explanations of attachment

Question 1

outline what the learning theory of attachment is

Answer 1

it is based on the principle of classical conditioning, the infant learns to associate the main caregiver with food and therefore forms an attachment with the main caregiver. the main motivation is food

Question 2

flow diagram of the learning theory of attachment

Answer 2

food (unconditioned stimulus) -> pleasure in baby (unconditioned response)
caregiver (neutral stimulus) -> food -> pleasure in baby {pairing stage}
caregiver (conditioned stimulus) -> pleasure in baby (conditioned response)
{attachment formed}

Question 3

what is the pairing stage of the learning theory of attachment?

Answer 3

caregiver (neutral stimulus) -> food -> pleasure in baby

Question 4

what is the ‘attachment formed’ stage of the learning theory of attachment

Answer 4

caregiver (conditioned stimulus) -> pleasure in baby (conditioned response)

Question 5

limitations of the learning theory

Answer 5

limitation: counter-evidence from animal research
limitation: counter-evidence from human research
limitation: the learning theory ignores other factors

Question 6

learning theory limitation: counter evidence from animal research

Answer 6

•there are animal studies that show that young animals do not necessarily attach (or imprint) on those who feed them
•for example, Lorenz’s goslings imprinted before being fed and maintained these attachments regardless of who fed them. And in Harlow’s study, the infant monkeys preferred comfort over food
•this suggests the same must be true for humans- that food does not create the attachment bond, therefore criticising the learning theory

(however, the results may not be able to be generalised to humans)

Question 7

learning theory limitation: counter-evidence from human research

Answer 7

•research with human infants also shows that feeding does not appear to be an important factor in humans
•schaffer and emerson’s study found that babies developed a primary attachment to their biological mother and even if others did most the feeding, or simply just the adults who were the most responsive /attentive
•this questions the research/ learning theory as it shows that feeding is not the key element to attachment

Question 8

the learning theory limitation: the learning theory ignores other factors associated with forming attachments

Answer 8

•research suggests that the quality of attachment is associated with factors like reciprocity and the levels of interactional synchrony
•the best quality attachments are formed with the carers most sensitive to the infants needs
•this shows attachment is reliant on factors like responsiveness rather than being primarily reliant on food

Question 9

what does innate mean?

Answer 9

born pre-programmed for a behaviour

Question 10

what does adaptive refer to?

Answer 10

a behaviour which is useful for survival

Question 11

what is a secure base?

Answer 11

a place of safety/ comfort for the infant (the attachment figure provides this)

Question 12

what are social releasers?

Answer 12

innate characteristics and behaviour of infants which make adults want to care for them (eg. smiling, crying, looking cute)

Question 13

what is a critical period?

Answer 13

the period of time during which an infant must form an attachment

Question 14

what is the average length of the critical period for human infants?

Answer 14

2.5 years

Question 15

what is an internal working model?

Answer 15

a mental framework of how to have relationships based on the first attachment

Question 16

outline Bowlby’s monotropic theory

Answer 16

bowlbys theory suggests that babies come into the world biologically pre-programmed with an innate ability to form attachments with others, because this will help them survive. the infant produces innate ‘social releases’ behaviours such as crying and smiling that stimulate caregiving from adults. the determinant of attachment is not food but care responsiveness. bowlby suggested that a child would initially form only one attachment and that the attachment figure acted as a secure base for exploring the world. the first attachment acts as a template for all future relationships

Question 17

evaluation points for Bowlby’s monotrophic theory

Answer 17

Research support
Mixed evidence for monotrophy
Support for social releasers
Support for internal working models

Question 18

bowlbys monotropic theory
strength: research support

Answer 18

Hazen and Shaver (1987) conducted a study that found the participants romantic relationships tended to echo their memories of their early attachments

Question 19

bowlbys monotropic theory
limitation: mixed evidence for monotropy

Answer 19

Bowlby believed that babies generally formed one attachment to their primary caregiver, and that this attachment was special and in some way different to later attachments. Only when this attachment was established could a child form multiple attachments.
This view is not supported by Schaffer and Emerson as even though they found that most babies attached to one person first, a significant minority were able to form multiple attachments at the same time.

it is also unclear whether there is something unique about the first attachment. studies of attachment to mothers and fathers tended to show attachment to the mother is more important in predicting later behaviour.
however this could simply mean that attachment to the primary attachment figure is just stronger than other attachments, not necessarily that it is different in quality.

Question 20

bowlbys monotropic theory
strength: support for social releasers

Answer 20

there is clear evidence to show that cute infant behaviours are intended to initiate social interaction and doing so is important to the baby. Brazleton observed mothers and babies during their interactions, reporting the existence of interactional synchrony.
they then extended the study from an observation to an experiment.
Primary attachment figures were instructed to ignore their babies signals. The babies initially showed some distress but, when continually ignored, some responded by curling up and laying motionless.
The fact that the children responded to strongly supports Bowlbys ideas about the significance of infant social behaviour in eliciting caregiving

Question 21

who observed mother and infant interactions then conducted a study?

Answer 21

Brazleton

Question 22

what was Brazleton’s observations/ study?

Answer 22

Brazleton observed mothers and babies during their interactions, reporting the existence of interactional synchrony.
they then extended the study from an observation to an experiment.
Primary attachment figures were instructed to ignore their babies signals. The babies initially showed some distress but, when continually ignored, some responded by curling up and laying motionless.
The fact that the children responded to strongly supports Bowlbys ideas about the significance of infant social behaviour in eliciting caregiving

Question 23

what was Hazan and Shaver’s study?

Answer 23

they surveyed a large number of respondents to a newspaper advert about their romantic relationships and their childhood memories. they found that their romantic relationships tended to echo their memories of early relationships with their mothers.
when they remembered their mothers being sensitive and responsive they tended to report secure and happy romantic relationships. those who had more negative memories of early attachment were more likely to report either being clingy or being distant in their adult relationships