The attachment notes consist of all the key studies, detailed information of the topics in attachment, in addition the A03 sections have sentence starters so that you can complete them and enhance your knowledge and you can structure them in whatever format you prefer.
The specification requires knowledge and understanding on the following:
1
, ● Caregiver-infant interactions in humans: reciprocity and interactional synchrony. Stages of attachment
identified by Schaffer. Multiple attachments and the role of the father.
● Animal studies of attachment: Lorenz and Harlow.
● Explanations of attachment: learning theory and Bowlby’s monotropic theory. The concepts of a critical
period and an internal working model.
● Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’. Types of attachment: secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant.
Cultural variations in attachment, including van Ijzendoorn.
● Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation.
● The influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships, including the role of an internal
working model.
Topics Can do?
Definition of attachment
● Reciprocity
● Interactional synchrony
Development of attachment
● Schaffer and Emerson (1964) describe and evaluate
● Stages of attachment
● Role of the father
Animal studies of attachment
● Lorenz (imprinting)
● Harlow
Describe and evaluate both studies, linking them to attachment
Explanations of attachment
● Learning approach explanation of attachment: describe and evaluate
● Bowlby's evolutionary theory of attachment describe and evaluate
The Strange Situation (Ainsworth, 1978) - describe and evaluate
Types of attachment secure, insecure avoidant/resistant
Cross-cultural variations in attachment - Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg
Disruption of attachment
● Maternal deprivation hypothesis
● Effects of institutionalisation - Romanian orphans: Rutter and Zeanah et al.
(2005)
Influence of early attachment – Internal working Model, Relationships
● Internal Working Model (IWM)
● Relationships in later childhood
● Romantic relationships in adulthood - Hazan and Shaver (describe and
evaluate)
● Relationships in adulthood – as parents
I can… Have Understand Revised
2
, notes on
Development of attachments
Define the term attachment
Outline caregiver-infant interactions
Describe and evaluate research into caregiver-infant
interactions
Describe and evaluate the stages of attachment
Evaluate the stages of attachment
Outline the role of different attachment figures including the
fathers
Evaluate the role of different attachment figures including the
father
Animal studies in attachments
Outline Lorenz’s study into animal attachments
Evaluate Lorenz’s study into animal attachments
Outline Harlow’s study into animal attachments
Evaluate Harlow's study into animal attachments
Theories of attachment
Describe learning theory as an explanation of attachments
Evaluate learning theory as an explanation of attachments
Describe Bowlby’s monotropic theory as an explanation of
attachment
Evaluate Bowlby's monotropic theory as an explanation of
attachment
3
, Types of attachment and cultural variations
Identify the characteristics of the three attachment types
Describe Ainsworth’s research into attachment types
Evaluate Ainsworth's research into attachment types
Explain how attachment can vary across cultures due to
upbringing
Describe research into cultural variations of attachments
Evaluate research into cultural variations of attachments `
Privation / Deprivation
Describe the theory of maternal deprivation
Evaluate the theory of maternal deprivation
Describe research and evaluate into the theory of maternal
deprivation
Define the term institutionalisation
Outline Romanian orphan studies into institutionalisation
Evaluate Romanian orphan studies into institutionalisation
Describe the effects of institutionalisation
The influence of attachments on future relationships
Define the internal-working model
Outline research into the influence of early attachment on
future relationships (later childhood, adulthood, as parents)
Evaluate research into the influence of early attachment on
future relationships
4
, Section 1: Introduction to Attachment
Define attachment Attachment theory:
An emotional bond between two people
usually a primary caregiver and a child. The
relationship is usually reciprocal which
means it is a two-way relationship that
endures overtime.
What are the three behaviours of 1. People try to stop physically close to
attachment? their attachment figure
1. Proximity 2. People show signs of anxiety when
2. Separation distress an attachment figure leaves their
3. Secure base behaviour presence
3. Even when we are independent of our
attachment figures we tend to make
regular contact with them. Babies
display secure base behaviour when
they regularly return to their attachment
figure while playing.
5
, Caregiver-infant Interactions
From an early age, children (should) have meaningful social interactions with their carers.
Psychologists believe that these interactions have important functions for the child's social
development. In particular, good quality early social interactions are associated with the
successful development of attachments between caregivers and infants.
● Human babies are altricial, which means they are born at a relatively early stage of
development
● Infants form bonds with adults who protect and nurture them
● Humans are different to precocial animals who are born at advanced stages of
development. E.g. foals are able to walk and run soon after birth
● Short-term benefits - survival
● Long-term benefits - emotional relationships. It is believed that this first relationship
acts as a template for later relationships
This communication between caregiver and infant is primarily non-verbal. Through this,
each member responds to the other, determining the formation of an attachment. So, the
more sensitive each is to the others’ signals, the deeper the relationship.
Define reciprocity
Each person to another elicits a response
from them
● Alert phases
Smiling
Turn talking
Conversation but the baby can’t really
talk ● Active involvement
Define interactional synchrony
Two people are said to be synchronised
when they carry out the same action
simultaneously ● Synchrony begins
Babies imitate their care giver
● Importance for attachment
6
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