Primary Secondary Sixth Form

Eggxcellent Psychology Students

14 Mar

This term the Psychology cohort at Eastbrook studied the attachment unit. The unit consisted of topics such as: 

  • Role of the Father 

  • Development of Attachment 

  • Animal Studies 

  • Cultural Variations 

  • Maternal Deprivation 

  • Later Relationships 

To bring their learning to life, students completed ‘The Egg Baby Project’, where they were each given an egg to decorate, name and look after. This experiment was to determine if students would get attached to their eggs, as well as being a valuable hands-on activity, providing a platform to apply theories like Bowlby’s attachment theory and Ainsworth’s types of attachment to real-world scenarios.

As part of their project, they had to write weekly reports regarding the development of attachment between them and link this to developmental theory. For example:

Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment:

  • Demonstrates Bowlby’s idea of a primary attachment figure and the need for a secure base.

  • Caring for the egg baby mirrors the concept of monotropy (forming a strong attachment to one primary caregiver).

Ainsworth’s Strange Situation:

  • Provides insight into separation anxiety and secure/insecure attachment behaviours.

  • Some students experienced mild anxiety when leaving their egg baby unattended, reflecting real-world attachment responses.

This practical exercise was a triumph, as many students really enjoyed carrying the eggs with them. They felt like ‘real parents’ when they asked their friends to look after their egg. The students are currently readying themselves for their end of unit assessment for Attachment. This will be followed by a Mock exam in April. Well done Eastbrook Psychologists, we are PROUD!