Attachment: Explanations for attachment Flashcards
What are the key assumptions of the learning theory?
What are the two types of conditioning?
-that behaviour is a result of nurture , it is based on how we are brought up by the people around us
-attachment is not innate , it is learnt in two ways
classical and operant
What is the cupboard love theory?
children learn to attach to their care giver because they give them food
How does attachment occur through classical conditioning?
2 points
-the person who feeds infant becomes associated with food
-infants then attach to this person as they learn to associate the caregiver with the feeling of pleasure when they are fed
What is operant conditioning based on?
-its based on reinforcement and rewards are known as + reinforcement and rewarding behaviour increases the chance of it being repeated
How does attachment occur through operant conditioning?
4 points
-food satisfies the infants hunger (known as drive reduction)
-food acts as a reward and becomes a primary reinforcer
-caregiver is linked with the food as they provide it so they are a secondary reinforcer
-infants attach to caregiver because they are a source of reward
What are the strengths of the learning theory as an explanation for attachment?
There is 1!
+ its a plausible and scientific explanation as its founded within an established theory
-means its likely that an association between food and provider can lead to a strong attachment so can be confident in the theory
What are the weaknesses of the learning theory as an explanation?
There are 3!
-there is challenging evidence
Harlow 1959 found that attachment concerns emotional security , contradicts the cupboard love theory challenging its validity
-other theories are more plausible
Bowlbys monotropic theory emphasises the importance of responsiveness and interaction is the development of an attachment , means learning theory may not be complete explanation
-theory is too simplistic
focuses on basic processes that are too simple to explain attachment making it incomplete
What are the key assumptions of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
3
-attachment is a result of nature
-infants create a mental model of their relationship with their primary caregiver (internal working model)
-the IWM acts as a template for future relationships
What is the first feature of Bowlby’s theory?
INNATE AND ADAPTIVE
-attachment is a bio process which is adaptive and essential for survival , infants have an innate drive to survive
What is the second feature of Bowlby’s theory?
MONOTROPY
-attachment at first is to one specific caregiver in which the infant seeks proximity to for safety
-known as safe base behaviour
What is the third feature of Bowlby’s theory?
SOCIAL RELEASERS
-infants are born with a set of characteristics that are designed to attract carer-reciprocity
What is the fourth feature of Bowlby’s theory?
CRITICAL PERIOD
-attachment occurs within a specific time frame of 0-2 years
-if attachment doesn’t occur then the childs emotional and cognitive development is impacted
What is the final feature of Bowlby’s theory?
CONTINUITY HYPOTHESIS AND IWM
-early life experiences influence later experiences
What are the strengths of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
There are 2!
+evidence from animal studies
Lorenz found that there was a critical period for imprinting in geese which supports the idea that humans do too
+evidence to support the continuity hypothesis
Kerns 1994 found that securely attached children had high quality adulthood relationships and insecurely attached didn’t which suggests that early attachment forms an IWM for future relationships
What are the weaknesses of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
There are 2!
-mixed evidence for monotropy
Schaffer and Emerson found that infants form multiple attachments as well as a primary att , suggesting monotropy isn’t an essential feature
-alternative explanations
learning theory suggests attachment is a result of nurture , suggests its an incomplete explanation
