Cultural variations in attachment

Today we looked at one study in lots of detail - the meta-analysis by Van Ijzdendoorn into cross-cultural differences in attachment. You need to know the main findings (don't forget that the main findings is that secure attachment was the most common in all cultures), and then looked at criticisms of the study.

Today's ppt is here.

The next essay is due in on 11th March. The title is 'Discuss research into cultural variations in
attachment' (12).

Individual differences in attachment

Today we looked at Ainsworth's Strange Situation - a controlled observation that aims to measure individual differences in attachment. We looked at how she defined secure, insecure avoidant and insecure resistant attachment types - and you need to be able to recite these.

Ainsworth concluded that the mother's behaviour was the cause of the attachment differences - this is the sensitivity hypothesis and is firmly on the nurture end of the nature-nurture spectrum. The alternative is the temperament hypothesis, which states that the innate differences in infant temperament are what cause the differences. We looked at research that supports both ideas.

Today's ppt is here.

The next essay is due on Feb 25th and is on the second slide of the ppt.

Bowlby's theory of attachment

Today we looked at Bowlby's evolutionary theory of attachment. He said that attachment is adaptive (necessary for survival) and that it is necessary to form a template for how future relationships work.

Today's powerpoint is here.

The powerpoint showing the model answers for the AS mock is here.

Here is the summary activity on Bowlby that I asked you to fill in at the end.

Attachment introduction

Today we looked at what an attachment is (a reciprocal, emotional bond that endures over time), and how and why children form their first attachments to their parents. We discussed the learning theory of attachment; a behavioural model that states that attachments form because of associations between food, the caregiver and pleasure. This is a rather simplistic view of attachment in human beings, and we looked at two studies that don't support the learning theory.

Schaffer & Emerson found that the babies weren't always attached to the people who fed them - responsiveness and interaction were more important. Harlow's monkeys showed us that even non-human primates prefer comfort to just purely being fed.

Today's powerpoints are here and here.

Don't forget the MOCK EXAM: Friday 16th January, P3 and P4. Questions on Memory, Stress and Research Methods. 

The cognitive interview & strategies for memory improvement

Today we finished the memory topic with a look at the cognitive interview (ppt here) and strategies to improve memory (students completed mind maps on these- the material is on P.38 of your textbook.

Important announcements:

ESSAY - Due Wednesday 7th January. 'Outline and evaluate research into the effects of age of witness on accuracy of eyewitness testimony (6+6)'

MOCK EXAM - Friday 16th January. You will have a paper on memory and research methods, plus a paper on stress. 

M

Eyewitness testimony

Today we looked at a practical application of memory - whether or not our memories can be relied on or not - and the implications of this in court. Leading questions are one factor that can seriously alter people's memory for events, and we looked at Loftus & Palmer (1974) in detail. You need to know their aims, procedures, findings and conclusions and also some evaluation. The ppt is here.

We also looked at other factors that influence eyewitness testimony, namely schemas, age, anxiety and the reality or not of the situation. The ppt for this section is here. The sheet that you filled in on age & EWT is here.

We will have a progress test in two weeks time on EWT so your homework is to revise. Your other homework is to fill in page 11 of the RM booklets.

The working memory model continued....

Today we carried on with the working memory model -it's such an important topic I wanted to spend a bit more time on it.



Today's ppt is here. The three activities from today were all paper based, so if you were missing see me next lesson for copies.

We also reflected on feedback from the capacity, duration & encoding essays and thought about how to improve our next one. This is: 'Outline and evaluate the working memory model' (12 marks) - due Wednesday 26th November. Remember it should comprise 50% knowledge (AO1) and 50% evaluation (AO2).

Next lesson we'll cover eyewitness testimony plus the cognitive interview.