Explanations Of Attachment Flashcards
Cupboard love theory
Aka the learning theory of attachment
Learning theory
The concept that all behaviour is learnt rather than inborn. But forward by behaviourists who suggest everything is learnt through classical ro operant conditioning
Classical conditioning
How the attachment if formed. When 2 stimuli occur together, we learn to associate them
Classical conditioning study
Pavlov taught dogs to salivate when they heard the bell
Describe how classical conditioning is linked to attachment s
Before a is learnt, attachment gains pleasure through being fed, when the infant is being fed, they associate the caregiver with the food. Therefore infant gains pleasure when caregiver is present
Operant conditioning
How the attachment is maintained
Positive reinforcement
Increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated
Positive reinforcement in attachment
Crying leads to a response from the caregiver, the baby learns to direct crying to caregiver so caregiver responds with social suppressor - most likely food
Negative reinforcement
Increases likelihood of behaviour being repeated to avoid something unpleasant
Negative reinforcement in attachment
Babies cries so moth feeds the baby to stop the crying. Mums more likely to feed the baby to avoid repeated crying
Primary drive
An innate drive that motivates the baby to reduce it.
Advantages of learning theory
Practical explanations, if attachments are formed through observation and imitation, parent classes from those struggling to form attachment, improves quality of life
Weakness of learning theory
Schaffer and Emerson found that babies weren’t necessarily most attached to person that fed them, babies may form attachments for reasons other than conditioning
Oversimplified bevause ignores other factors such as genetics, ignored other reasoning which could be considered more important
Based on animals, emotions can’t compare
Bowlbys theory is seen as an evolutionary theory bevause
It suggests that attachment is innate and has survival advantages. Imprinting and attachment behaviour promotes survival by meaning the parent and child keep a close relationships helping them so they are more likely to survive
Monotropy
A child makes an attachment to one caregiver that is different from all others or central importance
Bowlby argued the more time spent with the mother figure is better because
Law of continuity and law of accumulated separation
Law of continuity
The more predictable and constant a child’s care, the better their quality of attachment
Law of accumulated separation
The effects of every separation add up
Social releases
Cute behaviours such as smiling and cooing to trigger adults attachment system so they feel love for the baby
Sensitive period
If attachment isn’t formed in first 2 years, it’s mulch harder to form one
Internal working model
Models what relationships are like and therefore has a powerful effect on the nature of the child’s future, impact on later relationships
Strength of social releasers
Brazleton found evidence for social releasers, when parents ignored social releasers, babies became upset. Supporting bowlbys idea that social releasers are important in eliciting caregiving
Evaluation of monotropy
Advantages of internal working model bailey et al interviewed mothers about their relationships with their mothers. Link between both qualities of attachment. Supports idea that internal working model is passed through families
Evaluation of monotropy
Schaffer and Emerson supported bowlbys claim that infants usually form one main attachment BUT some babies form multiple attachments so increased/reduced validity
Disadvantages of bowlbys monotropic theory
Socially sensitive research, tempremntal differences- genetically influenced personality
Weakness of sensitive period
Czech twins, isolated from brith until the age of 7, fully recovered suggests early attachments aren’t as important as bowbky suggest, and critical period is more flexible
