explanations of attachment

Question 1

what are the two explanations?

Answer 1

1) learning theory - behaviourist
2) Bowlby - evolutionary

Question 2

what is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

• learning by association
• associate a response with a stimulus

Question 3

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 3

• behaviour is determined by consequences
• reinforcing or decreasing behaviour
• using punishment and reward

Question 4

describe classical conditioning

Answer 4

• unconditioned stimulus (UCS) causes unconditioned response (UCR)
• neutral stimulus (NS) is paired with the UCS
• after multiple pairings the NS and the UCS become associated
• eventually NS becomes the conditioned stimulus (CS) that causes the original response which is now the conditioned response (CR)

Question 5

how does classical conditioning explain attachment?

Answer 5

• the UCS is the food (milk)
• UCR satisfaction
• the NS is the mother
• mother feeds baby, mother becomes associated with food and therefore satisfaction
• mother becomes CS and satisfaction the CR
• baby now attached as mother is a source of relief from hunger

Question 6

what is reinforcement?

Answer 6

something in the environment that strengthens a particular behaviour, so it’s more likely to occur

Question 7

what is positive reinforcement?

Answer 7

something good is added e.g. food

Question 8

what is negative reinforcement?

Answer 8

something unpleasant is removed e.g. hunger

Question 9

what is punishment?

Answer 9

a negative consequence to behaviour, making it less likely to occur

Question 10

what is negative punishment?

Answer 10

something good is removed e.g. food taken away

Question 11

what is positive punishment?

Answer 11

something unpleasant is added e.g. a shock

Question 12

describe drive reduction theory

Answer 12

• hunger is an uncomfortable drive, we’re motivated to remove it
• when baby is fed, hunger is taken away
• this is negative reinforcement
• food is primary reinforcer, person supplying food is secondary reinforcer
• person becomes a source of pleasure and attachment

Question 13

what is learning theory based on?

Answer 13

food is the basis of attachment

Question 14

evaluation of learning theory
evidence to challenge it

Answer 14

1)Harlow’s monkeys
- found that monkeys attached to the contact comfort mother, not the mother with a feeding bottle
- food can’t be the basis of attachment
2)Schaffer and Emerson
- found that primary attachment figure wasn’t always the one who fed the infant the most

Question 15

evaluation of learning theory
non-human research

Answer 15

• not all human be behaviours are explained by conditioning
• especially things as complex as attachment
• non-behaviourists believe it’s an innate predisposition
• using animals to generalise is not accurate as human minds are different

Question 16

evaluation of learning theory
operant conditioning issue

Answer 16

• drive reduction theory can only explain a limited number of behaviours
• people don’t always do things to reduce discomfort
• operant conditioning cannot be the reason for attachment
• doesn’t explain secondary reinforcers e.g. money
• secondary reinforcers don’t take away discomfort (immediately) yet it still reinforces and encourages behaviour

Question 17

what kind of approach is Bowlby’s explanation of attachment?

Answer 17

• evolutionary
• suggests attachment is innate
• adaptive behaviour that promotes survival

Question 18

what is Bowlby’s theory called?

Answer 18

monotropic theory / theory of monotropy

Question 19

key features of the monotropy theory?

Answer 19

• born with a predisposition to attachment
• social releases e.g. crying, smiling
• one significant attachment (primary attachment)
• critical period is 3-6 months
• internal working model
• continuity hypothesis

Question 20

what is the critical period?

Answer 20

• 3-6 months from birth
• infants and caters are most sensitive to attachment
• sensitivity of carer is essential to the attachment process (influenced by Ainsworths “caregiver sensitivity hypothesis”)

Question 21

what are social releasers?

Answer 21

• behaviours to ensure proximity
• smiling, crying
• draw attention from the caregiver
• innate mechanism
• attention and interaction lead to attachment

Question 22

what is monotropy?

Answer 22

• one most significant attachment figure
• primary attachment relationship
• more important that subsequent attachments
• important for emotional security
• from this relationship the internal working model is developed of how a relationship should be

Question 23

consequences of the internal working model?

Answer 23

• child learns about their caregivers behaviour in the relationship
• later on the IWM acts as a template for future relationships
• child develops expectations based on this primary attachment experience

Question 24

what is the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 24

• securely attached infants would continue into socially and emotionally competent children and adults
• infants who are insecurely attached face the opposite, more likely to experience emotional difficulties in relationships

Question 25

how is attachment innate?

Answer 25

• both mother and infant have biological need to stay in constant contact
• mother also inherits a genetic blueprint which programmes her to behave in a certain way towards her child
• adaptive as it promotes survival and reproduction
• infant cared for whilst vulnerable and learns how to develop relationships