Attachments: L5-6

Question 1

Learning theory

Answer 1

All behaviour is learned rather than inborn. Babies are blank slates, everything they can become are based on experience

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

Based on learning through association
- Pavlov conditioned dogs to salivate to the sound of a bell

Called ‘cupboard love theory’ as it based attachment on the provision of food

Question 3

Ivan Pavlov

Answer 3

Food = Uncoditioned stimulus
Salivation = Unconditioned response
Bell = Neutral stimulus

Through continued pairing of UCS and NS
Bell = Conditioned stimulus
Salivation = Conditioned response

Question 4

Classical conditioning -> Forming attachments

Answer 4

Milk = Uncoditioned stimulus
Relief from hunger (Pleasure) = Unconditioned response
Caregiver = Neutral stimulus

Through continued pairing of UCS and NS
Caregiver = Conditioned stimulus
Pleasure = Conditioned response
Baby’s association of the caregiver with milk = Forms attachment

Question 5

Operant conditioning

Answer 5

Based on learning through reinforcement (positive or negative) and punishments (positive or negative). Skinner found rats could press a lever to gain a reward.

1) Behaviours which lead to a reward will be repeated. There are two types of reinforcement:
- Positive: Gaining pleasure
- Negative: Removal of discomfort

2) Behaviours which lead to a punishment are less likely to be repeated

Question 6

Operant conditioning - attachments

Answer 6

Operant conditioning strengthens attachment.

Babies cry - Leads to response from the caregiver. Therefore the baby cries again (positive reinforcement) to relieve attention.

The caregiver receives negative reinforcement to stop the baby crying

This mutual reinforcement strengthens attachment.

Question 7

Attachment as a secondary drive

Answer 7

Learning theory draws on the concept of drive reduction.

Hunger is the primary drive, attachment is the secondary drive

Question 8

Weaknesses of learning theory based on attachments

Answer 8

Learning theory is based on animal studies - Although are behaviours may come from the same building blocks, attachments are a complex behaviour

Attachment is not based on food - Harlows study found the cloth mother was preferred over the wire mother, even though the wire mother provided them milk

The learning theory ignores other factors associated with forming attachments - The learning theory is reductionist as it focuses too much on conditioning in terms of food and ignore factors like reciprocity

Question 9

Strengths of learning theory based on attachments

Answer 9

Some elements of conditioning could still be involved in forming attachments - Many attachment behaviours bring comfort, most babies form attachments with those who feed them most

Social learning theory - Suggests that modelling the parents behaviours build attachment and strengthen relationships

Question 10

Evolutionary theory

Answer 10

Attachments are inborn as infants who stayed with their mother was more likely to survive (passing this genetic trait down) resulting in an innate drive to form attachments.

Bowlby argued imprinting and attachment evolved so young animals stay close to their caregivers to avoid hazards & to be fed

Question 11

Monotropy

Answer 11

Bowlby: a special bond above all others based on law of continuity and law of accumulated separation. The primary attachment figure provides the main foundation for emotional development, self esteem and later relationships

Law of continuity - More constant and predictable care = better quality of attachment
Law of accumulated separation - every separation adds up ‘therefore a safe dose is a zero dose)

Question 12

Social releasers

Answer 12

Babies are equipped with releasers from birth to help with attachment eg smiling

Question 13

Critical period

Answer 13

Since attachment is innate there is a limited window for its development - Bowlby argued that this was within the first 2 years of a child’s life If an attachment is not formed during this time, the child will find forming attachments much different in the future

Question 14

Internal working model

Answer 14

A child forms an internal representation of their relationship with their caregiver, and this form a template for future relationships

Question 15

Secure base

Answer 15

Attachment is important for protection and thus acts as a secure base from which a child can explore the world and return when feeling threatened - helping foster independence

Question 16

The continuity hypothesis

Answer 16

The internal working model means there is consistency between early emotional relationships and later relationships - the view that individuals who are securely attached in infancy continue o be socially and emotionally competent

Question 17

Strengths of Bowlbys theory of attachment

Answer 17

Support for monotropy - Suggests that attachment have evolved to aid survival, and we should expect them to be universal, as seen in Tronick et als study in Zaire; which babies were breastfed by other women at night, but still formed a primary attachment with their mother

Support for imprinting & critical period - Lorenz duckling study

Support for continuity hypothesis - The Minnesota longitudinal study followed babies into late adolescence and found continuation between early attachment & later emotional/social behaviour; individual rated as secure had the highest social competency in later life

Question 18

Weaknesses of Bowlbys theory of attachment

Answer 18

The idea that attachments cannot form after the critical period has been challenged - Tizard & Hodges found that 21/22 of children adopted at age 4 formed a secure attachment with their adoptive parents by age 8

The idea that poor first attachment relationships mean that the child will always have a poor future relationship has also been challenged - as positive school experiences or strong adult attachments may lead to secure relationships

Bowlby ignores the role of the father and thus his theory is outdated and sexist - he views the father as purely economic