Attachment - learning theory and Bowlby's montrophic theory Flashcards
what is meant by the learning theory through attachments?
an attachment can be learned through classical and operant conditioning
how is attachments learn through classical conditioning?
through association - food = pleasure, primary care giver =nothing, primary caregiver + food = pleasure X5, primary caregiver = pleasure
how is attachments learnt through operant conditioning?
learn by consequences e.g. infants learn to smile brings out a positive response from caregivers which reinforces behaviour also baby cries parent gives food- stops caring - negatively reinforced
what is a strength of learning theory into attachment?
can be tested using scientific methods so evidence can be used confidently to support or challenge theory
what evidence is there to challenge the idea of learning theory into attachments?
monkeys preferred the mothers in soft cloth even though the other had milk - shows food isn’t the main factor as learning theory suggests
what is a weakness of learning theory into attachments?
Bowblys alternative explanation is a much stronger model - so this theory has been largely rejected by psychologists
what is another explanation of attachments?
Bowlby’s montrophic theory- nature theory - beliefs attachment occurs because it is adaptive (increases chance of survival)
what are the 5 key terms bowlbys theory consists of?
ASCMI
- adaptive
- social releasers (cuteness) e.g. smiling
- critical period
- monotrophy
- internal working model
what is meant by the critical period?
8 months - 3 years if the infant does not develop attachments in this time they won’t be able to in the future so child will suffer from irreversible developmental consequences such as reduced intelligence and increased aggression.
what is meant by monotropy?
the infant has one primary attachment THIS attachment forms the internal working model
what is meant by internal working model?
blue print for future relationships e.g. poor attachments as a infant gives us an EXPECTATION of poor relationships in the future
what is a strength of bowlby’s monotropic theory?1
most influential theory in caregiving. before there was large scale institutions with had little opportunities for children to form attachments. NOW children are raised n foster families or much smaller foster homes -
what is a strength of bowlby’s monotropic theory?2
supported by real life observations - as soon as baby starts to crawl they develop attachment to keep safe from ‘predators’ - evolution
what is a criticism of bowlby’s monotropic theory? 1
Schaffer and Emerson showed infants are capable of developing multiple attachments 31% although bowlby proves fathers aren’t important by hormones
what is a criticism of bowlby’s monotropic theory? 2
children in institutions could develop attachments in later life even though they didn’t in the critical period and developed normally therefore challenges bowblys theory about the critical period
