A LevelPsychologyAQAExam QuestionsAttachmentExplanations of Attachment

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2025

First exams 2027

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

Exam code: 7182

1 hour9 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?

2
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."

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

How did you do?

3
16 marks

A childcare worker is discussing attachment with a new colleague.

"I've noticed that baby Emma seems most settled when her grandmother picks her up at the end of the day. Her mum works long hours, so it's usually grandma who does the feeding and nappy changes during the week."

"That's interesting," replies the colleague. "I always thought babies naturally bond strongest with their biological mothers. Surely that first relationship is the most important one for shaping how they'll relate to others later in life?"

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?