Attachment- Key studies

Question 1

Who investigated into the multiple stages of attachment?

Answer 1

Schaffer and Emerson

Question 2

What was the procedure of Schaffer and Emersons study?

Answer 2

• Observed interactions of babies with their attachment figures every day lives
• Observed 60 babies
• Assessed stranger anxiety and separation anxiety

Question 3

What were the findings of Schaffer and Emersons research?

Answer 3

• They supported the 4 stages of attachment
• Around 90% of babies formed multiple attachments
• The more sensitive the relationship with the care giver, the stronger the attachment

Question 4

What is a strength of Schaffer and Emersons study?

Answer 4

• It is a naturalistic observation therefore it has high ecological Validity

Question 5

2 Weaknesses of Schaffer and Emersons study into attachment

Answer 5

• Observer bias: researchers could see what they want to see
• As interviews were also used social desirability bias could be present

Question 6

What bowlby study supports maternal deprivation?

Answer 6

44 thieves study

Question 7

What is the procedure of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?

Answer 7

• He interviewed 44 thieves and a control group of 44 normal people
• Asked them about childhood attachment

Question 8

What are the findings of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?

Answer 8

• Found that almost 50% of the thieves had experienced separation as an infant
• <5% of the control group experienced separation
• 32% of the 44 thieves were considered affectionless psychopaths
• 86% of these emotionless psychopaths experienced separation as an infant

Question 9

3 weaknesses of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study

Answer 9

• Can lack accuracy and objectivity
• Social desirability bias
• There could be extraneous variables outside of separation such as poverty or conflict in the household

Question 10

2 strengths of Ainsworths strange situation

Answer 10

• High degree of control and replicability
• Results have been replicated across cultures

Question 11

2 Weaknesses of Ainsworths strange situation

Answer 11

• Culturally biased towards western culture
• Lacks ecological validity (lab)

Question 12

Who conducted the Romanian orphan studies

Answer 12

Rutter

Question 13

Outline the romanian orphan studies

Answer 13

• Longitudinal study into children adopted from romanian orphanages and english orphanages
• Found that children could recover from being adopted from uk orphanages
• Children adopted before 6 months from romanian orphanages recovered however if they were adopted after then there were long lasting effects

Question 14

Evaluation of rutters romanian orphan studies

Answer 14

• Families could have displayed social desirability bias
• Effects in romanian orphans could be due to other abuse faced

Question 15

Who conducted a meta analysis of the strange situation

Answer 15

• Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg

Question 16

How many studies and over how many different countries did Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg look at?

Answer 16

32 studies over 8 countries

Question 17

What did Ijzendoorn and kroonenberg find?

Answer 17

Variations were found within cultures and countries therefore there is factors other than culture which effect attachment such as poverty

Question 18

Who conducted the Love quiz

Answer 18

Hazan and Shaver

Question 19

Outline Hazan and shavers love quiz study

Answer 19

-Questionnaire in a newspaper
Asked questions about love and also about childhood experiences
- 620 responses

Question 20

Evaluation of hazan and shavers love quiz

Answer 20

• Volunteer sample
• Social desirability bias

Question 21

Who conducted the adult attachment interview

Answer 21

• Main

Question 22

Outline Mains adult attachment interview study

Answer 22

• Conducted interviews finding out about whether a parents attachment to their child matches to their attachment with their caregiver

Question 23

Evaluation of Mains Adult attachment interview

Answer 23

• Responses may be inaccurate
• Social desirability bias
• Investigator effects

Question 24

What were the findings of hazan and shavers love quiz

Answer 24

• 620 responses
• 56% had secure attachments as a child
• 25% avoidant
• 19% resistant
• These attachment types had a positive correlation with their own romantic relations as an adult