Explanations of attachment

Question 1

What is learning theory?

Answer 1

also known as the behaviorist theory, focuses on baby wanting needs fulfilled. Conditioning is given as an explanation for how attachments form.

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Learning by association
e.g getting food gives baby pleasure -> desire fulfilled whenever mother is around to feed = association between mother and food = pleasure when mother is around

Question 3

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 3

Learning through rewards / punishments or negative and positive reinforcement.
e.g Dollard and Miller claimed that babies feel discomfort when hungry, so they want to remove that discomfort.
= cry means mother comes + mother comes, discomfort removed (negative reinforcement) = mother associated with food = need to be close to her. This produces ‘attachment behaviour’

Question 4

Learning theory strengths (1) and weaknesses (3)

Answer 4

+ lots of support and scientific research

• reductionist
• lots of evidence uses animal research
• Bowlby’s theory also has support

Question 5

What are the main claims of Bowlby’s Monotropic theory of attachment (4)

Answer 5

1. Attachment can be explained by evolution - evolved, biological need to attach developed through natural selection to ensure survival.
2. We create one special attachment (usually mother) - survival value as staying close to mother ensures food and protection + a ‘safe base’ to provide confidence to explore our environment
3. We create an internal working model of attachment - infant attachment provides a ‘template’ for all future relationships, which changes and develops over time but the primary caregiver provides the foundations (continuity hypothesis)
4. Critical Period - first 3 years. If no attachment develops or is broken, links to maternal deprivation hypothesis.

Question 6

Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment strengths (1) and weaknesses (3)

Answer 6

+ Harlow’s study supports evolutionary aspects and suggests damaged social and emotional development if attachment isn’t formed.

• Schaffer and Emerson provided evidence against Bowlby’s claims about monotropy as many children from multiple attachments, and may not even attach to their mother
• Harlow’s study of monkey’s raised in isolation also goes against idea of monotropy. Monkeys had no primary caregiver, but grew up with others, showed no signs of social and emotional disturbance. (attached to others instead of mother)
• mixed evidence for claims of critical period