AQA Psychology A-Level: Attachment Bundle (A* Notes and Exemplar Essays)

AQA Psychology A-level: Attachment
From specification 7181, 7182 - Introductory topics in Psychology (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)

NOTES:

• Caregiver-infant interaction

• Attachment vs bond, features of attachment and importance of attachment

• Studies of early interaction and findings

• Reciprocity, Tronick et al (1979), and interactional synchrony, Condon and Ogston (1971)

• Attachment development

• Schaffer and Emerson longitudinal study and evaluation

• Stages of attachment and evaluation

• Attachment figures - Grossman (2002) and fathers as primary caregivers, and evaluation

• Animal studies

• Lorenz’s geese studies and evaluation - imprinting for survival and critical period

• Harlow’s monkey study and evaluation, including experiment variations and findings

• Explanations for attachment

• Learning theory - classical conditioning and operant conditioning (Skinner) - and evaluation

• Bowlby’s monotropic theory and evaluation - instinctive attachment, monotropy, internal working model etc.

• Types of attachment

• Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1970) and evaluation of attachment types

• Causes of individual differences in attachment

• Cultural variations in attachment - Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) and evaluation

• Deprivation

• Bowlby’s theory of Maternal Deprivation and 44 thieves study, and evaluation

• Romanian orphan study - Rutter et al and evaluation

• Effects of institutionalisation, disinhibited attachment and evaluation

• Influence of early attachment

• Hazen and Shaver (1987) - study for internal working model

• Evidence for behaviour influenced by internal working model and evaluation

ESSAY QUESTIONS

• Discuss research into early infant-caregiver interaction (16 marks)
• Outline and evaluate research by Schaffer and Emerson into attachment (16 marks)
• Outline and evaluate research into the stages of attachment (16 marks)
• Outline and evaluate research the role of the father (16 marks)
• Outline and evaluate animal studies into attachment (16 marks)
• Outline and evaluate learning theory as an explanation for attachment (16 marks)
• Outline and evaluate Bowlby’s monotropic theory as an explanation for attachment (16 marks)
• Outline and evaluate Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’ research (16 marks)
• Outline and evaluate cultural variations of attachment (16 marks)
• Outline and evaluate Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation (16 marks)
• Discuss research into the effects of institutionalization (16 marks) / Outline and evaluate Rutter’s study of Romanian orphans (16 marks)
• Discuss research into the influence of early attachment (16 marks)