PSYCHOLOGY ATTACHMENT EXAM QUESTIONS (AS LEVEL)
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Define the term attachment (2)
Attachment is a lasting emotional bond that is reciprocated by both participants and
endures over time.
Explain what is meant by the term 'multiple attachments' (2)
'Multiple attachments' refers to the final stage of S+E's attachment stages. It describes
the stage when an infant displays attachment bh to several people, aka. Secondary
attachments. The number that forms is dependent on the social circle the child is
exposed to (i.e. anyone who responds to needs/sensitive responsiveness)
Explain what is meant by the term reciprocity in relation to caregiver-infant
interactions? (2)
The term reciprocity refers to when the actions of one individual in an attachment illicit a
response from the other. For example, the primary caregiver may coo at the baby and
the baby may smile back. This action is two-pronged and is described as a 'dance' by
Bezelton.
Explain what is meant by the term interactional synchrony in relation to
caregiver-infant relations. (2)
I.S is when an infant mirrors the actions of an adult, e.g. in facial expressions. This can
also be called imitation or copying. The child will move body/do the same action
simultaneously, this is said to be synchronised and serves to sustain communication.
Some developmental psychologists believe that cg-i interactions influence the
development of attachment during childhood. Explain one reason why it is
difficult to draw firm conclusions about the role that cg-i interactions play in the
development of attachment during childhood. (2)
It is difficult to draw firm conclusions about the role that caregiver-infant interactions play
in the development of attachment during childhood since we struggle to establish a firm
cause-effect relationship between cg-i and the development of attachment during
childhood as there are lots of other factors and variables affecting development.
, Name three of Schaffer's stages of attachment (3)
Any three from the following: Asocial/ Indiscriminate attachment/ Discriminate
attachment/ Multiple attachments
Explain one way that developmental psychologists have studied cg-i interaction
with a human sample of participants, you must refer to one scientific piece of
research in your answer. (3)
Developmental psychologists have used observational techniques to study cg-i
interactions. In particular, Meltzoff and Moore studied interactional synchrony in infants
through the use of a controlled observation and an adult model. This adult model
displayed behaviour to the infant and them M+M recorded the behaviour displayed by
the infant.
b) Evaluate the study of cg-i interactions you described in your answer to part a.
You must not refer to ethical issues in your response. (3)
A limitation of the research conducted by Meltzoff and Moore can be found in the
methodological issues with the research. There is a possibility of observer bias from the
researcher because the interpretation of behaviour is required. This leads to bias since
they are more likely to be looking for key behaviour to support their findings, thus, more
than one observer should be used to observe, as we can then gain inter-observer
reliability. Furthermore, research by Koephe et al. in 1983 failed to replicate the findings,
therefore this suggests that observer bias has confounded the results and M+M's
results are unreliable and more research is needed to validate their findings.
Briefly evaluate research into cg-i interactions. (4)
Strength: High ecological validity and therefore can easily apply to real-life: naturalistic
settings, thus RLA and useful and the information can be important. Furthermore, highly
ethical research, use of observational techniques, merely observing, no chance of
harm . ABLE to gain INFORMED CONSENT thus does not contravene guidelines of
harm ppts. Ethically sound.
Limitation: internal validity? The expts are often through self-report techniques or
observations, 1- researcher bias, researchers go and look for the sep anxiety and then
find it, should have 2 or more observers to ensure inter-observer reliability, AND 2-
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Define the term attachment (2)
Attachment is a lasting emotional bond that is reciprocated by both participants and
endures over time.
Explain what is meant by the term 'multiple attachments' (2)
'Multiple attachments' refers to the final stage of S+E's attachment stages. It describes
the stage when an infant displays attachment bh to several people, aka. Secondary
attachments. The number that forms is dependent on the social circle the child is
exposed to (i.e. anyone who responds to needs/sensitive responsiveness)
Explain what is meant by the term reciprocity in relation to caregiver-infant
interactions? (2)
The term reciprocity refers to when the actions of one individual in an attachment illicit a
response from the other. For example, the primary caregiver may coo at the baby and
the baby may smile back. This action is two-pronged and is described as a 'dance' by
Bezelton.
Explain what is meant by the term interactional synchrony in relation to
caregiver-infant relations. (2)
I.S is when an infant mirrors the actions of an adult, e.g. in facial expressions. This can
also be called imitation or copying. The child will move body/do the same action
simultaneously, this is said to be synchronised and serves to sustain communication.
Some developmental psychologists believe that cg-i interactions influence the
development of attachment during childhood. Explain one reason why it is
difficult to draw firm conclusions about the role that cg-i interactions play in the
development of attachment during childhood. (2)
It is difficult to draw firm conclusions about the role that caregiver-infant interactions play
in the development of attachment during childhood since we struggle to establish a firm
cause-effect relationship between cg-i and the development of attachment during
childhood as there are lots of other factors and variables affecting development.
, Name three of Schaffer's stages of attachment (3)
Any three from the following: Asocial/ Indiscriminate attachment/ Discriminate
attachment/ Multiple attachments
Explain one way that developmental psychologists have studied cg-i interaction
with a human sample of participants, you must refer to one scientific piece of
research in your answer. (3)
Developmental psychologists have used observational techniques to study cg-i
interactions. In particular, Meltzoff and Moore studied interactional synchrony in infants
through the use of a controlled observation and an adult model. This adult model
displayed behaviour to the infant and them M+M recorded the behaviour displayed by
the infant.
b) Evaluate the study of cg-i interactions you described in your answer to part a.
You must not refer to ethical issues in your response. (3)
A limitation of the research conducted by Meltzoff and Moore can be found in the
methodological issues with the research. There is a possibility of observer bias from the
researcher because the interpretation of behaviour is required. This leads to bias since
they are more likely to be looking for key behaviour to support their findings, thus, more
than one observer should be used to observe, as we can then gain inter-observer
reliability. Furthermore, research by Koephe et al. in 1983 failed to replicate the findings,
therefore this suggests that observer bias has confounded the results and M+M's
results are unreliable and more research is needed to validate their findings.
Briefly evaluate research into cg-i interactions. (4)
Strength: High ecological validity and therefore can easily apply to real-life: naturalistic
settings, thus RLA and useful and the information can be important. Furthermore, highly
ethical research, use of observational techniques, merely observing, no chance of
harm . ABLE to gain INFORMED CONSENT thus does not contravene guidelines of
harm ppts. Ethically sound.
Limitation: internal validity? The expts are often through self-report techniques or
observations, 1- researcher bias, researchers go and look for the sep anxiety and then
find it, should have 2 or more observers to ensure inter-observer reliability, AND 2-
