Explanation Of Attachments Flashcards
What is learning theory
Learning theory also known as behavioural theory suggests all behaviour is learnt rather then inborn
They suggest it is all learnt though classical or operant conditioning
Classical conditioning is about the Pavlovian response where a neutral stimulus (neutral stimuli have one response) is associated with an unconditioned stimulus so over time it causes the same response as the unconditioned stimulus and a contained response, think of dogs druleing when the bell is rung
Operant conditioning is is learning based on the outcome of something so if the outcome is positive the behaviour is likely to be repeated (reinforcment) if it is negative it is not likely to be repeated (punishment), the outcome is positive or negative depending if something was added or being taken away, an example is when something has was taken away so it negative reinforcement as the outcome was positive and something was removed.
The classical conditioning argument leads to attachment as the carer is conditioned stimulus associated with the unconditioned stimulus is such as milk leading to the conditioned response of pleasure when they interact with the carer.
Operant conditions has the carer become a secondary reinforcer and the child will seek the person supply the reward as this behaviour has been reinforced
Learning theory evaluation weaknesses
- ) it is mostly based on animal studies such as Pavlov’s dogs and Skinner’s pigeons, behaviourists say that humans and animals learn in the same way and our behaviour patterns are made from the same conditions types however this generalises to much as attachment is a complex behaviour.
- ) attachment is nit based on food, shown by Schaffer and Emerson and by other animal studies such as Lorenz’s as he did not feed the baby geese
- ) it ignores other factors such as interactional synchrony and reciprocity which aren’t based on food and are important for forming attachments as they help carers and infants form quality relationships.
Learning theory evaluation strengths
+) it could still be involved in forming attachments as it explains one reason why it happens and many attachment behaviours such a hugging or kissing do lead to pleasure and comfort. Also most babies do form attachment with those who feed them the most such as with breast feeding mothers.
+) the learning theory has been developed and suggests that modelling (imitating behaviour if role models) can explain some attachment behaviours as they attach to carers as they see that observe their parents affectionate behaviour.
What is Bowlby’s evolutionary theory
Evolutionary theory says that attachment is innate and has been evolved to aid survival, as infants who stuck close to their mother where more likely to survive and is this trait was passed down. A human infant imprints on their carer to increase survival. Both attachments and imprinting protect young animals stay close to their caregiver who will look after them.
Bowlby proposed some important characteristics that aid the formation of attachment
1)monotropy
2) Social releasers
3) critical period
4) internal working model
Monotropy
Bowlby’s theory was monotropic as he believed out of all the attachments a infant makes the one with the primary attachment figure has special importance, this bias is called monotropy.
This is The person who responds most sensitively to the infants needs. Two principles explain this
1) law if continuity- more constant and predictable the care the better quality of the attachment
2) law of accumulated separation- the effects of every separation from the primary figure adds up and Bowlby said “the safest dose is therefore zero dose”
He also said the attachments maid are hierarchical in nature and that the primary attachment on the top with the rest following. These are secondary attachments these can be the other carer, siblings, grandparents etc.
Social releaser
Babies are born with an set of innate “cute behaviours” such as smiling and cooing encouraging attention from adults, these are important when an attachment is being formed, this explains how the carer and baby have a predisposition to become attached, Bowlby therefore recognised that attachment was a reciprocal process.
Critical period
Since attachment is innate there is a limited window for its development called a critical period, Bowlby said this was the first 2 years if the child’s life, afterwards it would be extremely difficult to make any more attachments. It is more a sensitive period according to Bowlby with the child being maximally sensitive at age 2 so it will be harder to get attached as they get older and less sensitive.
Internal working model
Bowlby proposed that a child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary caregiver known as the internal working model, as it becomes a template about what to expect from others and what future relationships will be like.
In the short term it gives the child insight into the carers behaviour and allows them to attempt to influence it making a true partner ship. In the long term it generates expectations about what intimate loving relationships are like.
Secure base and the continuity hypothesis
Attachment is important for protection and acts as a secure base from which the child can explore the world so attachments foster independence
The internal working model means that there is consistency between early emotional experiences and later relationships, this leads to the continuity hypothesis which suggests that early attachment relationships are linked with emotional behaviour later on. More securely attached children are more social and emotions competent later in life and the opposite for insecure children.
Bowlby’s attachment theory strength
- ) animal research supports critical period and imprinting, Lorenz found that baby birds imprint on the first thing they see and found they could not imprint after the critical period if they didn’t imprint similar to Bowlby’s findings.
- ) Bowlby’s evolution theory means that there should be attachment in all cultures, Tronick went to an African tribe in Zaire and found that babies only showed one primary attachment despite bejng looked after and breastfed by multiple women supporting monotropy
- ) the idea of an internal working model suggests that patterns if attachment will be passed on down the generations, Bailey et all looked at 99 mothers with one year old babies and interviewed them about their relationship with their own mothers. It was found that the mothers with poor attachment to their mothers where more likely to have children to be classified as poor by the observes supporting the internal working model
- ) studies show that people rated secure for attachment early in life were rated the highest for social competency later in life.
Bowlby attachment theory evaluation weakness
- ) there is counter evidence against monotropy, Schaffer and Emerson found that each attachment in someone’s life held its own value in the the infants life and cross cultural research shows that children can make multiple attachment and Bowlby puts to much importance on the primary attachment figure.
- ) Trizard and Hodges found that 21/22 children adopted aged 4 went on to form a secure attachment with their new parents by aged 8. Challenging the critical period theory
- ) research has also shown that people with poor attachment and difficult childhoods can go on to have positive and secure relationships as adults, this challenges the internal working model
- ) Bowlby’s theory ignored the role of the father as a primary attachment figure as he focuses more on the mother describing the fathers rise as primarily economic. This has lead to his theory being described as sexist and outdated.
- ) temperament is also a key factor in developing social behaviour as researchers suggest some babies are more anxious or sociable then others depending on their genes. Kagan argued that the babies temperament affected their caregiver sensitivity and happier babies have experienced more sensitive caregiving then moodier babies. This suggests relationships may not be solely controlled by the attachment relationship.
