to being involved but no consent from babies
20
Q
evaluate psychology as a science in this topic
A
- ainsworth and bell - low ecological validity
- ainsowrth and bell - reliable - standardised procedure
21
Q
evaluate usefulness of research in this topic
A
- practical benefit - Bailey studued 99 mothers those with poor attachments to own parents were more likely to have poor attachments with their babies . however some were secure attachment - parents had chosen to break tha patter and maybe get professional help or do research
- new insight - Rutter - Babies should be adopted before 6 months old in order to have healthy attachment development
- not useful - ainsworth and bells strange situation lacks ecological validity - artificial environment with scripted behaviours which doubts the outcoome - mum may behave differently at home
22
Q
evaluate soically sensitive research in this topic
A
- studying rare behaviour - bowlby’s juvenile prisoners show that criminal behaviour may result as a consequence of deprivation from caregivers. This is socially sensitive because families with children in prison may feel guilt or distress.
- negative labeling - Ainsworth and bell and bowlbys research could be misused to prevent mothers working outside the home. bowblys theory caused society to want women to stay at home so returining ww2 soldier could have their jobs back. women felt guilty for working and using day care as it was seen as deprivation.
- policies - Rutter - romainion orphans adopted into uk. shows the need for adoption policies - early adoption to ensure attachment formation as many adopted after 6 months showed disinhibited attachments. SS- affect anyone adopted later thinking their attachments are insecure
23
Q
what are the 2 applications for developing attachment friendly environment
A
- high quality day nurseries
- improving experiece of hospitalism
24
Q
describe the application: high quality day nurseries
A
- a temporary form of care provided by non biological parents
- these nurseries can create an attachment friendy environment by providing high quality emotional care to counter emotions of separation from parents
** features ** - lower number of children, well trained about emotional care, turnover of staf should be low, staff should be responsive and sensitive to emotional needs
25
Q
what is the usefulness, effectiveness and practicalities of high quality day nurseries
A
- usefulness - consistency of care can provide an attachment that is not the same between baby and main caregiver but is still beneficial. builds trust of other care givers
- effectiveness - staff with more sensitivity training allow for secure attachment with children
- practicalities - key person approach - each child has a specific member of staff who creates the attachment bond by being approachable and sensitive.
26
Q
describe the application: improving the experience of hospitalism
A
- an attachment bond can be disrupted when the child or caregiver spends long time in hospital
- after bowlby’s research the government recommended that children should no longer be separated at the hospital and parents and children should stay togetjer and be flexible with visiting hours
- more recently charities have extended this by building houses near children’s hospitals so families can stay in close proximity and attachment is maintained
- steps should be taken to maximise contact. substitute carers should be sensitive and responsive to emotional needs. maintain childs normal routine allowing them to bring toys into hospital and encourage them to talk about their mother. other caregivers like grandparents should visit to maintain emotional connetion to family
27
Q
describe the usefulness, effectiveness and practicalities of improving experience of hospitalisation
A
- usefuless - reduces stress on families during hospitalisation which could create more disruption for atachment
- effectiveness - stops distress in separation from mother
- practicalities - limited by funding .
