1. Unit 1:
Developmental Psychology
Two parts
1. Attachment.
2. Attachment
in everyday
life.
2. 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.
3. What we will cover this half-term
[from the exam Specification]
Part 1
Attachment
• 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:
Bowlby
Pavlov
Ainsworth & Bell
4. L/O: to be able to define attachment AO1
What?
• Mutual affection Not just physical
needs met:
• Frequent interaction
food, water, hygiene.
• Desire for proximity
• Selectivity: the child wants to be with caregiver and
no-one else
Who?
• Child and principle caregiver
• Usually the mother but can be father or other person
5. What we will cover this half-term
[from the exam Specification]
Part 1
Attachment
• 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:
Lorenz
Harlow
Bowlby
Pavlov
Ainsworth & Bell
6. Can you speculate as to
how these two schools of
thought might try to
explain attachment?
Why do they occur?
Biological and evolutionary perspective.
vs.
Environment and learning perspective.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into
attachment in animals AO1
To evaluate their research AO2
Evaluation AO2
× Imprinting can occur outside of the 36
Can we apply
hour ‘critical period’ so better referred these findings
to as a ‘sensitive period’ when from animal
studies to
imprinting occurs more readily. humans?
× The effects may not be as permanent as Can Kendrick’s
Lorenz suggests. Kendrick et al. found study be used
to evaluate
goats raised in mixed flocks with sheep Lorenz’s
for 3 years showed a preference for human/geese
research?
sheep BUT female tended to revert
back to their own species after 1-2
years.
10. Can we?
L/O: to be able to define attachment AO1
5 (a) What is meant by the term attachment?
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2 marks
2 minutes.
Question 5 a Peer-assess [Write PA by…]
AO1 = 2 marks Knowledge of attachment
Attachment 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.
11. L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into
attachment in animals AO1
To evaluate their research AO2
Harry Harlow – studied Monkeys [1962]
Research found:
Monkeys spent majority of their
time with comforting cloth mother
and only visited wire mother to
Monkeys raised from birth with feed.
two substitute mothers: Preferred comfort to food supply?
1. wire mother with milk
2. Cloth mother without milk. Long-term effects:
• Maternal Deprivation resulted
Watch the clip. in timid, fearful monkeys lacking
What did Harlow social skills.
do and find? • No physical effects long-term.
12. L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into
attachment in animals AO1
To evaluate their research AO2
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?
13. Can we?
L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into
attachment in animals AO1
To 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.
14. Self Study
Page 64 study guide: Read and add to notes.
Due Monday 14th January.
16. L/O: To be able to describe the findings from research into
attachment in HUMANS AO1
To evaluate their research AO2
John Bowlby
17. Theories of attachment
L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1
To be able to define key terms AO1
Starter:
Briefly outline the Psychoanalytic theory of
attachment.
18. L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1
To be able to define key terms AO1
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).
19. L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1
To 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:
20. L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1
To be able to define key terms AO1
Critical Period:
Continuity hypothesis:
Secure base hypothesis:
21. L/O: To be able to outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment AO1
To 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?
22. 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?