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The Development of Attachments

PSY404

Course CodePSY404
ECTS

Course Description

This aim of this unit is to equip learners with the knowledge and understanding of attachments and their loss or disruption can lead to our understanding of how early experiences can impact later development.

Course Objectives

This aim of this unit is to equip learners with the knowledge and understanding of attachments and their loss or disruption can lead to our understanding of how early experiences can impact later development.

Key Topics

  1. LO1: Understand learning theory of attachment.
  2. LO2: Understand caregiver-infant interactions, reciprocity and interactional synchrony.
  3. LO3: Understand the development of attachment in human and animal studies.
  4. LO4: Understand individual and cultural variations in attachment.

Course Outline

WeekTopics
1Learning theory of attachment: classical and operant conditioning, social learning theory
2Bowlby's monotropic theory, internal working model, maternal deprivation
3Reciprocity and interactional synchrony in caregiver–infant interaction
4Observational research on infants and problems of testing infant behaviour
5What attachment is
6The role of the father and primary attachment figures
7Animal studies: Lorenz's imprinting, Harlow's research, ethics and generalising to humans
MidtermMidterm evaluation
9Ainsworth's Strange Situation and individual differences in attachment type
10Cultural variations: Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988)
11Universality versus cultural influence; indigenous theories and culture bias
12Applying The Development of Attachments in practice: case studies
13Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing
14Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
15Review and coursework completion
FinalFinal assessment and submission

Learning Outcomes

  1. LO1 Understand learning theory of attachment.
  2. 1.1 Explain learning theory of attachment.
  3. 1.2 Explain the development of attachments using learning theory.
  4. LO2 Understand caregiver-infant interactions, reciprocity and interactional synchrony.
  5. 2.1 Explain what is meant by the term ‘reciprocity’ in relation to caregiver–infant interactions.
  6. 2.2 Explain what is meant by the term ‘interactional synchrony’ in relation to caregiver–infant interactions.
  7. 2.3 Research psychological studies relating to caregiver-infant interactions.
  8. LO3 Understand the development of attachment in human and animal studies.
  9. 3.1 Explain attachment.
  10. 3.2 Describe how attachment develops in humans and animals.
  11. 3.3 Describe the main studies investigating the development of attachment in humans and animals.
  12. LO4 Understand individual and cultural variations in attachment.
  13. 4.1 Describe how attachment can vary between individuals and cultures.
  14. 4.2 Evaluate whether patterns of attachment appear to be universal or are subject to cultural influences.
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