3 Flashcards
What are the 5 elements of Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory?
- Adaptive
- Social releasers
- Critical period
- Monotropic
- Internal working model
Who proposed the Monotropic Theory?
Bowlby
Why did Bowlby propose the Monotropic Theory?
He rejected the Learning Theory in regards to attachment - wanting to take a more evolutionary stance
Is Bowlby on the side of nature or nurture?
Nature - he believes attachment is innate
Outline the ‘adaptive’ part of Bowlby’s theory?
- Attachment is innate
- Species have evolved/adapted to form an attachment, as it gives them a survival advantage (protection, food, etc)
Outline the ‘social releasers’ part of Bowlby’s theory?
- 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)
Outline the ‘critical period’ part of Bowlby’s theory
- 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
Outline the ‘Monotropic’ part of Bowlby’s theory?
- 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)
What is the Law of Continuity?
The more constant + predictable the care, the better the attachment
What is the Law of Accumulated Separation?
The effects of every separation (from primary attachment figure) add up + worsen attachment
‘Safest dose is therefore a zero dose’ - Bowlby (1975)
Outline the ‘Internal Working Model’ part of Bowlby’s theory
- 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)
If first relationship is loving, what does the internal working model suggest about that person’s later relationships?
Will expect love + reliability from relationship partner, and will act that way themselves
If first relationship is bad, what does the internal working model suggest about that person’s later relationships?
Expect poor treatment from others, and may treat others poorly
Give 2 positive evaluation points for Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory?
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
Give 2 negative evaluation points for Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory
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
What is the Learning Theory?
Behaviourists place emphasis on the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour
Who proposed that attachment could be explained by the learning theory - predominantly through feeding?
Dollard + Miller (1950)
Is the Learning Theory of attachment a nature or nurture approach?
Nurture - attachment behaviours are acquired not innate
What are the 3 aspects of the Learning Theory that have been used to explain attachment?
- Classical conditioning
- Attachment as a secondary drive
- Operant conditioning
Define classical conditioning
Learning to associate 2 stimuli, so we learn to respond to one in the way we naturally respond to the other
LEARNING THROUGH ASSOCIATION
Outline the process of classical conditioning
Before conditioning:
Unconditioned stimulus —> Unconditioned response
Neutral stimulus —> No response
During conditioning:
Unconditioned stimulus + Neutral stimulus —> Unconditioned response
After conditioning:
Conditioned stimulus —> Conditioned response
How is classical conditioning used to explain the formation of attachments?
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)
What is the term for children loving/attaching to whoever feeds them?
Cupboard love
Outline classical conditioning as an explanation for attachment formation
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)
Define drive reduction
Need to behave in a way that satisfies biological needs + reduces drive
Define primary drive
An innate, biological motivation (e.g. shelter)
Define secondary drive
A learned drive, acquired through association with primary drive (e.g. money, enabling you to buy shelter/house)
How are drives used to explain attachment
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
Define operant conditioning
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
Give an example of positive reinforcement
Increasing revision to do well in a test + get congratulated
Give an example of negative reinforcement
Increasing number of runs you go for, to prevent being told off by fitness coach
Give an example of punishment
Eating less fast food, to prevent getting told off by fitness coach
How is operant conditioning used to explain attachment?
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
What is a more recent way that the Learning Theory has been used to explain attachment?
Social Learning Theory
Who proposed the idea that Social Learning Theory can be used to explain attachment?
Hay + Vespo (1988)
Define social learning theory
Theory that infants learn behaviours by observing + imitating models
Who originally proposed the social learning theory?
Bandura (1977)
How is social learning theory used to explain attachment?
- Parents ‘model’ attachment behaviours (e.g. smiling)
- Infants ‘imitate’ these attachment behaviours
- Parents ‘reinforce’ these attachment behaviours (e.g. praising smiles)
Why has the social learning theory of attachment been praised in comparison to the older learning theory?
Fits more with research on attachment behaviours (interactional synchrony + reciprocity), rather than being purely based around food
Give a positive evaluation point for the Learning Theory of Attachment
May act as a partial explanation
- Unlikely attachment is purely centred around feeding
- May be a part of the complex process of attachment formation
Give 2 negative evaluation points for the Learning Theory of attachment
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
