New Psychology Attachment Case Studies

Front 1

Outline the strange situation (4 marks)

Back 1

100 middle class American infants were placed in a lab experiment where the observers recorded the infant and mothers behaviour based on 4 characteristics: separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, exploration and reunion behaviour.

Front 2

Evaluate the strange situation (4 marks)

Back 2

Strength -

It is unethical because 20% of infants cried in episode 6. It measures one relationship rather than attachment type so lacks validity

Front 3

Outline a study into cross cultural similarities (4 marks)

Back 3

Tronick did a study on African tribes and children who lived in extended families were breastfed by multiple women but preferred to sleep with the mother and suggests that there is preference to primary caregivers and the idea of monotropy.

Front 4

Outline a study into cross cultural differences (4 marks)

Back 4

Takahashi did the strange situation in a Japanese setting on Japanese infants and mothers, found that 32% were securely attached and 0% were avoidant. 90% of observations were stopped at episode 6 since there were signs of extreme distress.

Front 5

Outline the learning theory (4 marks)

Back 5

Attachment is learnt and consists of classical and operant conditioning.

Front 6

Evaluate learning theory (strengths) (2 marks)

Back 6

Adequate - we do learn things through reinforcements and associations.

Front 7

Evaluate learning theory (limitations) (2 marks)

Back 7

Harlow looked at monkeys and found that it was not primary reinforcements that created attachment but it was something else.

SE did strange situation with different children and found a large percentage of children attached to caregiver who were sensitive to needs, rather than the one who fed and shows that food doesn't make people attach

Front 8

Evaluate bowlbys theory (strengths) (2 marks)

Back 8

Lorenz found imprinting in non-human animals supports bowlbys theory because goslings formed a primary attachment to first moving object suggesting that imprinting is innate

Tronick found that despite a child being breastfed by different women. The child preferred the mother and showed primary attachment to the primary caregiver suggesting that attachment is universal

Front 9

Outline a study on institutionalization (4 marks)

Back 9

John placed at 17 months in a residential nursery for 9 days and tried to compete for attention but dominant children got attention, staff were physically attentive but were busy and so john cuddled to a bear. John saw his dad and was happy and chatted. eventually stopped talking and eating, and rejected mum and has violent outbursts after a few months.

Front 10

Outline a study on privation (4 marks)

Back 10

identical twin boys aged 2, locked in a cellar and abused for the following 6 years. At the age of 9 they were adopted into a loving family, aged 14 normal behaviour and aged 20 emotionally and socially stable with above average intelligence.

Front 11

Evaluate a study on privation (4 marks)

Back 11

Cannot generalise findings, retrospective evidence because its based off statements. Were able to emotionally bond with each other and able to recover once substitute care was provided.

Front 12

Outline a study into the effects of day care on a childs social development (4 marks)

Back 12

EPPE looked at 3000 pre-school children and found those in daycare were more independent and social. Assessed again at primary and showed they had more friends.

Front 13

Outline a study into the effects of quality day care (4 marks)

Back 13

The EPPE said that low quality day care is associated with poor social development. However some argue that even high quality day care is not better than the care provided by parents or primary attachment figures.

Front 14

Outline a case study linking day care with aggression (4 marks)

Back 14

NICHD did a longitudinal study of 1000 children from 10 different countries at the age of 5. Found the more time spent in day care, the more adults rate them as aggressive. They also found that those in full-time day care were 3 times more likely to show behavioural problems.