> attachment: explanations of attachment Flashcards
2 explanations of attachment?
-learning theory
-bowlbys monotropic theory
what does learning theory propose?
infants learn to love/form attachments with whomever feeds them
classical conditioning?
food UCS -> pleasure UCR
food UCS + mother NS -> pleasure UR
mother CS -> pleasure CS
operant conditioning?
-repetition of behaviour depending on consequence
-baby cries for comfort, eliciting response in caregiver (feeding)
-as long as correct response is given, crying stops
-however, caregiver receives negative reinforcement as baby stops crying (escaping from negative situation)
secondary attachment?
-operates on drive reduction
-hunger = primary drive -> motivates us to find food to reduce drive
-attachment = secondary drive, learned through association between caregiver + satisfaction of primary drive
evaluation of LT- disadvantages?
-predicts infant will form an attachment with those who provide greatest pleasure + drive reduction, usually one who feeds them, but found that infants also form attachments with those who bathe, change + interact with babies (schaffer + emmerson)
-criticised for being reductionist -> reduces complex human behaviours to stimulus, response + reinforcement -> low validity?
outline Bowlbys monotropic theory
-suggests that attachment is innate, in order to aid in survival
-attachment + imprinting evolved, young animals stay close to their caregivers in order to aid for protection
what is meant by monotropy?
-emphasis that one caregiver is more important from others
-usually mother, in cases where it’s not -> referred to as PCG
explain the two principles that clarify monotropy:
-law of continuity: the more constant + predictable a childs care is -> better quality attachment
-law of accumulated separation: the effects of separation from mother add up, so safest dose = 0 dose
explain the internal working model:
-child forms mental representation of relationship with PCG
-servers as a model for what future relationships will look like
-if loving relationship, with reliable PCG -> child will most likely go onto form similar relationships
-however, if poor treatment -> tend to further form poor relationships as such behaviour is expected
-childs IWM affects their own ability to parent themselves, as people base their parenting behaviour off their own personal experiences with being parented
-explains why children with functional families tend to form similar families themselves
social cues?
-babies born with a set of innate ‘cute’ behaviours e.g. cooing, smiling, gripping, to gain attention
-attachment is reciprocal -> both mother and baby have innate disposition to form attachments
critical period?
-Bowlby proposed critical period of around first 2 and 1/2 years old, when attachment system is active
-babies best formed attachments in this period, if not formed within this period, difficult to form one after
evaluation- advantage of monotropy?
-continuity hypothesis- longitudinal study -> children were followed + rated throughout their childhood -> found that children who were rated as securely attached in infancy were more popular + more initiative than those who were insecurely attached
evaluation- disadvantage of monotropy?
-ambiguity between line of critical/sensitive period, studies conducted of infants who were orphans/abandoned shows that they were able to form attachments the 1st year after birth
-although may be more difficult, still possible to form attachments outside so called ‘critical period’
-supports the theory of sensitive period rather than critical period
