attachment- explanations of attachment

Question 1

learning theory
strength- partial conditioning (3)

Answer 1

-parts of conditioning may be involved in parts of attachment
-baby may associate warmth+comfort with presence of a particular CG- may influence baby’s choice of their main attachment figure
-can be useful in understanding development of attachments

Question 2

learning theory
limitation- counter evidence from studies (3)

Answer 2

-Schaffer+Emerson glasgow study- found babies formed attachment with most responsive CG, not who feeds them- main attachment=mother, regardless of if she feeds
-isabella study- found high levels of interactional synchrony with high quality attachment- not related to feeding
-food isnt the main factor in forming attachments

Question 3

leaning theory
limitation- counter evidence from animal studies (3)

Answer 3

-harlow and harlow monkey research- no support for importance of food- monkeys attached to cloth mother rather than milk mother
-lorenz gosling research- geese imprint on first large moving object regardless of if it provided food
-factors other than association with food are important in forming attachments

Question 4

learning theory
limitation- social learning theory study (4)

Answer 4

-parents teach children to love them by modelling attachment behaviours eg. hug
-parents reinforce loving behaviours by showing approval when babies show loving behaviours
-theory based on 2-way interaction between baby+CG- supports importance of reciprocity research
-eliminates the problem of links between feeding and attachment

Question 5

bowlby’s monotropic theory
strength- research support for internal working model (4)

Answer 5

-researcher observed attachments in 99 mothers and 1-year-olds
-measured attachment of mothers to their mothers, then to their babies
-found mothers with poor attachment to own mothers more likely to have poorly attached babies
-support that mothers’ ability to form attachments to child is influenced by their IWM

Question 6

bowlby’s monotropic theory
strength- research support for social releasers (3)

Answer 6

-researcher observed babies trigger interactions with CG using SRs
-told primary CG to ignore social releasers- babies became increasingly distressed, some curled up+lay motionless
-shows importance of SRs in emotional development and developing attachments

Question 7

bowlby’s monotropic theory
limitation- socially sensitive (3)

Answer 7

-laws of continuity+accumulated separation suggest working mothers may negatively affect child’s emotional development
-working mothers take blame for anything that goes wrong for child in the future
-feel pressure to stay home+leave careers or they face backlash from society as theyd be seen as bad mothers

Question 8

bowlby’s monotropic theory
limitation- lacks validity (4)

Answer 8

-schaffer+emerson found babies can form multiple attachments simultaneously
-first attachment may have influence on future behaviour, but it is only stronger than other attachments, not different
-other attachments provide same key qualities (emotional support, safe base)
-primary attachment may not be more important/different