Unit 1: Developmental PsychologyTwo parts

1. Attachment.

2. Attachment in

everyday life.

L/O: to be able to define attachment AO1

Attachment is an emotional connection or bond.

Independently, think and write down all of the different ways a person can form attachments with another. 2 minutes.

What we will cover this half-term[from the exam Specification]

Part 1Attachment

• Explanations of attachment, including learning theory and Bowlby’s theory.

• Types of attachment: secure attachment, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant.

• Use of the “Strange Situation” in attachment research. Key names:

BowlbyPavlov

Ainsworth & Bell

What?• Mutual affection• Frequent interaction• Desire for proximity• Selectivity: the child wants to be with caregiver and

no-one elseWho?• Child and principle caregiver• Usually the mother but can be father or other

person

Not just physical needs met:

food, water, hygiene.

L/O: to be able to define attachment AO1

What we will cover this half-term[from the exam Specification]

Part 1Attachment

• Explanations of attachment, including learning theory and Bowlby’s theory

• Types of attachment: secure attachment, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant

• Use of the “Strange Situation” in attachment researchKey names:

LorenzHarlowBowlbyPavlov

Ainsworth & Bell

Why do they occur?

Biological and evolutionary perspective.

vs.

Environment and learning perspective.

Can you speculate as to how these two schools of

thought might try to explain attachment?

The Evolutionary Perspective

• Read ‘Evolution: Natural Selection’ - page 98.

Is there an evolutionary advantage to forming attachments?

YES. Animal instinct for both parent and new

born. Linked to survival.

L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into attachment in animals AO1

To evaluate their research AO2

Konrad Lorenz – Biologist studied geese [1935]Imprinting: an innate ability, in all species that are mobile soon after birth, to quickly recognise and follow a caregiver.Important for survival:Protection from predators Learn necessary skills and behaviours

Research with geese found:• there is a ‘critical period’ for imprinting –

first 36 hours of life.• a lack of or inappropriate imprinting had

consequences for survival and mating choices.

Evaluation AO2× Imprinting can occur outside of the 36

hour ‘critical period’ so better referred to as a ‘sensitive period’ when imprinting occurs more readily.

× The effects may not be as permanent as Lorenz suggests. Kendrick et al. found goats raised in mixed flocks with sheep for 3 years showed a preference for sheep BUT female tended to revert back to their own species after 1-2 years.

L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into attachment in animals AO1

To evaluate their research AO2

Can we apply these findings from animal

studies to humans?

Can Kendrick’s study be used

to evaluate Lorenz’s

human/geese research?

Can we?L/O: to be able to define attachment AO1

Question 5 aAO1 = 2 marks Knowledge of attachmentAttachment can be defined as an emotional relationship between two people in which each seeks closeness and feels more secure when in the presence of the attachment figure.

One mark for a brief outline such as an emotional bond.Second mark for some elaboration.

5 (a) What is meant by the term attachment?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2 marks

2 minutes.Peer-assess [Write PA by…]

Harry Harlow – studied Monkeys [1962]

L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into attachment in animals AO1

To evaluate their research AO2

Research found:Monkeys spent majority of their time with comforting cloth mother and only visited wire mother to feed. Preferred comfort to food supply?

Long-term effects:• Maternal Deprivation

resulted in timid, fearful monkeys lacking social skills.

• No physical effects long-term.

Watch the clip.What did Harlow

do and find?

Monkeys raised from birth with two substitute mothers: 1. wire mother with milk

2. Cloth mother without milk.

Evaluation AO2× Maternal Deprivation or privation? Deprivation = something you has being taken away.Privation = never having something at all.

Research into humans support importance of contact – Klaus and Kennel found more contact in hospital = stronger attachment a month later.

× Quantity or quality/type of contact? Harlow does not distinguish but seems important to human attachment.

× Generalisable to humans?

L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into attachment in animals AO1

To evaluate their research AO2

Can we?L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into

attachment in animals AO1To evaluate their research AO2

Get into pairs.Label yourselves A and B.Cover your notes.

A – tell B about Lorenz, his research and one evaluative point.B – tell A about Harlow, his research and one evaluative point.

Then, share what your partner told you.

Self Study

Page 64 study guide: Read and add to notes.

Due Monday 14th January.

• Research Methods crossword.

John Bowlby

L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into attachment in HUMANS AO1

To evaluate their research AO2

Starter:

Briefly outline the Psychoanalytic theory of attachment.

L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1To be able to define key terms AO1

Theories of attachment

Bowlby (The biological / evolutionary perspective)

- Attachment has strong biological roots.- Both infant and caregiver have a biological NEED to

form an attachment to one and other – reciprocal.- ‘Attachment’ rather than ‘imprinting (Lorenz’s

geese) as complex emotions are associated.- Monotropy: a child attaching to one person

(principle caregiver).

L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1To be able to define key terms AO1

What are the three stages according to Bowlby’s theory?

Are they fixed or flexible?

Be critical: Why is this problematic?

Internal working model:

L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1To be able to define key terms AO1

Critical Period:

Continuity hypothesis:

Secure base hypothesis:

L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1To be able to define key terms AO1

Study guide:1. Pg. 65 – read and add to notes.2. Do ‘Apply your knowledge’ question (4 marks) – write it

as a short speech or a brief information leaflet.

You have been invited to give a talk to the local mother-and-baby group. Using ideas from Bowlby’s theory of attachment, what advice might you give the mothers about how they could form a strong mother-child bond?

L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1To be able to define key terms AO1

Self-Study Due Friday

• Write a list of the behaviours you would expect to see in a child who has formed a strong attachment bond in early life?

• What about those of a child who has not?