Attachment Chapter 6: Explanations For Attachment Flashcards
What is classical conditioning?
When’s a naturally occurring response to a stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus.
What is operant conditioning?
Occurs when a behaviour has been strengthened or weakened as a result of the rewards or punishments
What are the steps of classical conditioning?
If a baby is hungry, then the feeling of pleasure is a natural emotional response to being fed with milk.
Milk is the unconditioned stimulus - pleasure is the unconditioned response
If a baby is breast fed then it will always be the mother that feeds the child so…
Mum becomes the association with pleasure
, therefore mum becomes conditioned stimulus, and please becomes the conditioned response.
What is the learning theory?
Attachments are learned through interaction with caregivers who provide food, warmth and comfort - nurture
Why is learning theory of attachment challenged?
Harlows study shows that it is not always food that is the most important factor in attachment formation.
What is bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment?
Attachments are inately programmed, have a critical period, continue to influence later relationships, and have one bond stronger than others - mother.
What is innately programmed?
Behaviours such as smiling and crying are called social releases, and adults are innately programmed to respond to them.
What is the critical period?
An attachment will form in the first two and a half years. After this it will be much less likely for an attachment to form
What is continuity?
Attachments formed as infants, affect our relationships as adults, my internal working models.
What is monotropy?
Mothers attachment is the most important
