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Psychology - VC - Attachment > 3 > Flashcards

3 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 5 elements of Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory?

A
  • Adaptive
  • Social releasers
  • Critical period
  • Monotropic
  • Internal working model
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2
Q

Who proposed the Monotropic Theory?

A

Bowlby

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3
Q

Why did Bowlby propose the Monotropic Theory?

A

He rejected the Learning Theory in regards to attachment - wanting to take a more evolutionary stance

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4
Q

Is Bowlby on the side of nature or nurture?

A

Nature - he believes attachment is innate

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5
Q

Outline the ‘adaptive’ part of Bowlby’s theory?

A
  • Attachment is innate

- Species have evolved/adapted to form an attachment, as it gives them a survival advantage (protection, food, etc)

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6
Q

Outline the ‘social releasers’ part of Bowlby’s theory?

A
  • Infants display social releasers
  • Social releasers = innate ‘cute’ behaviours infants exhibit to attract the attention of adults, so they reciprocate attachment behaviours
  • E.g. smiling, cooing, gripping
  • Adults respond through displays of SENSITIVE RESPONSIVENESS (e.g. engaging in interactional synchrony)
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7
Q

Outline the ‘critical period’ part of Bowlby’s theory

A
  • Critical period = sensitive period in which infants can form attachments
  • Bowlby believed infants have a critical period of 2yrs
  • (First 6 months of the 2 yr period is most sensitive)
  • After 2 yrs, if infants haven’t formed attachments they will struggle to
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8
Q

Outline the ‘Monotropic’ part of Bowlby’s theory?

A
  • Monotropic = emphasis on attachment to one particular caregiver
  • Bowlby believed this Monotropic attachment was to the mother
  • (Has since been believed to be to any ‘primary attachment figure’)
  • Bowlby claimed more time with this figure strengthened attachment (used LAW OF CONTINUITY + LAW OF ACCUMULATED SEPARATION)
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9
Q

What is the Law of Continuity?

A

The more constant + predictable the care, the better the attachment

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10
Q

What is the Law of Accumulated Separation?

A

The effects of every separation (from primary attachment figure) add up + worsen attachment

‘Safest dose is therefore a zero dose’ - Bowlby (1975)

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11
Q

Outline the ‘Internal Working Model’ part of Bowlby’s theory

A
  • Internal working model = mental representation child has of their relationship with their primary attachment figure, believed to act as a template, setting the expectation for future relationships (including own role as a parent)
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12
Q

If first relationship is loving, what does the internal working model suggest about that person’s later relationships?

A

Will expect love + reliability from relationship partner, and will act that way themselves

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13
Q

If first relationship is bad, what does the internal working model suggest about that person’s later relationships?

A

Expect poor treatment from others, and may treat others poorly

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14
Q

Give 2 positive evaluation points for Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory?

A

Research support from animal studies

  • Harlow: critical period, monotropic, internal working model
  • Lorenz: adaptive, critical period, monotropic

Research support for internal working model

  • Bailey et al (2007): study on 99 mothers + their own mother/infant relationships used internal working model for parental relationships
  • Hazan + Shaver (1987): ‘Love Quiz’ used internal working model for later love relationships
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15
Q

Give 2 negative evaluation points for Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory

A

Research to refute critical period (actually sensitive period)

  • Rutter et al (1998)
  • Romanian orphan research
  • Despite being disadvantaged, orphans did have ability to form later attachments (just less likely)
  • Concluded critical period ISN’T ONLY time to form attachments, its just the EASIEST time for form attachments

Monotropy has issue of social sensitivity

  • Feminists (e.g. Erica Burman 1994) say his theory pressurises women to stay at home
  • Women worried to work due to negative affects of law of continuity + accumulated separation
  • Should be reevaluated in modern society
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16
Q

What is the Learning Theory?

A

Behaviourists place emphasis on the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour

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17
Q

Who proposed that attachment could be explained by the learning theory - predominantly through feeding?

A

Dollard + Miller (1950)

18
Q

Is the Learning Theory of attachment a nature or nurture approach?

A

Nurture - attachment behaviours are acquired not innate

19
Q

What are the 3 aspects of the Learning Theory that have been used to explain attachment?

A
  • Classical conditioning
  • Attachment as a secondary drive
  • Operant conditioning
20
Q

Define classical conditioning

A

Learning to associate 2 stimuli, so we learn to respond to one in the way we naturally respond to the other

LEARNING THROUGH ASSOCIATION

21
Q

Outline the process of classical conditioning

A

Before conditioning:
Unconditioned stimulus —> Unconditioned response
Neutral stimulus —> No response

During conditioning:
Unconditioned stimulus + Neutral stimulus —> Unconditioned response

After conditioning:
Conditioned stimulus —> Conditioned response

22
Q

How is classical conditioning used to explain the formation of attachments?

A

Through classical conditioning, caregiver become associated with food, so the happy response to food becomes a happy/loving response to caregiver (seen as an attachment)

23
Q

What is the term for children loving/attaching to whoever feeds them?

A

Cupboard love

24
Q

Outline classical conditioning as an explanation for attachment formation

A

Before conditioning:
Food (unconditioned stimulus) —> Infant innate pleasure (unconditioned response)
Caregiver (neutral stimulus) —> No innate response from infant (no response)

During conditioning:
Food (unconditioned stimulus) + caregiver (neutral stimulus) —> Infant pleasure (unconditioned response)

After conditioning:
Caregiver (conditioned stimulus) —> Infant pleasure (conditioned response)

25
Q

Define drive reduction

A

Need to behave in a way that satisfies biological needs + reduces drive

26
Q

Define primary drive

A

An innate, biological motivation (e.g. shelter)

27
Q

Define secondary drive

A

A learned drive, acquired through association with primary drive (e.g. money, enabling you to buy shelter/house)

28
Q

How are drives used to explain attachment

A

Primary drive = hunger
Secondary drive = caregiver (provide food to reduce hunger drive)

Sears et al (1957) said attachment becomes a secondary drive, associated with need to reduce the primary hunger drive

29
Q

Define operant conditioning

A

Learning from the consequences of behaviour

  • Positive reinforcement = behaviour increased, to get positive outcome
  • Negative reinforcement = behaviour increased, to avoid negative outcome
  • Punishment = behaviour decreased, to avoid negative outcome

LEARNING THROUGH REINFORCEMENT

30
Q

Give an example of positive reinforcement

A

Increasing revision to do well in a test + get congratulated

31
Q

Give an example of negative reinforcement

A

Increasing number of runs you go for, to prevent being told off by fitness coach

32
Q

Give an example of punishment

A

Eating less fast food, to prevent getting told off by fitness coach

33
Q

How is operant conditioning used to explain attachment?

A

Caregiver-infant interactions (that strengthen attachments) are stimulated by reinforced behaviours

  • PR: Infant cries, caregiver responsiveness, crying reinforced, infant cries whenever they want something
  • NR: Infant cries, caregiver responsiveness, caregiver realises crying has stopped, caregiver responds whenever infant cries
34
Q

What is a more recent way that the Learning Theory has been used to explain attachment?

A

Social Learning Theory

35
Q

Who proposed the idea that Social Learning Theory can be used to explain attachment?

A

Hay + Vespo (1988)

36
Q

Define social learning theory

A

Theory that infants learn behaviours by observing + imitating models

37
Q

Who originally proposed the social learning theory?

A

Bandura (1977)

38
Q

How is social learning theory used to explain attachment?

A
  • Parents ‘model’ attachment behaviours (e.g. smiling)
  • Infants ‘imitate’ these attachment behaviours
  • Parents ‘reinforce’ these attachment behaviours (e.g. praising smiles)
39
Q

Why has the social learning theory of attachment been praised in comparison to the older learning theory?

A

Fits more with research on attachment behaviours (interactional synchrony + reciprocity), rather than being purely based around food

40
Q

Give a positive evaluation point for the Learning Theory of Attachment

A

May act as a partial explanation

  • Unlikely attachment is purely centred around feeding
  • May be a part of the complex process of attachment formation
41
Q

Give 2 negative evaluation points for the Learning Theory of attachment

A

Research from animal studies refutes theory that attachment is learnt through feeding

  • Lorenz found attachment is an innate tendency
  • Harlow found attachments are based around contact-comfort not food

Debate - too reductionist

  • Isabella et al (1989) found high levels of interactional synchrony between well attached infants + caregivers
  • This theory ignores these other factors linked to attachment that aren’t food based (interactional synchrony + reciprocity)
  • It is too reductionist to simplify attachment down to a simple drive for food

Psychology - VC - Attachment (6 decks)

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