AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 1 EXAM 2026 UPDATE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VEIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW VISION)
Cultural variations in attachment: key study 2 - Simonelli et al (1 - procedure) - ANS-Assessed 76
12-month olds using SS
See whether proportions of attachment types matches previous Italian studies
Mothers varied in terms of education level and professions
Cultural variations in attachment: key study 2 - Simonelli et al (2 - findings/conclusions) - ANS-
50% secure, 36% IA
Lower rate of secure than found in previous studies
Suggested due to increasing numbers of mothers working longer hours/using professional
childcare
Cultural changes can make dramatic changes to patterns of attachment
Cultural variations in attachment: conclusions - ANS-Secure attachment seems to be norm in
wide range of cultures
Supports Bowlby's idea that attachment is innate/universal, this type is universal norm
Shows cultural practices have influence on attachment type
Cultural variations in attachment (large samples) - ANS-Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg meta
analysis: nearly 2000 babies and PAF
Simonelli et al also had large comparison groups from previous research, although own
samples smaller
Large samples increase internal validity by reducing impact of anomalous results (bad
methodology/unusual ppts)
,Cultural variations in attachment (unrepresentative samples) - ANS-Samples tend to be
unrepresentative of culture
Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg: comparisons between countries, not culture
Different cultures within any country, each with different child-rearing practices
e.g. van IJzendoorn & Sagi: attachment types in Tokyo in similar proportions to western
studies, rural sample over-represented IR
Comparions between countries may have little meaning
Cultural characteristics/caregiving styles of sample need to be specified
Cultural variations in attachment (assessment method biased) - ANS-Cross-cultural psychology
includes ideas of etic & emic
Cultural universals vs cultural uniqueness
SS designed by American researcher based on British theory
May not be applicable to other cultures
Imposed etic: trying to apply theory/technique designed for one culture to another
Disregards notion of cultural emic
Lack of separation anxiety/pleasure on reunion means insecure attachment = imposed etic
Germany: seen as independence rather than insecurity
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 1 - basis - ANS-Proposed before theory of attachment
Continuous emotional care from mother figure/substitute is essential
Necessary for normal emotional/intellectual development
'Mother-love in infancy is as important for mental health as vitamins and proteins are for
physical health'
Being separated has serious consequences (maternal deprivation)
,Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 2 - separation v privation - ANS-Separation: child not
in physical presence of PAF
Deprivation: losing emotional care as result of separation
Deprivation can be avoided if alternative emotional care is offered - separation doesn't always
cause deprivation
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 3 - critical period - ANS-first 30 months - critical
period for psychological development
Separated from mother with no substitute care for extended period during this time =
believed psychological damage was inevitable
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 4 - effects on development (intellectual) - ANS-Mental
retardation/abnormally low IQ
Demonstrated in adoption studies
Goldfarb: lower IQs in children living in institutions compared to fostered children
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 4 - effects on development (emotional) - ANS-
Affectionless psychopathy: inability to experience guilt/strong emotion for others
Prevents developing normal relationships
Associated with criminality (cannot appreciate feelings of victim/lack remorse)
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 5 - key study (procedure) - ANS-44 thieves study
Aim: examine link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation
44 delinquent teenagers accused of stealing
All thieves interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy (lack of affection/guilt/empathy)
Families also interviewed to establish any prolonged separation from mothers
, Control group of non-criminal but emotionally disturbed young people (how often maternal
deprivation occured in non thieves)
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 5 - key study (findings/conclusions) - ANS-14/44 could
be described as affectionless psychopaths
12/14 experiences prolonged separation from mothers before age 2
5/remaining 30 experienced separations
Control group: only 2/44 had
Concluded prolonged separation/deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation (flawed evidence) - ANS-Number of sources as
evidence: children orphaned during WWII, those in poor quality orphanages, 44 thieves study
War orphans traumatised/often had poor after-care (may have been cause of later
developmental difficulties)
Children growing up in poor quality orphanages deprived of many aspects of care, not just
maternal
Bowlby carried out assessments for affectionless psychopathy/family interviews himself,
knowing what he intended to find
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation (counter-edvidence) - ANS-Lewis: partially replicated
study on larger scale (500 young people)
Early prolonged maternal separations did not predict criminality/difficulty forming close
relationships
Suggest other factors may affect outcomes of early maternal separation
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation (sensitive period) - ANS-Critical period = prolonged
separation inevitably caused damage
Research shown that damage is not inevitable (some social interaction/good aftercare)
Koluchova: case study of Czech twin boys isolated from 18 months - 7 years old
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VEIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW VISION)
Cultural variations in attachment: key study 2 - Simonelli et al (1 - procedure) - ANS-Assessed 76
12-month olds using SS
See whether proportions of attachment types matches previous Italian studies
Mothers varied in terms of education level and professions
Cultural variations in attachment: key study 2 - Simonelli et al (2 - findings/conclusions) - ANS-
50% secure, 36% IA
Lower rate of secure than found in previous studies
Suggested due to increasing numbers of mothers working longer hours/using professional
childcare
Cultural changes can make dramatic changes to patterns of attachment
Cultural variations in attachment: conclusions - ANS-Secure attachment seems to be norm in
wide range of cultures
Supports Bowlby's idea that attachment is innate/universal, this type is universal norm
Shows cultural practices have influence on attachment type
Cultural variations in attachment (large samples) - ANS-Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg meta
analysis: nearly 2000 babies and PAF
Simonelli et al also had large comparison groups from previous research, although own
samples smaller
Large samples increase internal validity by reducing impact of anomalous results (bad
methodology/unusual ppts)
,Cultural variations in attachment (unrepresentative samples) - ANS-Samples tend to be
unrepresentative of culture
Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg: comparisons between countries, not culture
Different cultures within any country, each with different child-rearing practices
e.g. van IJzendoorn & Sagi: attachment types in Tokyo in similar proportions to western
studies, rural sample over-represented IR
Comparions between countries may have little meaning
Cultural characteristics/caregiving styles of sample need to be specified
Cultural variations in attachment (assessment method biased) - ANS-Cross-cultural psychology
includes ideas of etic & emic
Cultural universals vs cultural uniqueness
SS designed by American researcher based on British theory
May not be applicable to other cultures
Imposed etic: trying to apply theory/technique designed for one culture to another
Disregards notion of cultural emic
Lack of separation anxiety/pleasure on reunion means insecure attachment = imposed etic
Germany: seen as independence rather than insecurity
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 1 - basis - ANS-Proposed before theory of attachment
Continuous emotional care from mother figure/substitute is essential
Necessary for normal emotional/intellectual development
'Mother-love in infancy is as important for mental health as vitamins and proteins are for
physical health'
Being separated has serious consequences (maternal deprivation)
,Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 2 - separation v privation - ANS-Separation: child not
in physical presence of PAF
Deprivation: losing emotional care as result of separation
Deprivation can be avoided if alternative emotional care is offered - separation doesn't always
cause deprivation
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 3 - critical period - ANS-first 30 months - critical
period for psychological development
Separated from mother with no substitute care for extended period during this time =
believed psychological damage was inevitable
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 4 - effects on development (intellectual) - ANS-Mental
retardation/abnormally low IQ
Demonstrated in adoption studies
Goldfarb: lower IQs in children living in institutions compared to fostered children
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 4 - effects on development (emotional) - ANS-
Affectionless psychopathy: inability to experience guilt/strong emotion for others
Prevents developing normal relationships
Associated with criminality (cannot appreciate feelings of victim/lack remorse)
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 5 - key study (procedure) - ANS-44 thieves study
Aim: examine link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation
44 delinquent teenagers accused of stealing
All thieves interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy (lack of affection/guilt/empathy)
Families also interviewed to establish any prolonged separation from mothers
, Control group of non-criminal but emotionally disturbed young people (how often maternal
deprivation occured in non thieves)
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation: 5 - key study (findings/conclusions) - ANS-14/44 could
be described as affectionless psychopaths
12/14 experiences prolonged separation from mothers before age 2
5/remaining 30 experienced separations
Control group: only 2/44 had
Concluded prolonged separation/deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation (flawed evidence) - ANS-Number of sources as
evidence: children orphaned during WWII, those in poor quality orphanages, 44 thieves study
War orphans traumatised/often had poor after-care (may have been cause of later
developmental difficulties)
Children growing up in poor quality orphanages deprived of many aspects of care, not just
maternal
Bowlby carried out assessments for affectionless psychopathy/family interviews himself,
knowing what he intended to find
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation (counter-edvidence) - ANS-Lewis: partially replicated
study on larger scale (500 young people)
Early prolonged maternal separations did not predict criminality/difficulty forming close
relationships
Suggest other factors may affect outcomes of early maternal separation
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation (sensitive period) - ANS-Critical period = prolonged
separation inevitably caused damage
Research shown that damage is not inevitable (some social interaction/good aftercare)
Koluchova: case study of Czech twin boys isolated from 18 months - 7 years old
