Attachment - Learning Theory Of Attachment Flashcards
In the learning theory of attachment, how are attachments learned?
Attachments are learned through the process of classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Apply classical conditioning to attachment
Attachments are learned through the experience of being fed by caregivers.
1. Before conditioning:
- Caregiver (neutral stimulus) - no response
- Food (unconditioned stimulus) - happiness and pleasure
2. During conditioning:
- caregiver + food = happiness and pleasure
3. After conditioning:
- Food and caregiver (conditions, stimulus) = happiness and pleasure (conditioned response).
What is operant conditioning in attachment?
Operant conditioning suggests that we learn through consequences.
- Positive reinforcement for the baby when they cry, they receive food
- Negative reinforcement from the mother when they feed the baby the baby stops crying
Is the secondary reinforcer because She is associated with the babies happiness
What is Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment?
Attachments are biologically pre-programmed through evolution and babies form them due to the need for survival.
What are the features of Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment?
- social releasers
- Monotropy
- the critical period
- internal working model
What is a monotropism?
Babies only form attachment with just one, special caregiver
What did Bowlby identify as the critical period?
Attachments are formed early in the first 2.5 years or they don’t for at all.
What are social releasers identified by Bowlby?
Innate behaviours that babies perform to attract the attention of their caregivers.
Crying
Smiling
Crawling
What is the internal working model?
Early attachments with caregivers act as a schema used to form expectations and beliefs about relationships in the future.
What is the continuity hypothesis?
Attachment styles will remain constant from infancy to adulthood.
