The Development of the Attachment Relationship

PSY 341K (MWF 2-3)

Unique # 42660
NOA 1.124
Spring, 2015
Instructor: Dr. Ann Repp

Teaching Assistant: Alexandra Dowd

Office: Seay 5.212

Office: CLA 4.610A

Office Hours: MWF 1-2

Office Hours: F 11-2

Phone #: 471-3858
Email: repp@austin.utexas.edu

Phone #:
Email: alexandradowd@utexas.edu

I. Course Overview
In this course we will be studying the attachment relationship. Well begin with historical foundations for
the construct as we understand it today. Then well look at some of the correlates of attachment security.
Precursors to attachment security comprise characteristics of the infant (nature) as well as characteristics
of the environment (nurture). Well examine evidence for the contributions of each of these possible
influences. In order to evaluate predictions from security status and precursors to such security, well also
look at what attachment looks like beyond childhood. Finally, well look at clinical problems that can
arise from insecurity.
II. Course Details
A. The Psychology Department will drop all students who do not meet the following prerequisites:
(1) PSY 301 with a C or better
(2) Upper-Division standing (60 hours completed)
(3) PSY 418 (or an equivalent listed in the course schedule) with a C or better

B. Required Reading:
Karen, R.(1998). Becoming Attached: First Relationships and How They Shape Our Capacity to
Love .. NY: Oxford.
Readings posted on Canvas: http://canvas.utexas.edu/
B. Evaluation of Student Performance
Exams: Grades will be based, in part, on your performance on four 25-item objective (multiple-choice)
exams. These exams cover material in the Exam Reading Sets (found on Canvas) and material from
lecture. There is no final exam. This part of the course is worth a possible 100 points.
Becoming Attached Exploration Sets: For 14 weeks (beginning the week of 1/26) of the semester a set
of questions probing reading assignments in Karens book will be posted on our class Canvas. Each
Exploration set will comprise three multiple choice questions. Your score will reflect the number of items
that you answer correctly. The question sets are constructed using Canvass Quiz procedure, but you
should think of this as an open book homework assignment. Completed Exploration sets should be
submitted by midnight Friday of each week. The instructions for how to do this are found on Canvas.
Each Exploration set is worth 3 points so this part of the course is worth a possible 42 points.

Research Reports: There are two components to this course activity:

Component 1: Each of you will be assigned to a small group to collaborate on a summary of a research
paper. These summaries will be presented to the class. Guidelines for this part of the
course will be provided in a separate document located on Canvas. Each group members
presentation will be evaluated on an 8 point scale.
Component 2: Each member of the audience will complete a response to the presentations (EXCEPT
THEIR OWN). A form for each of these responses will be handed out in class, and a copy
is also available in the Research Report folder on Canvas for you to look over. Each
response form to a report presentation is worth 2 points. There are 17 research reports (not
counting your own groups presentation) so this component can earn you 34 points.
Note: If you are absent for a research report presentation day, you can make up these 4 points (2 per
research response form) by completing an abbreviated summary of the research paper within 5 days of the
presentation date. A makeup form with instructions is found in the Research Report folder in on Canvas.
You are limited to 2 report presentation makeups for full credit.
Extra Credit In-class Activities On three occasions pop in class activities will occur. If you are
present and participate, you will receive 2 points per activity.
Letter grades for the course will be assigned based on the percentage of the total points (out of a
possible 184 points) you earn on your 4 exams (maximum possible exam points = 100), your research
report presentation (maximum possible points = 8), your evaluations of presentations (maximum
possible points = 34,) your Becoming Attached Exploration (maximum possible points = 42). Your
points will be posted in Blackboards Grade Center.
Course Grade
Per Cent of Course Points
A
93-100
A90-92
B+
87-89
B
83-86
B80-82
C+
77-79
C
73-76
C70-72
D+
67-69
D
63-66
D60-62
F
less than 60%
D. Quiz Make ups will be given with the following stipulations:

(1) You must notify me (via email, phone call or phone message) no later than the day of the quiz.
(2) You must have a legitimate reason for missing a quiz.
(3) You must take the make-up exam within 2 weeks of the original quiz date.
(4) If you know of something that might keep you from taking a quiz at the scheduled time, let
me know early in the semester.
E. Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty: Cheating on exams will be handled in accordance with U.T
guidelines.
F. Policy on Laptops: No laptops allowed open during class. Partial reproductions of lecture PowerPoint
slides will be posted on Canvas. You can print these out before class and fill in necessary information as it
comes up during class
G. Students with Disabilities: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate
academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the
Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.
H. Important Dates
Exam dates
Exam 1 2/9
Exam 2 3/11
Exam 3 4/10
Exam 4 5/8

Research Report due dates

Research Reports 1 & 2 1/30
Research Reports 3 & 4 2/6
Research Reports 5 & 6 2/18
Research Reports 7 & 8 3/4
Research Reports 9 & 10 3/27
Research Reports 11 & 12 4/8
Research Reports 13 & 14 4/20
Research Reports 15 & 16 4/29
Research Reports 17 & 18 5/6

Date
Week of 1/21:
1/21
1/23
Week of 1/26:
1/26
1/28
1/30

Topic

Reading Assignments

Business/Introduction
Bowlby: Theory

Exam 1 Reading Set

(E1RS)

Bowlby: Theory
Bowlby: Theory
Research Reports 1 & 2

E1RS
Karen 1 & 2

Becoming Attached Exploration due by 11:59 p.m.

Week of 2/2:
2/2
2/4
2/6

Bowlby: Theory
Bowlby: Theory
Research Reports 3 & 4

E1RS
Karen 3 & 4

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 2/9:
2/9
2/11
2/13

Exam 1
Ainsworth Assessment
Ainsworth: Assessment

E1RS + Lecture
E2RS
Karen 5 & 6

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 2/16:
2/16
2/18
2/20

Ainsworth: Assessment
Research Reports 5 & 6
Other Assessments of Early
Relationships

E2RS
Karen 7 & 8

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 2/23:
2/23
2/25
2/27

Other Assessments of Early

Relationships
Correlates of Attachment Security:
Relationships
Correlates of Attachment Security:
Relationships

E2RS
Karen 9 & 10

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 3/2:
3/2
3/4
3/6

Correlates of Attachment Security:

Relationships
Research Reports 7 & 8
Correlates of Attachment Security:
Relationships
Becoming Attached Exploration due by
11:59 p.m.

Week of 3/9:

E2RS
Karen 11 & 12

3/9
3/11
3/13

Correlates of Attachment Security:

Relationships
Exam 2
No class

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 3/16:
3/16, 3/18, 3/20

Spring break

E2RS
E2RS + Lecture
Karen 13 & 14

Week of 3/23:
3/23
3/25
3/27

Correlates of Attachment Security:

Social Cognition
Correlates of Attachment Security:
Social Cognition
Research Reports 9 & 10

E3RS
Karen 15 & 16

Correlates of Attachment Security: The

Brain
Precursors Of Attachment: Infant
Characteristics
Precursors Of Attachment: Infant
Characteristics

E3RS
Karen 17 & 18

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 3/30:
3/30
4/1
4/3

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 4/6:
4/6
4/8
4/10

Precursors Of Attachment: Infant

Characteristics
Research Reports 11 & 12
Exam 3

E3RS

Precursors Of Attachment: Parent

Attachment
Precursors Of Attachment: Reflective
Function
Precursors Of Attachment: Affective
Communication

E4RS
Karen 21 & 22

Research Reports 13 & 14

Attachment Disorders
Attachment Disorders

E4RS
Karen 23 & 24

Attachment Disorders
Research Reports 15 & 16
Interventions

E4RS
Karen 25 & 26

Interventions
Research Reports 17 & 18

E4RS

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 4/13:
4/13
4/15
4/17

E3RS + Lecture
Karen 19 & 20

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 4/20:
4/20
4/22
4/24

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 4/27:
4/27
4/29
5/1

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

Week of 5/4:
5/4
5/6

5/8

Exam 4

Becoming Attached Exploration due by

11:59 p.m.

E4RS + Lecture
Karen 27 & 28