Paper 1 - Attachment

Qu -11 (2 marks) A. Extreme stranger anxiety B. Indifference when the mother leaves the room C. Low willingness to explore the new environment D. Moderate levels of separation anxiety E. Obvious joy when reunited with the mother A and C

Qu 12 – Name three stages of attachment identified by Schaffer (3 marks) Asocial/pre-attachment stage. Indiscriminate attachment/diffuse attachment stage. Beginnings of Attachment Specific/Discriminate Attachment/Stage Multiple Attachment/Stage Common Mistakes: Best answered question on the paper. Only problem was wasted time explaining each stage.

Qu 13 – What is meant by the term reciprocity in the context of caregiver-infant interaction? (4 marks) 2 Marks – Clear and coherent definition of reciprocity. Caregiver-infant interaction is a two-way/mutual process. Respond to each other’s signals to sustain interaction. Their behaviour (of both parties) elicits a response from each other. Common Mistakes: Failure to outline key element; that it is a two-way mutual process that involves turn-taking. Analogies with a conversation was an effective way of outlining this key element. Confusion with interactional synchrony.

Qu 14 – Briefly evaluate research into caregiver-infant interaction (4 marks) Controlled observations capture very fine details, babies are not aware that they’re being observed. Have to make inferences as babies cannot communicate. Practical Issues – babies are often asleep or being fed. Intentional? Are imitative behaviours deliberate/conscious? Research may be socially sensitive – working mothers.

Common Mistakes Material on Maternal Deprivation is not creditworthy. Less effective evaluation looked at generic issues such as ethics and cultural relativity. Too much description rather than evaluation.

Qu 15 – Use your knowledge of the effects of institutionalisation to advise Anca’s new parents what to expect. (5 marks) Delayed intellectual development/ low IQ – Anca may struggle at school, problems learning new behaviours/concepts. Disinhibited Attachment – Anca may not know what counts as appropriate behaviour. Emotional Development – Anca may experience more temper tantrums Lack of Internal Working Model – difficulty with peers, forming close relationships Problems understanding social contexts. Adopted before 6 months so effects may not be severe long term.

Common Mistakes Failure to structure material around advice to Anca’s parents. Terminology – Use of terms ‘mental retardation’ acceptable in the context of historic research, but not as a general effect of institutionalisation. Terms such as intellectual delay’.

Qu 16 – Discuss the findings of research into cultural variations in attachment (8 marks).

Qu 16 – Discuss the findings of research into cultural variations in attachment (8 marks). A01 = 3 Marks Knowledge of the findings of research into cultural variations in attachment: Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) – credit knowledge of individual percentages and more general pattern of findings; more variation within countries than between countries Simonelli et al (2014) – lower rates of secure attachment and higher rates of insecure-avoidant in Italian study attributed to long working hours Kyoung (2005) – details of comparison between US and Korean children Sagi et al (1991) – high rates of insecure-resistant attachments in Israeli children.

Qu 16 – Discuss the findings of research into cultural variations in attachment (8 marks). A03 = 5 Marks Possible evaluation/discussion points: meta-analyses include very large samples increasing validity of findings samples in studies may not represent the culture as a whole strange situation may be biased towards American/British culture more general methodological/ethical criticisms of the strange situation must be linked to the findings of research into cultural variations for credit.

Common Mistakes Descriptions of methodology not credit worthy Accuracy of information – van Ijzendoorn Focus on methodological issues of strange situation – but not related to cultural variation.