A LevelPsychologyAQAExam QuestionsAttachmentExplanations of Attachment

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2017

Last exams 2026

Explanations of Attachment (AQA A Level Psychology): Exam Questions

Exam code: 7182

37 mins7 questions
Easy
Medium
Hard
1a
1 mark

Annie feeds her newborn baby regularly and they have formed a strong bond.

According to the learning theory of attachment, before any attachment had been formed, the milk Annie gives her baby is best described as:

  • A conditioned stimulus

  • A neutral stimulus

  • An unconditioned response

  • An unconditioned stimulus

Choose your answer

1b
1 mark

Annie feeds her newborn baby regularly and they have formed a strong bond.

According to the learning theory of attachment, now she has formed an attachment with her baby, Annie is best described as:

  • A conditioned stimulus

  • A neutral stimulus

  • An unconditioned response

  • An unconditioned stimulus

Choose your answer

2
2 marks

Which two of the following attachment concepts were not introduced by Bowlby?

A

Affectionless psychopathy

B

Critical period

C

Interactional synchrony

D

Internal working model

E

Multiple attachment stage

How did you do?

3
4 marks

Match each of the research findings in the table with one of the researchers below. Use each letter once only.

Research finding

1

Infants form multiple, rather than monotropic, attachments.

2

Infants form monotropic rather than multiple attachments.

3

Contact comfort is essential to an infant’s psychological health.

4

Through imprinting, newborns attach to the first moving object that they see.

A John Bowlby

B Mary Ainsworth

C Harry Harlow

D Karl Lorenz

E Rudolf Schaffer

How did you do?

1
4 marks

Outline the learning theory of attachment.

How did you do?

2
4 marks

Briefly evaluate learning theory as an explanation of attachment.

How did you do?

3
5 marks

Briefly evaluate Bowlby's monotropic theory as an explanation of attachment.

How did you do?

1
16 marks

Two mothers at the toddler and parent group are chatting.

“I always felt sorry for my husband when Millie was a baby. He used to say his bond with Millie was not as strong as mine because I was breastfeeding.”

“I’m not sure”, replies the other mother. “I think there’s something about a mother’s love that makes it more special anyway – and so important for future development.”

Discuss the learning theory of attachment and Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment. Refer to the conversation above in your answer.

How did you do?