plumiAttachment: AQA A‑Level Psychology questions
Every AQA A-Level Psychology exam question on 4.1.3 Attachment, 2020–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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![June 2025 Paper 1, question 16: Outline the findings of one animal study of attachment. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun25-16-qp.webp)
![June 2025 Paper 1, question 17: Outline one limitation of the study you have referred to in your answer to Question 16. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun25-17-qp.webp)
![June 2025 Paper 1, question 18: Discuss findings from studies that have investigated the role of the father in attachment. [8 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun25-18-qp.webp)
![June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 17: With reference to attachment types, what conclusion can you reach from the data in Figure 1? Justify your answer. [2 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71811-jun25-17-qp.webp)
![June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 18: Name one stage of attachment that Schaffer identified. [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71811-jun25-18-qp.webp)
![June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 19: Outline one other stage of attachment that Schaffer identified. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71811-jun25-19-qp.webp)
![June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 20: Which one of the following best describes Ainsworth’s Strange Situation procedure? Shade one box only. [1 mark] A Controlled observation combined with a laborat](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71811-jun25-20-qp.webp)
![June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 21: Apart from ethical issues, explain one strength of the Strange Situation as a way of studying attachment. [2 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71811-jun25-21-qp.webp)
![June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 22: Apart from ethical issues, explain one limitation of the Strange Situation as a way of studying attachment. [2 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71811-jun25-22-qp.webp)
![June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 24: Discuss research into the influence of early attachment on later relationships. [8 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71811-jun25-24-qp.webp)
![June 2024 Paper 1, question 12: Describe the concept of a critical period and the concept of an internal working model in the context of attachment. [6 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun24-12-qp.webp)
![June 2024 Paper 1, question 13: Discuss Romanian orphan studies. [16 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun24-13-qp.webp)
![June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 15: Briefly describe Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71811-jun24-15-qp.webp)
All 50 questions on Attachment, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q11 (2 marks): Two researchers conducted an observational study of reciprocity involving mother-infant pairs in a controlled environment. What is meant by reciprocity in attac
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q16 (3 marks): Outline the findings of one animal study of attachment. [3 marks]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q17 (3 marks): Outline one limitation of the study you have referred to in your answer to Question 16. [3 marks]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q18 (8 marks): Discuss findings from studies that have investigated the role of the father in attachment. [8 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q16 (1 mark): A researcher investigated the classification of attachment of children who had spent time in an orphanage. The results are shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1 A p
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q17 (2 marks): With reference to attachment types, what conclusion can you reach from the data in Figure 1? Justify your answer. [2 marks]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Name one stage of attachment that Schaffer identified. [1 mark]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q19 (3 marks): Outline one other stage of attachment that Schaffer identified. [3 marks]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): Which one of the following best describes Ainsworth’s Strange Situation procedure? Shade one box only. [1 mark] A Controlled observation combined with a laborat
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q21 (2 marks): Apart from ethical issues, explain one strength of the Strange Situation as a way of studying attachment. [2 marks]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q22 (2 marks): Apart from ethical issues, explain one limitation of the Strange Situation as a way of studying attachment. [2 marks]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q23 (4 marks): Janey’s mother has been the main caregiver, who has always fed and looked after Janey. Now she is 2 years old, Janey has a very close relationship with her moth
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q24 (8 marks): Discuss research into the influence of early attachment on later relationships. [8 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): Zara’s baby, Sunta, is a few weeks old. The rest of the family laugh along as Zara sticks her tongue out at Sunta and Sunta does the same thing back to her. Whi
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): The rest of the family also think it’s cute when Zara rocks Sunta to sleep and their heads seem to move in time with one another. Which feature of caregiver-inf
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q12 (6 marks): Describe the concept of a critical period and the concept of an internal working model in the context of attachment. [6 marks]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q13 (16 marks): Discuss Romanian orphan studies. [16 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q15 (3 marks): Briefly describe Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. [3 marks]
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q16 (6 marks): Holly is now 6 years old. Since the age of 6 months she has lived in five different foster care homes. A couple has decided to adopt Holly but they are worried
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q17 (2 marks): Dave says, “The way in which children and their carers form attachments is different all over the world. Fortunately, most children do form secure attachments.
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Give one limitation of van Ijzendoorn’s research into cultural variations in attachment. [1 mark]
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q19 (12 marks): Discuss learning theory as an explanation of attachment. [12 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q08 (4 marks): Outline the learning theory of attachment. [4 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q09 (4 marks): Outline Van Ijzendoorn’s investigation of cultural variations in attachment. [4 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q10 (16 marks): Discuss Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Refer to Ryan in your answer. [16 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q13 (4 marks): Explain the role of the internal working model in Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment. [4 marks]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q14 (6 marks): In the 1990s, many children were found living in poor-quality orphanages in Romania. Cema and her sister Katti lived in one of these orphanages from birth but w
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q15 (2 marks): Briefly explain one economic implication of the findings of research into the role of the father in attachment. [2 marks]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q16 (12 marks): Discuss the learning theory explanation of attachment. [12 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q09 (2 marks): Which two of the following attachment concepts were not introduced by Bowlby? Shade two boxes only. [2 marks] A Affectionless psychopathy B Critical period C In
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q10 (2 marks): Outline one example of cultural variation in attachment. [2 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q11 (4 marks): Lenny is being interviewed for a TV dating show. He describes his approach to relationships: “My friends would say I’m scared of commitment and need to settle d
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q12 (16 marks): Outline Lorenz’s and Harlow’s animal studies of attachment. Discuss what these studies might tell us about human attachment. [16 marks] You may use this space t
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q10 (4 marks): Describe the learning theory explanation of attachment. [4 marks]
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q11 (4 marks): Outline how Harlow studied attachment using animals. [4 marks]
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q12 (4 marks): Other than ethical issues, explain one limitation of using animals to study attachment in humans. [4 marks]
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q13 (4 marks): Some psychologists have criticised the way attachment has been measured or studied using the Strange Situation technique because it is not realistic. Briefly ex
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q14 (8 marks): Discuss Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. [8 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q09 (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
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): According to the learning theory of attachment, now she has formed an attachment with her baby, Annie is best described as: Shade one box only. [1 mark] A a con
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q11 (2 marks): Outline one difference in attachment behaviours shown by infants who have an insecure-avoidant attachment and infants who have an insecure-resistant attachment.
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q12 (5 marks): These different attachment types were first identified in Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’. Evaluate the procedure known as the ‘Strange Situation’. [5 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q14 (8 marks): Discuss the influence of early attachment on childhood relationships. Refer to the likely results of the study in Question 13 in your answer. [8 marks]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q11.1 (1 mark): Identify the attachment type that Annie’s mother is describing. [1 mark]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q11.2 (4 marks): Distinguish between two other types of attachment. [4 marks]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q13 (16 marks): Discuss research into caregiver-infant interactions in humans. [16 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): In van Ijzendoorn’s research on cross-cultural variations in attachment, which one of the following countries had the highest number of insecure-resistant child
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q12 (5 marks): Describe how Lorenz studied attachment in animals. [5 marks]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q13 (6 marks): Schaffer identified stages of attachment. Which of Schaffer’s stages best matches the behaviour shown by each child? In each case, explain your answer. [6 marks
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q14 (12 marks): Discuss research into the influence of early attachment on adult relationships. [12 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
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