IB Psychology SL 3.2.5 Attachment Questions

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "evaluate" requires candidates to make an appraisal of the chosen theory/theories of attachment by weighing up their strengths and limitations. Although a discussion of both strengths and limitations is required, it does not have to be evenly balanced to gain high marks.

Candidates may evaluate one theory of attachment in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge or a larger number of theories of attachment in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.

Relevant theories may include, but are not limited to:
- learning theory of attachment
- Bowlby's monotropy theory of attachment
- Kagan's temperament theory of attachment.

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:
- Dollard and Miller's (1950) study on learning theory of attachment
- Harlow's (1958) study on attachment in monkeys
- Rutter et al.'s (2004) study on attachment disorder
- Van ljzendoorn and Kroonenberg's (1988) study on cross-cultural variation
- Ainsworth's (1969) study on the "strange situation"
- Schaffer and Emerson's (1964) study on stages of attachment
- Pederson et al.'s (1990);
Main's (1981) studies on the mother's behaviour and secure attachment
- Blehar et al.'s (1977) study investigating how early mother-infant play predicts attachment patterns.

Discussion may include, but is not limited to:
- methodological and ethical considerations
- gender and/or cultural considerations
- the accuracy and clarity of the concepts
- practical applications and implications of the findings
- assumptions and biases
- supporting and/or contradictory evidence
- relevant issues and debates (e.g. holism vs. reductionism).

Responses referring to research on animals, such as Harlow's study of rhesus monkeys should be linked to attachment in humans. Responses that do not explicitly make any link to human behaviour should be awarded up to a maximum of [3] for criterion C: use of research to support the answer. All remaining criteria should be awarded marks according to the markbands independently and could achieve up to full marks.

If the candidate addresses only strengths or only limitations, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [3] for criterion D: critical thinking. All remaining criteria should be awarded marks according to the best fit approach.