Lower Sixth Psychologists Exploring Infant Attachment

On Wednesday, Lower Sixth Psychology pupils took part in a fascinating and hands-on enrichment session designed to deepen their understanding of the ‘Attachment’ topic within the A Level curriculum. The session provided a valuable opportunity for pupils to observe real infant behaviour and apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical context.

We were delighted to welcome two very special guests: Baby Archie, accompanied by his mother, Mrs Mugridge, and Baby Chloe, accompanied by her father, Mr Moore. Their participation allowed pupils to conduct a structured observation based on the well-known ‘Strange Situation’ procedure, a method used to assess the nature of attachment between infants and their caregivers.

During the session, pupils carefully observed how each infant responded to their caregiver compared to a stranger, drawing on their Research Methods knowledge to systematically codify behaviours. This enabled them to analyse and identify the type of attachment demonstrated, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world psychological research.

The experience was both engaging and insightful, giving pupils a deeper appreciation of how psychological studies are conducted and interpreted. We extend our sincere thanks to Mr Moore and Mrs Mugridge for generously volunteering their time—and their babies—as research participants.

This session forms part of a wider programme of extension and enrichment seminars offered to Lower Sixth students considering psychology-related degrees at university. Earlier this term, pupils have benefited from a range of stimulating sessions, including talks from external speakers on PhD research into adolescent paranoia and innovative interventions to improve wellbeing. Additional seminars have explored topics such as time perception and the use of virtual reality in the treatment of mental health disorders.

These opportunities continue to inspire curiosity and academic ambition, supporting pupils as they explore the breadth and depth of psychology beyond the classroom.